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Florida Panthers Busy at 4 Nations Face-Off. Maurice Likes It

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The Florida Panthers will have at least one player on each of the four countries represented at the NHL 4 Nations Face-Off which kicks off Wednesday in Montreal. // Photo @GeorgeRichards

SUNRISE — The Florida Panthers are off for the next couple of weeks with the NHL hosting its first-ever 4 Nations Face-Off tournament in Montreal and Boston.

While a good number of the Panthers and their staff have vacations planned for this long break in the action — the team does not return to practice until Feb. 20, and don’t play until Feb. 22 — a large number do not.

There is no rest for the champions.

Eight players from the Panthers will play for the four teams in the tournament (United States, Canada, Finland, Sweden) including most of their star players.

Finland will have four players including captain Sasha Barkov, Anton Lundell, Eetu Luostarinen, and Niko Mikkola.

Canada has two (Sam Bennett, Sam Reinhart) with the United States (Matthew Tkachuk) and Sweden (Gus Forsling) having one Florida player on its roster.

The Panthers went their separate ways, aside from the eight flying to Montreal, following Saturday’s 5-1 win over the Ottawa Senators which was their fifth win in six games.

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Florida went into the break with a three-point lead on Toronto for first place in the Atlantic Division with two more games played. The Panthers have a 10-point lead on Detroit, which holds the final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference.

“We’re happy in the way we’re going into this break,” Tkachuk said after he scored a goal with three points Saturday.

“It’s coming at a great time for us. Everyone who has vacation for the next two weeks very much deserves it; the rest of the guys have some business to take care of. It’s going to be fun.”

Although some question whether it’s wise for the Panthers to celebrate having so many continue to battle with what is coming down the pike in the final 25 games, coach Paul Maurice said he likes the idea of his top players participating.

With only two games per country this week — and at max, two more next week — Maurice said it should not be too strenuous a tournament for his Florida Panthers.

The tournament is made up of NHL players and they will play under NHL rules.

This will not have the pond hockey aspect of an All-Star Game, but few expect the intensity to ratchet up to the level of a Game 7.

It could, sure, but don’t bet on it.

“There’s not going to be any bag skates,’’ Maurice said. “You probably won’t see a heavy-hitter until the last one. The championship will be the one which gets to an NHL level of meanness. I think it’s great for them.”

Maurice also thinks that having players such as Luostarinen, Bennett, and Mikkola getting a chance to play for their country’s top team will be beneficial moving forward.

“I think the payoff is greater than the potential they would get from having rest,’’ Maurice said. “Barkov and Tkachuk have been playing on national teams their whole lives from the time they were 16. The rest of these guys, as NHL players, this is a chance to play for their country and it is a huge deal.

“It means an awful lot. You are going to have guys walk into the room with the very best players from their country, and now they’ll view themselves differently. When they come back, they’ll be very confident. I think we’re going to get a huge bump from this.”

This tournament is also a tryout of sorts for next year’s Olympic teams.

While the 4 Nations is made up solely of NHL players, the Olympic teams will draw from all measures of pro and amateur leagues.

The Florida Panthers should expect to have a lot of players participating in Italy at this time next year as well.

”It’s an honor to put that jersey on once again,’’ said Luostarinen, who last represented Finland at the 2019 World Championships after his season with the Carolina Hurricanes ended. “I am really excited and grateful.’’

4 NATIONS FACE-OFF SCHEDULE

At Bell Center, Montreal

  • Wednesday: Canada vs. Sweden, 8 p.m. (MAX, truTV, TNT)
  • Thursday: United States vs. Finland, 8 p.m. (ESPN, ESPN+)
  • Saturday: Finland vs. Sweden, 1 p.m. (ABC, ESPN+); United States vs. Canada, 8 p.m. (ABC, ESPN+)

At TD Garden, Boston

  • Monday, Feb. 17: Canada vs. Finland, 1 p.m. (MAX, truTV, TNT); Sweden vs. United States, 8 p.m. (MAX, truTV, TNT)
  • Thursday, Feb. 20: Championship game, 8 p.m. (ESPN, ESPN+)

ON DECK: GAME No. 58
SEATTLE KRAKEN at FLORIDA PANTHERS

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