Consistency, scoring touch of Evan Rodrigues boosting Panthers during Stanley Cup Final
The depth of the Florida Panthers has been a major talking point when discussing the success and improvements the team has shown year over year.
Florida reached the Stanley Cup Final last season, but Panthers General Manager Bill Zito was not satisfied, knowing the team could be even better with a few tweaks here and there.
Zito made several moves during the offseason, adding depth to both the back line and the forward ranks.
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One of those key additions who often flew under the radar when talking heads discussed the changes to the forward ranks is Evan Rodrigues.
He’s come in and played wherever and however Florida Head Coach Paul Maurice has asked, skating on each of the team’s top three lines and with just about every forward at one point of the season or another.
While the effort and talent levels have never come into question, Rodrigues really seemed to turn a corner as the regular season entered the home stretch.
“You probably go back six, seven weeks into the regular season, maybe even longer than that, but then the last month and a half for sure, his game, he just became more and more impactful in everything that he did,” Maurice said.
That may have been the case, but Rodrigues seems to have taken things up a notch in recent weeks.
During the first three rounds of the postseason, Rodrigues racked up a respectable three goals and eight points through Florida’s 17 games.
Once the Stanley Cup Final began, however, something clicked.
Rodrigues leads all Panthers with four goals and six points in the six Stanley Cup Final games.
Regardless of whether he’s skated next to Sasha Barkov, Sam Bennett or Anton Lundell, Rodrigues has maintained his consistency on both ends of the ice while pacing the team in the offensive department.
“We've moved him around, and now wherever he goes, he seems to get the people going that he’s playing with, and become that kind of player for us,” Maurice said.
Now Rodrigues and the Panthers are just one win away from a Stanley Cup championship.
Sure, they’ve been in that situation for a good week now, but it’s still a great spot to be in.
“We’ve got to win one game,” Rodrigues said. “it’s as simple as that.”
Florida has two more opportunities to get it done, starting Friday in Edmonton.
Considering the Panthers have been one of the league’s best road teams through the regular season and playoffs, they’re feeling good about their chances.
“Go up there and we’ve got to win one game,” Rodrigues said. “That’s our mindset and that’s what we’re going to do.”
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