George Richards, FHN Publisher
It appears as if the Florida Panthers’ top line of Sasha Barkov, Jonathan Huberdeau and Evgenii Dadonov will be reunited for Saturday’s game against the Islanders.
When the Panthers opened training camp on July 13, coach Joel Quenneville had Barkov and Huberdeau — the team’s leading scorers the past two seasons — on different lines.
It was a continuation of the way Florida lined up for their final few regular season games. The separation lasted throughout training camp.
Barkov was centering the top line with Frank Vatrano and Dadonov; Huberdeau was on what fans called the ‘Triple-H Line’ with Erik Haula and Mike Hoffman.
On Wednesday, the Panthers took the ice in an exhibition against the Tampa Bay Lightning and, as it had been throughout camp, there was Barkov on one line, Huberdeau on another.
By the third period of an eventual 5-0 loss, however, the band was back together.
The best-of-5 Stanley Cup qualifying series is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m.
While Quenneville isn’t talking lineups, on Friday, Barkov, Huberdeau and Dadonov worked together in practice.
Vatrano slid down to the second line with Haula and Hoffman.
On Friday, Quenneville was asked about Barkov during his media call, and, in talking about his team captain, basically said (without naming names) he was going back to his top line combination.
“They can make things happen, they are accustomed to knowing where each other are and they can generate a lot,” Quenneville said, presumably referring to Barkov, Huberdeau and Dadonov.
“I think the three of them play well with the 5-on-5 look and when they get on the power play together, they really compliment one another.’’
Quenneville putting his top line back together figured to happen sooner-than-later.
Of the 228 goals the Panthers scored this season — which ranks sixth in the league — the Barkov/Huberdeau/Dadonov trifecta accounted for 68 of them (30 percent).
According to leftwinglock.com, the Barkov/Huberdeau/Dadonov trio ranked second in the league behind the Bruins’ top line for most combined 5-on-5 goals.
Overall, Hoffman led Florida with 29 goals, Dadonov (25), Huberdeau (23) and Barkov (20) ranked 2-4 on the team.
Huberdeau (78) and Barkov (62) were 1-2 on the team in scoring followed by Hoffman (59) and Dadonov (47).
Last season, Barkov and Huberdeau became the first players in franchise history to score 90 points in the same season.
Roberto Luongo compared their uncanny on-ice relationship to the Sedin twins whom he played with in Vancouver.
“Maybe they are related, they do look a little alike,” Luongo said at the end of last season.
“When it comes to the passes that they make, they think outside of the box. That’s why I say they remind me of the Sedins a little bit. When you expect them to pass, they shoot; when you think they’re going to shoot, they pass. That is what makes them so good.
“They are unpredictable and tough to defend. But you see when they are on a roll, they are shooting that puck with confidence. They don’t make that extra pass. You have seen what the result is. They’re putting up points every night.”
Both Huberdeau and Barkov struggled as this season came to a close, likely leading to their on-ice breakup.
After injuring his left knee upon going awkwardly into the back boards in a 4-0 loss at Montreal on Feb. 1, Barkov ended the season with four goals and eight points in 16 games — and went scoreless in his final six.
Huberdeau had two points off a goal March 7 against Montreal in his final six.
The three also have put up points against the Islanders (during the regular season) led by Barkov (6-9, 15 in 15 games). Huberdeau (4-9, 13 in 20) and Dadonov (6-3, 9 in nine) follow suit.
Florida sure would like to get this line rolling again.
“I don’t really think about myself that much, I just know we’re going to be playing playoff (hockey) and it all about the team,” Barkov said last weekend.
“I want to be at my best, I have been working really hard to get into good shape again and I am feeling really goo on the ice. Now it’s time to play. … I would rather win the Stanley Cup and not score a goal. But I know I have to help the team in that way. I have to be better in the offensive zone too.”
Said Huberdeau: “We are not thinking about the bad. The season is over and now it is real playoffs and is doesn’t matter about the points, I just want to help my team,” Huberdeau said. “Playing the Islanders is all that matters.”
NEWS & NOTES
Because of social distancing (and the NHL holding its Eastern Conference games in Toronto), the Panthers held what they called an “Untamable Distant Drive-Thru Rally” at the BB&T Center on Friday evening.
Fans who drove up got a complimentary GameDay kit which included a rally towel, pint glass, pom poms and a ballcap.
Stanley C. Panther was on hand to greet fans as was the team’s ROAR Corps.
— The Panthers will be the road team for the first two games of this series, which in a regular world, would have been played at the renovated Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale.
That is, of course, had both these teams made the playoffs and met up.
The Panthers played the Islanders on the road twice this season, losing at both the Coliseum and in Brooklyn.
— Quenneville is five victories away from passing legendary Islanders coach Al Arbour (123) for second on the all-time postseason wins list.
Any wins Florida gets in this series, however, will not count toward Q’s stats. Playoff stats will not count until the, um, playoffs.
— Brian Boyle has played the most games against the Islanders among the Panthers with 42 and, understandably, has the most goals (seven).
Keith Yandle has a team-high 22 points in 25 games against the Isles.
— Brett Connolly left the Capitals for the Panthers last July, signing a four-year deal. He was on Barry Trotz’s final team in Washington — the one which won the Stanley Cup in 2018.
Stanley Cup qualifier (best-of-5)
No. 10 Florida Panthers (0-0) vs. No. 7 New York Islanders (0-0)
Game 1
When, where: Saturday, 4 p.m.; Scotiabank Arena, Toronto
TV/Radio: FS Florida, NBCSN (national); 560-AM, 640-AM (WPB), 100.3-FM (Keys).
Regular season records: Florida 35-26-8; Islanders 35-23-10
Season series: Islanders won 3-0
NHL rankings — Goals for: Panthers 228 (6th); Islanders 189 (24th). Goals against: Panthers 224 (tie-5th); Islanders 190 (tie-25th). Power play: Panthers 21.3% (tie-10th); Islanders 17.3% (tie-24th). Penalty kill: Panthers 78.5% (20th); Islanders 80.7% (15th).
Postseason history: Islanders d. Panthers 4-2 in 2016 quarterfinals.
Schedule — Game 2: Tuesday, noon (FSF, NBCSN); Game 3: Wednesday, noon (FSF, NBCSN); Game 4*: Friday, TBD; Game 5*: Sunday, Aug. 9, TBD.
GAME 1 PROJECTED LINEUPS
Florida Panthers
11 Jonathan Huberdeau- 16 Sasha Barkov- 68 Evgenii Dadonov
77 Frank Vatrano — 56 Erik Haula — 68 Mike Hoffman
71 Lucas Wallmark — 9 Brian Boyle — 10 Brett Connolly
13 Mark Pysyk — 55 Noel Acciari — 7 Colton Sceviour
52 MacKenzie Weegar — 5 Aaron Ekblad
61 Riley Stillman — 6 Anton Stralman
3 Keith Yandle — 19 Mike Matheson
72 Sergei Bobrovsky
60 Chris Driedger
New York Islanders
27 Anders Lee — 13 Mat Barzal — 7 Jordan Eberle
18 Anthony Beauvillier — 29 Brock Nelson — 12 Josh Bailey
32 Ross Johnston — 44 Jean-Gabriel Pageau — 10 Derick Brassard
17 Matt Martin — 53 Casey Cizikas — 15 Cal Clutterbuck
3 Adam Pelech — 6 Ryan Pulock
25 Devon Toews — 24 Scott Mayfield
2 Nick Leddy — 55 Johnny Boychuk
40 Semyon Varlamov
1 Thomas Greiss