Three takeaways: Younger gamers impressing, Giles continues robust camp

It was a story of two video games for the Florida Panthers on Saturday night time after they hosted the Carolina Hurricanes at Amerant Financial institution Area.

Florida got here out a bit flat and it took a while for them to search out their collective footing, however that simply led to an thrilling comeback for the 14,702 followers in attendance to take pleasure in.

There weren’t many NHLers within the lineup for the Panthers, which has been the norm up to now in the course of the preseason.

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The younger Cats have held their very own although, and Saturday’s comeback victory over Carolina supplied a well-deserved enhance to the hard-working Panthers.

Let’s get to the takeaways from Florida’s 5-4 additional time win:

GILES KEEPS IMPRESSING

The harm suffered to Tomas Nosek throughout Florida’s preseason win over Nashville created a gap for somebody to step up and earn some NHL taking part in time.

Undrafted ahead Patrick Giles has taken the chance and run with it.

The 24-year-old has been taking part in some strong two-way hockey, producing on the offensive finish whereas displaying the teaching workers that he’s removed from a legal responsibility when skating again on protection.

There’s nonetheless a methods to go earlier than Giles earns a spot on the Opening Evening roster, but when he continues on his present path, it wouldn’t be stunning to see him sporting a Panthers sweater in a pair weeks.

“He’s had an excellent camp, and his statistics aren’t as essential as the development 12 months over 12 months, as a result of we would not see him play an entire lot,” stated Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice. “So the man comes out and he is significantly quicker than he was final 12 months. He is obtained good arms across the internet for an enormous man. He is making a case. He is accomplished what he must do so far within the camp, he is moved himself up the depth chart.”

PAIR OF PROSPECTS TURNING HEADS

Whereas Florida’s prospect pool isn’t thought of as deep as most golf equipment across the NHL, two of the workforce’s latest draft alternatives have regarded fairly good throughout coaching camp.

Final season’s second spherical decide, Gracyn Sawchyn, and this 12 months’s sixth spherical selection, Hunter St. Martin, have every stood out for the appropriate causes.

Each nonetheless have a ways to journey on their final paths to the NHL, however its extremely encouraging to see every of them making as a lot progress as they’ve in such a brief period of time.

“They’re each very, very aggressive guys,” Maurice stated. “There’s nice ability set between the 2 of them, they’ve obtained some good velocity. I believe for Sawchyn, he is had the benefit of a 12 months of coaching camp, and he did put effort and time into working exhausting, so he was in a position to sort of survive the grind of camp higher this 12 months. I’m very impressed with Hunter St. Martin at a younger age. He dealt with it and nonetheless had velocity after working towards with a few of the large lads, and we had some fairly good skates in there, and he discovered some velocity on the finish of the sport. So heaps to get enthusiastic about, and then you definately’re additionally aware that there is a lengthy, lengthy path forward of them earlier than they will have that chance.”

YOUNGSTERS SHOWING MATURITY

This recreation might’ve ended a lot completely different for Florida, falling behind 4-1 within the second interval with a roster stuffed with principally prospects and AHL gamers.

To the Panthers credit score, they dug in and fought again, not getting overly pissed off with a poor displaying early.

It’s the sort of factor that the teaching workers actually likes to see from youthful gamers.

“You appreciated the bench as a result of you’ve gotten a sure manner that you’d anticipate to deal with that in the course of the common season,” Maurice stated. “You’d wish to see the younger gamers present you the way they will deal with that. We did not have an entire lot going the primary interval, after which we began skating just a little higher.”

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