Florida Panthers Drop Both Sets of Preseason Opener to Predators

Game 2: Panthers 0-1 Predators

While the scoreline seems tight, this one was one-way traffic throughout the game. Nashville felt like the much better team throughout the entire game, with the Florida attack seemed off-beat for most of it.

This was a much better overall team performance from the Cats, committing less quick breaks turnovers and allowing less quick breaks from Nashville. The issue here was clear, the Panthers couldn’t solve Juuse Saros.

So, let’s get through the forward lines that all had nights to forget. The first line, one that had me most excited with Aleksi Heponiemi and Henrik Borgstrom playing with the speedy Anthony Greco seemed like an ideal line for a goal or two.

Heponiemi looked lost on the wing, Greco got into penalty trouble, and Borgstrom couldn’t distribute the puck properly. Not to mention, they got a lot of time on the power play, and like the rest of the players, did nothing with it. All in all, really big letdown from these three, especially from Heponiemi and Greco, who are both trying to make the roster this season.

The second line, something that looked more like a fourth line on a really capped out team, saw Dryden Hunt playing with Troy Brouwer on the flank, and Noel Acciari in the center. This wasn’t a line that inspired too much confidence going forwards, but I give them credit for their defensive work.

Acciari looked really inspired to be playing for the Panthers, easily the best of the three. Hunt played fine, setting up Acciari for a few chances, but not doing anything too wrong either. Brouwer definitely had some rust to shake off, but got better as the game went on. Overall, very mediocre showing from the three, I’m not against how any of them played.

The third line was okay, but not consistent. Kevin Roy was one of the better forwards for Florida against the Preds, creating the best chance, hitting the post on a 3-on-1. While I usually complain about players shooting on a 3-on-1, he did everything right, and was very unlucky not to score past Saros, hitting the post and bouncing out.

For the other two on the line, Dominic Toninato and Paul Thompson, very uninspiring. Thompson had a good season in the AHL last year, but brought nothing to the table for Florida. Toninato is still very much getting settled, but can’t have many more games like that if he wants to keep his place.

The fourth line had flashes, but zero consistency whatsoever. Serron Noel and Jonathan Ang, two young prospects playing right-wing and center respectively, looked good together, creating the second-best chance of the game through Ang’s breakaway chance, but nothing led from it. Their linemate, Jake Horton, was incredibly quiet throughout the game, but it was his first game with the Panthers. They showed talent, and could get better if they keep practicing together.

Defensively, there isn’t a lot of complaints I can have. The one goal came on a redirection, and wasn’t a particular fault on any of the back six.

The top pairing of Mike Matheson and Josh Brown, the only pairing through either game with two players who played at the NHL level last season, were the best by far. Matheson was probably the Panthers’ best skater all game, not looking too nervous with the puck, and only giving the puck away once in 17:50. Josh Brown was really good, playing 23:54, and looking much calmer than Matheson throughout the game.

The second pairing, William Lochead and MacKenzie Weegar certainly had their flaws, but matured as the game went on. In the early stages of the game, Weegar made a huge block on Nashville’s Craig Smith after a miscommunication with Montembeault and one of his teammates. Lochead didn’t necessarily impress, but he didn’t do anything to disappoint.

The bottom pairing of Ian McCoshen and Thomas Schemitsch was the worst pairing, but still weren’t terrible throughout. McCoshen tried to do a little too much with the puck as the game got closer to its finish, but did enough in the first two periods to justify for it. Schemitsch, on the other hand, didn’t impress me at all, but has plenty of time to turn it around.

In net, both goalies did what they had to do. Sam Montembeault, other than one miscommunication, looked very comfortable, keeping Eeli Tolvanen and Craig Smith at bay throughout his 31:26 in net. He saved 18 Nashville shots, and made it look easy throughout the night. He was beaten on a re-direction which he couldn’t have done much about, very good performance from him.

While Ryan Bednard looked the much more immature goalie, he still kept out all of his chances. Like his pads, his saves were bright and flashy, though some of them he made a bit of a meal out of, but for a 7th round pick in 2015, a very promising game going forwards.

While neither game inspired much confidence, a lot of these guys were playing in their first NHL games. Noel Acciari said it best in his post-game interview, “Everyone’s still getting used to each other. Lines are going to change… these were the 1st and 2nd preseason games, the 1st for a lot of guys. It’s just kind of getting the nerves out and getting back into that game-mentality.” I couldn’t have said it much better myself. The Cats’ next pre-season game is Wednesday night at 7:00 in Montreal against the Habs.