Panthers' Vladimir Tarasenko: Scores first of series
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Tarasenko scored a goal that stood as the game-winner in Saturday's 2-1 win over the Rangers in Game 6.
Tarasenko registered his first point of the series when he gave Florida a 2-0 lead just before the midway point of the third period. The 32-year-old has faced his share of struggles during the postseason -- he was recently demoted to the third line after serving mostly in a top-six role since he was traded from Ottawa. Still, he came up clutch against his former team in Game 6, so perhaps this game serves as a confidence booster for Tarasenko going forward. The Russian native has three goals and three assists and a plus-4 rating in 17 postseason contests.
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Panthers' Evan Rodrigues: Assists on opening goal
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Rodrigues registered a primary assist in Saturday's 2-1 series-clinching win over the Rangers in Game 6.
Rodrigues was back on the board in Saturday's win after being held off the scoresheet since Game 3. He added three shots on goal in 15:14 of ice time. Rodrigues isn't relied upon much for offensive production, but he's currently playing on Florida's second line with Matthew Tkachuk and Sam Bennett. Rodrigues is up to three goals and five assists with an even plus-minus rating in 17 playoff contests.
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Panthers' Sam Bennett: Extends goal streak in win
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Bennett potted his sixth goal of the postseason in Saturday's 2-1 series-clinching win over New York in Game 6.
Bennett opened the scoring in the first period after being set up by Evan Rodrigues. Bennett has elevated his game at a crucial point of the postseason -- he has goals in three straight contests and he finished this series with six points in as many games. The 27-year-old added four shots, three hits, one block and a plus-1 rating in 15:27 of ice time Saturday night. Bennett is up to six goals, four assists and a plus-3 rating through 12 playoff appearances.
Panthers' Sergei Bobrovsky: Helps eliminate Rangers
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Bobrovsky turned aside 23 of 24 shots on goal in Saturday's 2-1 series-clinching victory over New York in Game 6.
Bobrovsky faced less than 24 shots on net for the third time over the Panthers' last four contests. Florida's style of play has allowed the netminder not to be overworked en route to the team's second consecutive trip to the Stanley Cup Finals. The Panthers will face either Edmonton or Dallas in the final round of the postseason. Bob is 12-5 with a 2.20 GAA and a .908 save percentage in 17 playoff appearances this year.
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Panthers' Sergei Bobrovsky: Starting in Game 6
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Bobrovsky will patrol the home crease versus the Rangers on Saturday, according to Jameson Olive of the Panthers' official site.
Bobrovsky was stellar during the regular season, going 36-17-4 with a 2.37 GAA and a .915 save percentage. That success has continued in the playoffs, as the Russian netminder is 11-5 with a 2.27 GAA and a .905 save percentage. If the Panthers emerge victorious Saturday, the team will compete in the Stanley Cup Finals for a second straight year.
Ekblad recorded an assist in Thursday's 3-2 victory over the Rangers in Game 5.
Ekblad was able to bring his six-game pointless streak to a close with his helper Thursday but remains mired in a 29-game goal drought dating back to Feb. 20 versus the Senators. While the blueliner should continue to register plenty of hits and blocks in the postseason, fantasy players probably shouldn't be banking on him suddenly producing points regularly.
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Panthers' Sergei Bobrovsky: Steady once again in road win
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Bobrovsky made 25 saves on 27 shots in Thursday's 3-2 win against New York in Game 5.
Bobrovsky was his usual self between the pipes Thursday, helping the Panthers inch closer to advancing to the Stanley Cup Finals. The 35-year-old has allowed two goals or less in nine of his last 10 appearances. With Florida rarely allowing more than 30 shots on goal during this playoff run, Bobrovsky has been able to perform at an extremely high level. Florida has also consistently been able to provide Bobrovsky with offensive support -- they've scored less than two goals only three times this postseason and have not been shutout. Bobrovsky is 11-5 with a 2.27 GAA and a .905 save percentage in 16 postseason appearances.
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Panthers' Eetu Luostarinen: Provides assist in win
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Luostarinen notched an even-strength assist in Thursday's 3-2 win against the Rangers in Game 5.
Luostarinen had been held off the scoresheet in seven consecutive outings before helping out on Anton Lundell's third-period tally. Luostarinen added two shots, one block, one hit and a plus-1 rating in 16:15 of ice time. The 25-year-old has been struggling when it comes to finding the back of the net -- he has the lowest shooting percentage among Florida's forwards that have at least 20 shots on goal during the postseason. The Finland native has five points (one goal) and a plus-1 rating in 16 postseason appearances.
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Panthers' Anton Lundell: Back on scoresheet in win
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Lundell scored his third goal of the postseason in Thursday's 3-2 win over New York in Game 5.
Lundell gave the Panthers the lead just after the midway point of the third period in Thursday's win. He was held off the scoresheet in consecutive contests prior to Game 5. The 22-year-old also had three shots on goal and a plus-1 rating in 14:05 of ice time. Lundell is back to centering the third line after a recent stretch on the second line -- his ice time has decreased as a result over the last two contests. On the positive side, Lundell is averaging 1:11 more of ice time during the postseason in comparison to the regular season, though Florida's numerous overtime games have boosted everyone's playoff ice totals. The middle-six center is tied for fifth in points on Florida during the playoffs with three goals, eight assists and a plus-6 rating in 16 appearances.
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Panthers' Sam Bennett: Registers two points in win
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Bennett scored a goal and added an assist in Thursday's 3-2 win over the Rangers in Game 5.
Bennett was a major contributor in Thursday's win -- he set up Gustav Forsling in the second period to tie the game before potting an empty-netter, which ended up being the game-winner. It was Bennett's first multi-point performance since April 23 against Tampa Bay. The 27-year-old has five points in as many games in this series, and he's back to centering the second line after a recent stint on the third line. This would suggest that Bennett is close to or at full strength after missing five contests across the first two rounds of the postseason. Bennett is up to five goals and nine points with a plus-2 rating in 11 playoff appearances.
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Panthers' Gustav Forsling: Stays hot with goal
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Forsling scored his fourth goal of the postseason in Thursday's 3-2 win against New York in Game 5.
Forsling extended his point streak to three games after tying Thursday's contest at one apiece in the first period. The 27-year-old defenseman added two shots on goal and a plus-2 rating in 23:17 of ice time. Forsling now has at least one point in five of his last six appearances. He's first in scoring among Florida's blueliners during the playoffs -- his steady offensive production in this series has vaulted him past fellow defenseman Brandon Montour (nine points) for the team lead. Forsling is up to four goals, seven assists and a team-high plus-12 rating in 16 postseason contests to this point.
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Panthers' Sergei Bobrovsky: Starting in Game 5
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Bobrovsky will defend the road crease against the Rangers on Thursday, Jameson Olive of the Panthers' official site reports.
Bobrovsky has been terrific in the playoffs, starting all 15 games, going 10-5 with a sparkling 2.29 GAA. Bobrovsky was stellar Tuesday, stopping 21 shots in a 3-2 overtime win at home versus the Rangers, as the Panthers tied the series at two games apiece. Bobrovsky has allowed nine goals on 100 shots in the first four games of the best-of-seven series.
Panthers' Gustav Forsling: Has primary helper in win
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Forsling had an even-strength assist in Tuesday's 3-2 overtime win versus the Rangers in Game 4.
Forsling helped out on a Sam Bennett tally in the second period to tie the game at one apiece. Forsling added three shots on goal, four hits and a plus-1 rating in 22:42 of ice time. The 27-year-old has been a consistent source of offense for Florida -- he has points in four of his last five games and he leads the team in points on the backend. Forsling has three goals, seven assists and a plus-10 rating in 15 postseason appearances so far.
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Panthers' Brandon Montour: Back on scoresheet in win
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Montour notched a helper on the game-winning goal in overtime in Tuesday's 3-2 win over New York in Game 4.
Montour had the secondary assist on Sam Reinhart's game-winner in overtime to help tie the series. Montour was held off the scoresheet in six consecutive contests prior to getting on the board in Tuesday's win. He added four shots, six hits and a minus-1 rating in 23:50 of ice time, which was the most of any skater in the game. The 30-year-old defenseman has been streaky during the playoffs -- seven of his nine points have come in three outings combined. Montour is up to three goals, six assists and a plus-2 rating in 15 postseason appearances so far.
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Panthers' Sam Bennett: Bends twine in Game 4
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Bennett scored a goal on two shots in Tuesday's 3-2 overtime win over the Rangers in Game 4.
Since returning from injury, Bennett has notched three goals and two assists, including three power-play points, in his last eight contests. The 27-year-old center has been boom or bust on the shot front over that stretch, having failed to garner a single shot in three of those eight outings.
