Brad Marchand has only one assist in four games with Florida since being acquired from the Boston Bruins, but the Panthers insist they aren’t concerned entering Saturday afternoon’s game with the host Ottawa Senators.
Florida (44-27-4, 92 points) is more worried about making sure Marchand is ready to provide the kind of production in the playoffs that he did during his 16 seasons with the Bruins, in which he helped Boston win a Stanley Cup. The Panthers are trying to win their second consecutive Stanley Cup.
“We’re going to be a little patient with it,” Florida coach Paul Maurice said.
An important factor is figuring out Marchand’s best fit, as far as linemates are concerned.
“I’m going to try to play him with as many people,” Maurice said of the 36-year-old veteran.
Marchand also is playing less than he did with Boston, where he averaged 18:26 of ice time. He is playing 16:43 per contest so far with the Panthers.
Florida is 0-2-1 in its last three games after a 3-2 road loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday.
“It’s playoff hockey at this time of the year,” Panthers forward Evan Rodrigues said. “It’s always one-goal games it seems like. We’ll continue to fight and continue to build. We did a lot of good things. It’s not something we’re going to hang our heads about I don’t think.”
Captain Aleksander Barkov did not play in that game and is day-to-day with an upper-body injury.
“I don’t think it’s a long-term thing,” Maurice said.
The Senators (40-29-6, 86 points) snapped a two-game losing streak with a 2-1 home win Thursday over the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Linus Ullmark made 31 saves.
“It’s a lot of fun. That’s the kind of mentality that I’ve always had, and I hope that everyone else has,” Ullmark said. “It’s fun playing the best in the world. You have that little extra motivation, especially when you come here at home, and you play such a dangerous team offensively. You know there’s going to be a good challenge.”
He denied Brandon Hagel on a short-handed breakaway 5:58 into the third period, then made a right shoulder save on Anthony Cirelli on a 2-on-1 just 16 seconds later with Ottawa still on the power play.
“‘Ully’ made some huge saves for us,” Senators forward Shane Pinto said. “If we don’t have him there, we don’t win that game. That’s the type of goalie he is, and I’m just happy we have him on our side.”
Pinto and Jake Sanderson scored Ottawa’s goals and Ridly Greig assisted on both markers.
“Obviously, at this time of year, there’s going to be some close games, and you’ve got to be comfortable playing in them,” Senators coach Travis Green said. “I thought we looked comfortable tonight.”
Ottawa played its second consecutive game without captain Brady Tkachuk because of an upper-body injury. He was injured last Sunday against the Pittsburgh Penguins in a collision with defenseman Ryan Graves.
Tkachuk is considered day-to-day.
–Field Level Media
