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Florida Panthers Power Play: A Dominant Force after Slow Start
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- Florida Panthers Power Play: A Dominant Force after Slow Start
IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
SUNRISE — It seems like ages ago, but it has only been about three weeks since the Florida Panthers had the worst power play in the entire NHL.
The Panthers one may recall, scored one goal on their first 28 chances with the man advantage through their opening five games.
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At the time, neither Brady Tkachuk nor Sam Reinhart had scored — either on the power play or even strength.
In the eight games which followed, Tkachuk has three power play goals and Reinhart a very impressive six, putting him in a tie with Leon Draisaitl for the league lead.
The power play continued a torrid pace with an exclamation point in a 5-2 win against Winnipeg on Friday night.
On the first two attempts, Reinhart scored 17 seconds after the power play began; Seth Jones scored only eight seconds into the next power play.
Florida ended 2-5 on the power play, although the final chance one came with only 11 seconds left in the game when Haydn Fleury tripped up Sandis Vilmanis .
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After the game, Winnipeg coach Scott Arneil said his team, which has lost eight straight, made a great effort on their penalty kill but Florida's attack is relentless.
"They're extremely hot right now. They've been on a roll,'' Arniel said.
The power play now stands at 24.2 percent, ninth in the NHL.
Since Brady Tkachuk broke his schneid with a hat trick against Columbus on October 13, the Panthers power play has chugged along at a 38.2 percent pace.
Power play success has been key to the Panthers' current win streak.
"The special team game has been the key piece right now that's allowed us to survive without those two guys ( Sasha Barkov and Brad Marchand)," coach Paul Maurice commented Friday.
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In a pair of wins against Winnipeg, Florida feasted, going 5-10 while with the advantage.
"We have good players,'' Maurice said. "I think Jamie Kompon and his power play group have done a great job really changing the foundation of what they try to do.
"You spend 2 1/2 weeks working on a power play with Barkov on it, Marchand on it, and they both disappear within the first three games. It took us three or four games to recover from that. They found their rhythm and Seth Jones has been a huge, huge driver … He's got lots of confidence up top. He's offensively as strong as there is in the league from the blueline."
Jones, who had a goal and two assists Friday, bringing his October total to a franchise record 18 points for a defenseman in a single month.
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"Just puck movement. Quick puck movement. Putting the penalty kill in positions to make decisions,'' Jones said when talking about the success on the power play.
"I think we're scoring in many different ways: Low plays, high plays, in to Reino. We're dangerous in a lot of different ways but just moving it quick. Big start on breakouts is key."
Detroit comes to town on Monday with a 66.7 percent penalty kill success rate which ranks 29th in the NHL.
The Panthers may have a chance to fatten up their power play numbers even further.
ON DECK: GAME No. 15
DETROIT RED WINGS at FLORIDA PANTHERS
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When: Monday, 7 p.m. — Hometown Remix Debut
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Where: Amerant Bank Arena, Sunrise
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Streaming: Panthers+ , ESPN+
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Radio: WQAM; WBZT 1230-AM (West Palm Beach); WCTH 100.3-FM (Florida Keys); WCZR 101.7-FM (Treasure Coast); SiriusXM. Panthers Radio Streaming: SiriusXM, NHL/Panthers App
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Last Season: Florida won 3-1
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This Season — At Detroit: Dec. 12; Jan. 29. At Florida: Monday; Nov. 12
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All-time Regular Season Series: Florida leads 43-22-7, 5 ties
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Up Next for the Panthers: Wednesday vs. Chicago Blackhawks, 7 p.m.
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