Florida Panthers
The Seattle Kraken Came Ready to Knock Out the Florida Panthers
SUNRISE — Regardless of what has happened thus far this season, the Florida Panthers are still the defending Stanley Cup champions.
It’s a well-worn cliché that everyone is gunning for you when you’re on top.
The Kraken came to town ‘jacked’ and ready for the Panthers.
The fact that two Stanley Cup-winning team members, Brandon Montour and Josh Mahura, are now wearing the Kraken Deep Sea Blue just added to the excitement.
Seattle being a likely also-ran in the Western Conference’s playoff race is inconsequential.
The Kraken took their shot on Saturday — and connected.
When Saturday’s game was over, Seattle’s Joey Daccord bested Sergei Bobrovsky with a 26-save performance to give the Kraken a 2-1 win in a rather sloppy contest.
Both teams showed rust from the layoff.
“It was kind of a mixed bag, I don’t think we gave up a whole lot,” Paul Maurice said. “They got one on the power play, we don’t. There were some missed opportunities. … There was sloppiness, couldn’t get a handle on some pretty basic things.”
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Earlier this season, the Panthers barely escaped Seattle, squeezing out a 2-1 overtime win.
The winning goal Saturday was scored by ex-Panther Jared McCann, who leads the Kraken in points.
Although Daccord is not a former Panther, he is familiar to the organization.
He was with the Charlotte Checkers in 2021-22, the year the team was shared by Florida and Seattle.
He and Spencer Knight were two of eight goalies to appear for the Checkers that season.
Daccord was delighted with the win, his 20th of the season and highest NHL total to date.
“Any time you can beat the team that won it all the year before, I think it’s a bit of a measuring stick, right?,” Daccord said.
“Like, you want to see how you match up against them. Obviously both teams are coming off the break, but to bring an effort like that tonight was great.”
Before the game, Seattle coach Dan Bylsma spoke about the psyche of facing the champs.
“Target on their back? I’ll say for sure,” said Bylsma, who won the Stanley Cup with the Penguins in 2009.
“They’ve earned it. Every time you step on the ice you know they are Stanley Cup champs. They were the best team in the NHL last season and that comes with teams knowing they need to play their best to have success against you.
“So, it’s not an unfortunate spot to be in, to have a target on your back; to be Stanley Cup champs. But it does come with us knowing that we have to be at our very best to have success tonight.”
On Tuesday night, the Panthers will be in Nashville for a game against Andrew Brunette’s Predators.
If there was ever a target on their backs, circle Thursday when they return to Sunrise to host the Edmonton Oilers.
It will be Edmonton’s first game in Sunrise since losing Game 7 of the Finals back on June 24.
The Oilers will have very vivid memories of their last visit here.
ON DECK: GAME No. 59
FLORIDA PANTHERS at NASHVILLE PREDATORS
- When: Tuesday, 8 p.m.
- Where: Bridgestone Arena, Nashville
- Local TV: Scripps Sports — WSFL 39 (Miami/FTL); WHDT 9 (WPB); LAFF 36.3 (Naples/FTM)
- Streaming: Panthers+, ESPN+
- Radio: WPOW 96.5-FM2; WBZT 1230-AM (Palm Beach); WCTH 100.3-FM (Florida Keys); SiriusXM
- Panthers Radio Streaming: SiriusXM 932, NHL App
- Season Series (Panthers Lead 1-0) — At Nashville: Feb. 25. At Florida: Panthers 6, Predators 2 (Nov. 7).
- Last Season: Split 1-1
- All-time Regular Season Series: Florida leads 23-15-6, 3 ties
- Up Next for the Panthers: Thursday vs. Edmonton Oilers, 7 p.m.
