(WC2) Capitals in (1A) Panthers
19:30 ET; TBS, SN360, TVAS2, BSFL, NBCSWA
Washington leads the series 7 of 1-0
The Florida Panthers are determined to rebound against the Washington Capitals in Game 2 of the first round of the FLA Live Arena Eastern Conference on Thursday after losing 4-2 in Game 1 on Tuesday.
The Panthers have reviewed what they need to do better and correct their game in Game 1, but they are trying to keep their point and not dwell too much on one game in what they expect to be a long series.
“This is very important,” said Panthers striker Claude Giroud. “It’s definitely difficult when you lose a game and you have to move on and move on. They have to win three more times to move on, so for us the focus is on game 2 and game 1 is over and let’s get back on the road. “
Florida set a team record with 58 wins and 122 points and scored NHL leaders 4.11 goals per game on its way to winning the Presidential Trophy as the league’s best team of the regular season. So the Capitals expect a strong response from the Panthers on Thursday.
“We feel we can win matches, but in the same sense there is always a check on your opponent and who you are playing against,” said Capitals coach Peter Laviolet. “We knew where they were before the series started and we still know today, although we won match 1, they are the champions of the presidents (trophy) and 122 points and can score goals. So you have to be in line with our game. “
Florida will change its lineup for Game 2; Sam Reinhart will rise to replace Giroud on the right wing of the second line with Jonathan Hubardo and Sam Bennett, and Giroud will take Reinhart’s place on the third line with Mason Marchment and Anton Lundall. In addition, Noel Achiari will replace Ryan Lomberg on the left wing of the fourth line, after a solid scratch for match 1.
But the main thing the Panthers want to change is their performance.
“Everyone needs to be a little better and a little sharper in the small details of the game,” said Florida striker Carter Verhe. “But we can’t change too much. We’ve been a great team all year and we’ll stick to what made us successful.”
Teams leading 2-0 in the playoff series for the best of the 7 NHL hold an all-time record of 337-52 (86.6 percent), including 84-20 (80.8 percent) at the start of the series. on the road .
Here are three keys to Game 2:
1. Wilson, where are you?
Striker Tom Wilson will not play for the Capitals and is day after leaving Match 1 with a lower body injury. After Wilson is out, rookie Brett Leeson will make his debut in the Stanley Cup playoffs, but replacing Wilson will require team effort.
Wilson topped his NHL career with 24 goals, 28 assists and 52 points in 78 regular-season games and scored his first goal for Washington in Game 1. Wilson’s 240 goals were second among the Capitals’ strikers, after Garnet Hathaway ( 250).
“You can’t replace Tom,” said Washington striker TJ Oshi. “Especially in the playoffs, he is one of our most important players because of his ability to play physically, his ability to score big goals, as he did (Tuesday). His ability to shoot from penalties, a powerful game, he’s just a man who can’t not only do that, but his presence in the room is very influential for our team. “
2. Do not enter a neutral position
The Panthers ‘problems in negotiating the structure of the Capitals’ neutral zone prevented them from generating speed and entering the offensive zone for most of Game 1, and the neutral zone’s turnaround led to two Washington goals in the third. period. Making a better decision with the puck between the blue lines will be essential for Florida in Game 2.
3. Be special
The Sofia team had an advantage over the special teams in Game 1, receiving a strong goal from Wilson and keeping Florida up to three shots on goal and without goals in their two strong playoffs. The Panthers were considering moving to five ahead in Game of Power 2, but it looks like they will continue with defender Aaron Ekblad, who executes the point in the first unit, at least to start the game.
“I think you’re always looking to adjust,” said Florida coach Andrew Brunet. “It’s one game. I thought parts of it went pretty well. But we have the option to continue with five strikers if necessary. We will make those decisions as we go.”
Designed by Capitals
Alex Ovechkin – Evgeny Kuznetsov – Conor Sheare
Marcus Johansson – Niklas Backström – TJ Oshi
Anthony Manta – Lars Eller – Garnet Hathaway
Johan Larson – Nick Dowd – Brett Leeson
Martin Fehervari – John Carlson
Dmitry Orlov – Nick Jenson
Trevor van Rimsdick – Justin Schultz
Vitek Vanechek
Ilya Samsonov
Scratched: Connor McMichael, Axel Johnson-Falby, Matt Irwin, Michal Kempney, Zack Fukale
wounded: Carl Hagelin (left eye), Tom Wilson (lower body)
Estimated lineup of Panthers
Carter Verhe – Alexander Barkov – Anthony Ducler
Jonathan Hubardo – Sam Bennett – Sam Reinhart
Mason Marchment – Anton Lundel – Claude Giroud
Noel Aciari – Itu Luostarinen – Patrick Hornkvist
Mackenzie Wigar – Aaron Ekblad
Gustav Forsling – Radko Goodas
Ben Chiaro – Brandon Montour
Sergey Bobrovsky
Spencer Knight
Scratched: Petteri Lindbom, Joe Thornton, Lucas Carlson, Maxim Mamin, Robert Hag, Jonas Johansson, Ryan Lomberg
wounded: Marcus Nutiwaara (undisclosed)
Status report
Leeson was drawn by Hershey from the American Hockey League on Thursday.
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