5 Takeaways: With Preseason Over, Panthers Ready to 'Play for Keeps'

SUNRISE, Fla. -The Panthers are ready for the real thing.
After a 4-2 loss to the Lightning on Saturday at FLA Live Arena in their final tune-up of the preseason, the Panthers now have their sights set on their season opener against the Penguins on Thursday in Sunrise.
"Now we'll get to play for keeps," Panthers coach Joel Quenneville said.

Finishing the preseason with a record of 5-2-0, Quenneville said he liked a lot more than he disliked while watching the Panthers clash with the cross-state rival Lightning in their final dress rehearsal.
"It was a pretty good game," he said. "It had some real good pace to it, some rush chances, some pace chances. I thought we moved the puck well. They got the momentum, tied the game, and then bang, bang. That can happen against a good hockey team. For the most part, there was a lot of good things."
Despite being in control during a scoreless first period, the Panthers found themselves in a precarious position early in the second when the Lightning earned a 5-on-3 power play. If you recall, the Lightning had previously scored twice with an eerily similar 5-on-3 advantage the last time these two teams met.
That wouldn't be the case this time around.
Thanks to some nifty stickwork in the defensive zone and a few key saves from Sergei Bobrovsky - including a huge denial on a one-timer from Steven Stamkos - the Panthers survived the onslaught.
With momentum swinging back in their favor like a 1,000-pound pendulum thanks to that clutch kill, the Panthers finally managed to slip the rubber past Andrei Vasilevskiy when a shot from Kevin Connauton found its way through traffic and into the net to bring fans to their feet and make it a 1-0 game at 4:51.
Vasilevskiy finished with 45 saves, while Bobrovsky had 25 of his own.
Trading goals later in the period, the Lightning got on the board when Alex Killorn one-timed a pass from Stamkos past Bobrovsky from the slot to make it 1-1 at 7:31. But just 27 seconds later, Sam Reinhart put the Panthers back on top when he beat Vasilevskiy from a similar area on the ice to make it 2-1 at 7:58.
"I think for the most part tonight felt the most like a real game," Reinhart said. "That's a positive going forward. It felt like we had the puck a little bit more, we were touching it a little bit more and playing with more confidence and speed."
Just one minute into the third period, the Lightning pulled even once again when Brayden Point, who entered the matchup tied for Tampa Bay's preseason points lead, scored on a rebound to make it 2-2.
Taking their first lead of the game, the Lightning then went up 3-2 after Pat Maroon found some loose change around the crease and scored on the power play at 12:04. Citing goalie interference, the Cats challenged the play, but it was upheld after it was deemed Corey Perry had been shoved into Bobrovsky.
Lighting the lamp a second time on the power play, Maroon scored again to make it 4-2 at 14:01.
Here are five takeaways from Saturday's loss in Sunrise…

1. COMING OUT HOT

If not for Vasilevskiy, the Panthers could've potted a couple goals in the first period.
Firing on all cylinders throughout the opening 20 minutes tonight, the Panthers showed off their depth up front as they simply kept pelting the Lightning's goaltender with pucks. When one line headed for the bench, the next trio would simply hop straight over the boards and pick up right where they had left off.
Keeping the opposition on their heels, the Cats finished the first period leading 18-8 in shots.
"Everybody was rolling and everybody was involved," Quenneville said.
In between dishing out dazzling passes, Jonathan Huberdeau fired four shots on goal in the first period, a total matched only by MacKenzie Weegar. Overall, 10 different players had at least one shot on goal in the up-tempo period for the Panthers, with each forward line containing at least one of those shooters.
"There was a lot of things clicking," Reinhart said. "I think that's what you want to accomplish at home."

2. AFTER THE KILL

After surviving a 5-on-3 power play for the Lightning, you knew the Panthers would get fired up.
Turning that fire into cheers from the fans, Connauton took a pass from Huberdeau, skated to the top of the left circle and fired a shot through traffic past Vasilevskiy to make it 1-0 at 4:51 of the second period.

Looking strong throughout the entire preseason, Connauton, who amassed three points (two goals, one assist) in five exhibitions, unfortunately suffered a lower-body injury later in the game and, according to Quenneville in his post-game presser, could be out of action for "one to two weeks" while he recovers.
A veteran of over 300 games in the NHL, the 31-year-old defenseman played seven games with the Panthers in 2020-21.

3. REINHART FEELS READY

Reinhart said he felt like his line was really starting to click tonight.
Giving fans a glimpse of the type of plays the team's new-look top line could be making throughout the upcoming season, Reinhart put the Panthers up 2-1 in the second period when he finished off a quick and nifty passing sequence with Aleksander Barkov and Carter Verhaeghe with a goal from the low slot.
In five exhibition games, Reinhart scored two goals.

"I think tonight felt a lot more comfortable," he said. "We were able to have the puck a little bit more, and it's a lot easier when you have it. I think there's still a few things to tighten up defensively on a couple reads, but overall I think this was a really important game for myself and for everyone else."
Preparing for his first campaign with the Panthers after being acquired in a trade with the Sabres in the offseason, Reinhart said earlier this week that he had been benefitting greatly from the preseason. With each game, he said he felt like he was getting more and more comfortable while learning a new system.
With the potential to reach new heights in his new role, Reinhart has scored at least 22 goals in each of the last four seasons, including leading Buffalo and ranking tied for 11th in the league with 25 in 2020-21.
"Tonight was important," Reinhart said of his line's developing chemistry. "In the offensive zone we had more opportunities, more reads. We found each other in the right spots. That's key moving forward."

4. LUNDELL LOOKS GOOD

Quenneville had plenty of good things to say about Anton Lundell after tonight's game.
Making only his second appearance in the preseason, the 20-year-old rookie recorded two blocks, two takeaways and won 56% of his faceoffs while centering a line with Frank Vatrano and Patric Hornqvist.
"I thought he was really, really good today," Quenneville said of Lundell, the 12th overall pick in the 2020 NHL Draft. "I thought he did a lot of good things. That was very good news tonight, watching him play."
Of his 14:31 of ice time, 2:38 came on the penalty kill.
"It's good to get that opportunity to play on the PK," said Lundell, who Quenneville pegged early on in camp as a potential contributor to the penalty kill. "I just try to do my best there and help the team. It's an important job. It helps me a lot. It gets me a little more ice time and helps me get a good feeling."
Also making him feel good was a warm reception from fans during his debut in Sunrise.
"A big boost for me to play in front of the home crowd and see all the red jerseys there," Lundell said.
In his final season before taking his talents to the NHL, Lundell scored a team-high 16 goals with HIFK in Liiga in 2020-21.

5. NOW IT BEGINS

It wasn't 12 years in Azkaban, but fans and players have certainly done their waiting.
With a very encouraging preseason now in their rear view, the Panthers will spend the next few days gearing up for their long-awaited season opener against the Penguins at FLA Live Arena on Thursday.
"I think there was a lot of good things we did throughout camp and throughout the preseason," Reinhart said. "We're going to start off on the right foot. It's now just a couple more days before we get to work."
Heading into the 2021-22 campaign with high expectations, the Panthers posted the fourth-best record in the league last season before losing to the back-to-back Stanley Cup champion Lightning in six games during a heated playoff series that fans throughout the hockey world talked about long after it ended.
Determined to make a deeper run, the Panthers have been itching for this first game for months.
"This is what it's all about," Quenneville said. "I know you want to make sure there's some things you get through before you exit training camp and leave it on a positive note. When you add it all up, there's some good things. The guys want to play real games."
Want to be in the stands on Thursday? Visit FloridaPanthers.com/Tickets to select your seats now!