Panthers notes: Players return from break ready to make playoff push
CORAL SPRINGS, Fla. --The Florida Panthers stumbled into the NHL All-Star break in dire need of a fresh start.
Following a 4-2-0 trip through Western Canada in which they garnered a franchise-record eight points, the upstart Panthers returned home hoping to build momentum heading into the final extended break of the season. Instead, Florida dropped its next three games to push their season-high losing streak to four.
On Monday, however, the team looked refreshed and refocused in their first practice since a 2-1 loss to Vancouver on Jan. 19. The despondent atmosphere they left behind has evaporated and in its place a collective sense of aplomb is growing.
"A little mental break as well as a physical break," said center Nick Bjugstad. "Guys are ready to come back. We're all happy to be back and it'll be a big one to start off with on Tuesday."
Entering Tuesday's matchup with the Detroit Red Wings, the Panthers sit seven points behind the Boston Bruins for the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference with four fewer games played.
From here on out, Bjugstad says, that the Panthers will likely be counting opponent's wins and losses nearly as much as their own.
"You've gotta stay tuned with it," said Bjugstad. "Obviously, take it game by game and don't look too far ahead, but every point's important from now on. We want to make that playoff push. We're going to have to really bare down and stay focused for the rest of the season."
Still, especially for younger players like Bjugstad, the stressful grind of a playoff push comes as welcome sight after the trials and tribulations of last season.
"It makes it a lot more fun when you're winning and you're in it," said Bjugstad. "I'm enjoying every minute of it. I really like the guys and it's a fun group to be a part of. The winning mentality is starting to get instilled. The playoffs are the ultimate goal and it's not too far out of reach. We want to keep going and keep working hard."
For veterans like defenseman Brian Campbell, however, there's no satisfaction in simply being in the hunt. A Stanley Cup champion with Chicago in 2010, Campbell knows that the team's fresh legs will mean nothing if talks of revitalization don't materialize into wins in the coming weeks.
"It doesn't change where you are in the standings," Campbell said of the weeklong break. "It doesn't matter if you take two days off or five days off, the standings are the standings. We've got some ground to make up. Everybody is on a level playing field with being fresh and having time off. We're looking forward to hopefully capitalizing and having the upper hand.
"It's going to be a great challenge and we're looking forward to it as a team and as an organization. It should be a good ride and hopefully we can string together some wins. I know we have some games in hand but those don't mean much unless you win them so we've got to take advantage of that."
EKBLAD EAGER TO PLAY DEFENSE
While the majority of the Panthers arrived to the team's practice facility looking well rested, rookie defenseman Aaron Ekblad was running on less than two hours of sleep after rushing home from Sunday's All-Star Game in Columbus, Ohio, to participate in Monday's practice.
A last-minute addition to the roster, Ekblad notched four assists to help lead Team Toews to a 17-12 victory over Team Foligno in the first of what will likely be many All-Star Games for the 18-year-old.
"I'm just trying to get my feet back under me and focus on actually trying hard," Ekblad said with a laugh. "I feel like the goal of the game there was just to let the offense takeover. Now it's time for the defense to take over and get back to our game plan here in Florida."
So it's safe to say that fans shouldn't expect a 17-12 game when the Panthers host the Red Wings on Tuesday?
"I sure hope not," Ekblad said with a grin. "That's a big plus/minus hit."
HOUSER IN THE HOUSE
Unlike Ekblad, Panthers goaltender Roberto Luongo was in no hurry to return from his fourth All-Star Game appearance, instead using the day to travel and be with his family.
With Luongo absent, the Panthers recalled goaltender Michael Houser from their American Hockey League affiliate, the San Antonio Rampage, to participate in Monday's practice. The move marked Houser's first NHL call-up.
"It's a good measuring stick," said Houser, who returned to San Antonio shortly after practice. "You come out here and practice with these guys who snap it around pretty good, so you want to see how you're competing against them. As a goalie, you want to see how you're following the puck in the fast-paced game up here.
"It's always fun to see how you measure up against these guys."
Houser, 22, has posted a 5-6-2 record with a 3.47 goals-against average and a .880 save percentage with San Antonio this season.
You can follow Jameson Olive on Twitter @JamesonCoop or email him at JamesonOlive@gmail.com.
