NOTEBOOK: Preparation, payback and playoff beards

In today's Baptist Health Practice Notebook, the Panthers are making their final preparations for their Round 2 series with the Lightning, an update on playoff beards after Round 1, and more!
CORAL SPRINGS, Fla. -After giving players an opportunity to rest up a bit with an optional practice on Sunday, the Panthers retook the ice in full force at the Panthers IceDen on Monday.

Their final tune-up before kicking of their second-round playoff series with the cross-state rival Lightning on Tuesday at FLA Live Arena, every player was present and accounted for, save for forward Mason Marchment, who is expected to miss at least Game 1 with an undisclosed injury.
"Good little recharge for a couple days and pretty good energy out there today," interim head coach Andrew Brunette said of the session. "We're all looking forward to getting going here."
Looking at the lines and pairings this morning, there weren't too many changes from what we saw the Panthers roll out during their series-clinching win over the Capitals in Round 1. Among the tweaks, Sam Reinhart moved back down to the third line, while Anthony Duclair, who was a healthy scratch in Game 6 against Washington, was back in a familiar spot on the second line.
With Duclair re-entering the lineup, Maxim Mamin was back skating as an extra.
"If he skated like he did in practice, I'm confident," Brunette said when asked about Duclair returning to his 30-goal scoring form. "He's ready to go. I'm confident he's going to be good."
In putting Duclair back with Jonathan Huberdeau and Sam Bennett, the Panthers are hoping to rediscover some of the magic that trio showed during the regular season. Over the 272:27 that line was deployed together at 5-on-5, Florida led 275-294 in shot attempts and 19-15 in goals.
"I love playing with those guys," Bennett said of the second-line reunion. "When we are all going and making plays, that's when we're playing our best. I am excited to start the series with them."
Looking ahead to the series, that love for his teammates isn't extended to the opposition.
Meeting in the playoffs for the second consecutive season, the "Battle of Florida" has quickly become one of the best rivalries in the NHL. With Tampa Bay edging Florida in six games in Round 1 in 2021, the two feisty foes amassed a combined 41 goals and 196 penalty minutes.
For the Panthers, 15 players that saw time in that series are back for another go this year.
"I think we're definitely a deeper team," Bennett said, citing the veteran additions of players like Claude Giroux, Sam Reinhart and Ben Chiarot. "We added some key pieces that have made huge contributions to our team. I think it just gives us that much more confidence [this year]."
With a collective weight lifted off their shoulders after dispatching the Capitals to win their first postseason series since 1996, the Panthers are ready and raring to go for what should be their greatest challenge to date - a chance to dethrone the back-to-back Stanley Cup champions.
"It's always fun to take a shot at the defending champs," said defenseman Ben Chiarot, who was playing for the Canadians when they were eliminated by the Lightning in the Stanley Cup Final last year. "These guys know them pretty well, and I know them pretty well. It'll be fun."
Fun for everyone, but especially fans.
"It's great, entertaining hockey," Brunette said of the series. "It's got a little bit of everything. It's got some great goaltending, some really good offensive play, it's got some physicality and a little nastiness to it. It's a fun hockey game when you're sitting there watching from behind the bench. I think the fans really appreciate it and are looking forward to another fun series."

PLAYING WITH POWER

After taking care of business against the Capitals last week, Huberdeau chuckled when asked about what the team could work on leading up to their second-round meeting with the Lighting.
"Should probably work on the power play," he grinned.
Closing out this morning's practice, that's exactly what they did.
Following a 0-for-18 performance against Washington, the Cats spent a good amount of time working on their execution with the extra attacker in their last on-ice session before Game 1.
At one end of the ice was the top unit of Aaron Ekblad, Aleksander Barkov, Giroux, Reinhart and Huberdeau, while the second unit of Brandon Montour, Bennett, Duclair, Patric Hornqvist and first-round scoring leader Carter Verhaeghe set up shop at the far end of the frozen sheet.
Finishing fifth in NHL on the power play (24.4%) during the regular season, the Panthers are confident the pendulum will swing back in their favor soon enough given the wealth of talent on both units and the fact that they tallied 26 scoring chances on the man advantage in Round 1.
Like everything else in the playoffs, the slate is wiped clean from round to round.
"I think you reset it at zero," Brunette said of the power play. "Nobody overly cares when you win a series if the power play scores or not as long as you win. This is a new series. We have an opportunity to get better at it. We've been great at it all year. We just had a little hiccup that series and it kind of compounded as we went. Hopefully we have a fresh mentality going forward here. I think, with our skill guys, they just need to make a play and that'll loosen it all up."

PLAYOFF BEARD UPDATE

If the Panthers had a "Council of Playoff Beards," Bennett would certainly be on it.
Greeting the media this afternoon, the grizzled forward provided an important update on how some of his fellow teammates were doing in the facial hair department heading into Round 2.
"It's still early, so it's hard to tell," Bennett said. "A lot of guys, like me, didn't start from scratch. [Spencer Knight] has actually got not a bad start for a beard. I didn't think he could grow much."
Is anyone having trouble keeping up?
"Lundy, Luosty, Forsling," Bennett smiled. "The Europeans are struggling a bit."
Except for one, of course.
"Other than Gudas."

MONDAY'S PRACTICE LINES

Forwards
Carter Verhaeghe - Aleksander Barkov - Claude Giroux
Jonathan Huberdeau - Sam Bennett - Anthony Duclair
Noel Acciari - Anton Lundell - Sam Reinhart
Ryan Lomberg - Eetu Luostarinen - Patric Hornqvist
Joe Thornton - Maxim Mamin
Defensemen
Ben Chiarot - Aaron Ekblad
Gustav Forsling - MacKenize Weegar
Brandon Montour - Radko Gudas
Robert Hagg - Petteri Lindbohm
Lucas Carlsson
Goaltenders
Sergei Bobrovsky
Spencer Knight
Jonas Johansson