Game on.
“I always have something like that in my mind,” Kulikov smiled when asked to recount his bone-shattering hit. “I like physicality in the game. I’m not always looking for a big hit, but when the opportunity present itself, when it lines up like that, it ended up being a good hit.”
During the post-game press conference after the win, Matthew Tkachuk’s eyes grew big when he stared down at the scoresheet in front of him before answering a question about the physical nature of the contest.
“Everybody got a hit it says there,” the star winger said. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen that.”
After leading the NHL with an impressive 2,339 hits during the regular season, it should come as no surprise that the Panthers continued with their physical approach in Game 1.
With 17 of 18 skaters registering multiple hits for the Panthers, Eetu Luostarinen led the way with six. Overall, the third line of Luostarinen, Evan Rodrigues and Anton Lundell was by far the most hit-happy in Game 1, combining for 14 hits in the win.
The goal now is to bring that same intensity in Game 2.
“It was a fun game to play,” Stenlund said. “That’s how it is in playoffs.”
BIG NIGHT AT THE BANK
Speaking of intensity, fans in South Florida need to give themselves a pat on the back.
With just a few more than the usual “six fans” you read about on social media filling up the building, 19,356 supporters cheered on the Panthers to victory during a wild Game 1 in Sunrise.
For players, it was a spectacle to both see and hear.
“It was electric,” Kulikov said of the atmosphere. “When you came out you saw all the red sticks or whatever and all that red in the stands. It was so loud that you couldn’t hear anything other than fans screaming. That really got me going and everybody, for sure.”