The Florida Panthers have built a reputation this season as one of the aggressive teams on the ice. But that aggressive edge, which once fueled their dominance, may have finally crossed a line. And this time it has cost them. Financially. Ahead of a crucial playoff clash against the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Panthers have racked up a tidy sum in fines along with the odd suspension.
Throughout the regular season, they walked the line; the Panthers leaned heavily into physicality. The NHL Player Safety Department was watching. Hits, scrums, and relentless forechecking defined their play style for the season. It may have energized fans and intimidated opponents, but it has also not escaped the league’s notice.
The recent game against the Tampa Bay Lightning was one example. Defenseman Aaron Ekblad was suspended for two games after elbowing Brandon Hagel in Game 4. No penalty was assessed during the game. But the league later ruled it a high, forceful hit to the head. He will be missing Games 5 and 6, should the Panthers fail to seal the deal tonight to win the series.
However for Paul Maurice, Ekblad’s absence isn’t a big concern after they played 20 games without him while he was serving his suspension for violating the NHL’s performance-enhancing drug use policy after failing a random drug test. “I’ll be consistent. I believe with any potential suspension, it’s not my job,” said Maurice. “This will be viewed in our room as an injury. … Unfortunately, we’ve now missed him for 22 of the past 24, so we’re not used to him being in our lineup anyway.”
But this isn’t the only suspension. Jesse Puljujärvi had already served a two-game suspension earlier in the series for an illegal check to the head of Mitchell Chaffee during Game 1. Though now back in the lineup, his absence in the initial games had already tested Florida’s depth. Though he remains eligible to play, defenseman Niko Mikkola was fined $5,000 for boarding Zemgus Girgensons.
But despite the suspension and fines, the Panthers’ physicality has been more of a boon than burden for them during the series. It’s what they’re known for and once again, it has been serving them well.
Aggressive Florida Panthers might confidently eliminate Lightning
One thing is for sure, despite the growing infractions, it’s Florida’s relentless physicality that has given them the edge. They’ve gone up 3-1 in the series because of it. Matthew Tkachuk’s hit on Jake Guentzel in Game 3 didn’t draw enough discipline but sent a loud message. In Game 4, just moments after Aaron Ekblad laid out Hagel, he went on to score the game-tying goal in the third period. Even Mikkola, despite being tossed for boarding, helped set the tone early.
Love them or hate them, Florida’s agsressive persona might just be the reason they eliminate Tampa in Round 1. Florida waits, agitates, and capitalizes. With elite scorers like Kucherov and Point thrown off their game, their strategy is working. And another thing is for sure. The team’s resilience will now be tested not just on the scoreboard. One more misstep, and their playoff dream could all be ending in a different way than expected.
For the Florida Panthers, the concern is psychological and the immediate questions for Paul Marice are tactical. How to restructure their game plan without a cornerstone of their defense? How to walk the fine line of not losing their aggressive character yet not be under the official scrutiny again?
The post How the Florida Panthers’ Aggression Has Now Come Back to Haunt Them appeared first on EssentiallySports.
