LAS VEGAS | As long as there is hope, there is life. The Panthers will continue to hold on to every glimmer of hope and build on their comeback in the first round against the Boston Bruins, where they also lost 3-1.
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“We had that experience against the Bruins in the first round,” recalled winger Anthony Duclair. It gives us confidence that we can still achieve it. We keep the same mentality.”
“We’re not playing the series, we’re playing the next game,” he continued. We have to win our next away game. To be honest, we have the team to come back and we also have the confidence. We must play freely and keep the fun.
Tkachuk is absent from training
To win three games against the Bruins, which we thought was impossible, the Panthers had used the magic of both Sergei Bobrovsky and Matthew Tkachuk. The number 19 had scored the winner in the fifth overtime game, two goals and an assist in the sixth game and an assist in the seventh game for Carter Verhaeghe’s overtime winner.
Tkachuk might not be able to restore that magic. The former Calgary Flames is clearly hiding a right shoulder injury. He didn’t jump on T-Mobile ice for practice. And he wasn’t the only one missing.
Defenders Brandon Montour and Radko Gudas and winger Nick Cousins also took time off. The same goes for Eetu Luostarinen, who has not featured since the first game of the final.
When asked how he managed to juggle so many players in the infirmary on the eve of such an important meeting, Paul Maurice gave a lengthy reply.
“It started months and months ago,” he recalled. We’ve already had to deal with the loss of key players throughout the season, Barkov and Lundell, then Barkov and Bennett, and then you lose Barkov in the third minute of a game against the Carolina Hurricanes in the playoffs.
“You find ways to be successful,” he continued. You believe in your means. If this was the first time one of our best players wasn’t in the squad, that would be a big deal. But as of today, we don’t have to worry about that.
With that last line, Maurice hinted that Tkachuk would be at his post. While he was vague about his health, the veteran coach confirmed his star winger has indeed made the trip to Las Vegas.
Take over
Like Maurice, Duclair believes his team has the courage and strength to weather the hordes of players on loan.
“There are several players in this dressing room who can improve their game,” stressed the Quebecer. We’ve been doing this all year, we’ve never really been 100%. There are several players who have returned to training and have helped the team.
In the last game, Duclair missed several third-period appearances due to a mysterious wound. But he says he’s healthy enough to keep going.
“Yes, everything is beautiful. Everything is beautiful!” he mentioned and burst out laughing.