LAS VEGAS – Physical appearance is a big part of the Florida Panthers’ playoff success this spring.
The defender Radko Gud and the attacker Sam Bennett particularly make their presence felt. Talk to their rivals the Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs and Carolina Hurricanes, who they covered with bruises in the first three rounds.
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Gudas, Bennett and their teammates have been circling like caged felines for nine days waiting to re-lace their skates and shove opponents. We can bet a small two that they will want to continue to have fun, in the beginning of the Stanley Cup final, Saturday (8 p.m. ET; TVAS, CBC, SN, TNT).
“It’s hard to get out of your mind that we’re going to play for the Stanley Cup,” admitted Panthers forward Nick Cousins, Friday. “Personally, it continually occupies my thoughts. I think I speak on behalf of my teammates. Everyone is pawing impatiently. I can tell you that we will be ready. »
William Carrier and his associates of the Golden Knights of Vegas say they are ready, for their part, to undergo the attacks of the Panthers and to even reply to them.
“The most important thing is not to chase after (bodychecks),” Carrier commented during the traditional media day on Friday. “We must not fall into the game of just hitting because that takes us out of our game. You want to strike when the opportunity presents itself. You have to find the right balance. »
That said, Carrier said he expects a heated start to the final.
“The first 10 minutes will be important. This is true for any series, especially for the team playing at home. You want to mark your territory, he explained. The energy that our supporters will give us, we will feed on that.
“I don’t expect big chances to score in the first 10 minutes. Each of the teams will try to impose their rhythm. »
The 28-year-old Montreal forward noted that the Golden Knights are used to physical games in the Western Conference.
“It’s softer in the other association (East). It’s more ‘fun’ and it stirs less, he said. We will see in what state of mind they will present themselves. If they want to hit anything that moves, we’ve got big guys who aren’t afraid of the tough game.
“Then often, which happens in that time, the game opens up on offense because guys get caught out of position. It could be good for us. »
Video: VGK@DAL, #6: Carrier takes advantage of a turnaround
Carrier predicts a hotly contested series.
“There will be no one-sided games. These will all be close matches. The Panthers are ‘hot’ at the right time, like their goalkeeper Sergei Bobrovsky. There is also Matthew Tkachuk who invents ways to win for them. They also do good things.
“Both clubs are playing exactly the way they want,” Carrier said. It is the one who will raise his level of play the most who will have the best over the other. »
Without any complex
The Panthers come to Nevada with no inferiority complex and a streak of eight road wins.
“The rest will have been beneficial,” said the Quebec striker Anthony Duclair. We needed it. There were a few guys injured.
“The recovery period went well. We have worked well in training. We went on the ice both days and practiced every day.
“We know we’ll have to work very hard against the Golden Knights and the first two games on the road will be very intense,” concluded Duclair.
2023-06-02 23:47:46
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