SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — The Florida Panthers are about to have one other champion. Perhaps a couple of of them.
The reigning Stanley Cup champions are the one NHL workforce to have at the least one participant on every of the 4 rosters for the 4 Nations Face-Off match that begins this week, which means the Panthers are assured to have somebody on the profitable squad.
Sam Reinhart and Sam Bennett will skate for Canada, Gustav Forsling is enjoying for Sweden, Matthew Tkachuk is competing for the US and 4 Panthers gamers — captain Aleksander Barkov, Anton Lundell, Eetu Luostarinen and Niko Mikkola — are representing Finland.
“I’m not cheering for anyone, as a result of any individual’s profitable. I do know that for a reality,” Panthers coach Paul Maurice stated. “There’s a bunch of men coming again in a very good temper.”
The Panthers have a lot extra illustration than simply gamers at 4 Nations. Assistant coach Tuomo Ruutu will serve in that very same function for Finland, assistant coach Myles Charge is the scouting coach for Sweden, assistant common supervisor Patric Hornqvist has that function for Sweden, gear supervisor Teddy Richards has that very same job for the U.S. and Panthers common supervisor and hockey operations president Invoice Zito is an assistant GM for USA Hockey at this match and the Olympics subsequent winter.
“It’s a bit of little bit of a precursor to the Olympics,” Zito informed the Panthers’ broadcast on Scripps Sports activities throughout Saturday’s recreation. “We have now the chance now with 4 Nations — Finland, Sweden, Canada and the U.S. — to place their finest NHL gamers in opposition to one another, everyone face to face in a winner-take-all. … It’s like having a playoff sequence in the midst of the season.”
All groups will play three video games within the match, after which two advance to a championship recreation. There are video games Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday in Montreal, earlier than the sphere shifts to Boston for video games on Feb. 17 after which the title recreation on Feb. 19.
“I haven’t had the chance in 9 years to do that,” stated Tkachuk, who will be a part of his brother, Brady Tkachuk of the Ottawa Senators, on the U.S. squad. “I’ve been actually wanting ahead to this as my profession has gone on. And now, lastly, to be in 12 months 9 and have my first alternative, I simply can’t watch for it. I believe it’s going to be actually, actually good hockey and one thing that everyone ought to stay up for.”
Maurice isn’t planning to go to the match. He thinks he’ll keep dwelling and benefit from the Panthers’ 12-day break earlier than resuming observe on Feb. 20 and getting again into recreation motion on Feb. 22 in opposition to Seattle.
“We’ve received so many individuals concerned with it. Personally, I’m very ,” Maurice stated. “If we didn’t have as many individuals, I nonetheless suppose it’s actually, actually good for the sport. It’s really finest probably for the followers as a result of they will cheer for a unique workforce they usually get to cheer for his or her nation in-season, which I believe is nice. The blokes that get to go to this match, they received’t neglect it.”
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