Panthers’ ‘fresh blood’ helped get them back to Stanley Cup Final

FORT LAUDERDALE Most of the Florida Panthers roster was with the team last year when they lifted the Stanley Cup for the first time in franchise history.But an infusion of new blood has helped keep things fresh and drive Florida to its third consecutive Stanley Cup Final and a chance at a title repeat.We wouldnt be here without them, Panthers winger Matthew Tkachuk said.

Its nothing against what we had last year, years prior, but I just feel like if youre going to win it again, you need that fresh blood and you need that fresh intensity and the drive.

We have that as well, but you just need that little bit of a different look, and we have that this year.

And love the new pieces that we have and that we were able to add, whether it was at the beginning of the year or the deadline.Just their personalities that fit right in, first and foremost, and their work ethic and after that, their game speaks for itself, but we have some of the best guys in that room, and the new guys are just perfect additions.

So yeah, we really want to win it again for ourselves and for the guys that havent experienced it yet because it is the most incredible thing.Some of the players, like Jesper Boqvist, Nate Schmidt and A.J.

Greer, arrived in the offseason as general manager Bill Zito looked to fortify the championship roster.

The Panthers also added at the trade line, picking up a pair of veterans in defenseman Seth Jones and forward Brad Marchand.Coach Paul Maurice said he and his coaching staff stick to the hockey aspect of preparing players, and the players inform each other of what to expect in the championship round.

Tkachuk said he does not expect the players day-to-day routine to change too much even as the pressure and media spotlight amps up during the Final.Nothings really too different from the playoffs, Tkachuk said.

They obviously get a little bit crazier and crazier each round.

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I dont think anything would be as crazy as playing when youre playing the (Toronto Maple) Leafs.

So its not anything crazier than that, so the guys are prepared for that side of things.Marchand has a Stanley Cup to his name from his time in Boston, but Jones, who spent his career in Nashville, Columbus and Chicago, had never been past the second round of the playoffs until now.Related ArticlesDave Hyde: Panthers? Bad guys? Come on, theyre just that goodHow Aleksander Barkov set the tone for Panthers three Stanley Cup Final runsPanthers Brad Marchand says hes going to savor this trip to Cup finalGetting some revenge: Oilers look for redemption as they face Panthers in Stanley Cup once againRematch! Panthers to face Oilers again in Stanley Cup Final | ScheduleJones said his teammates have told him to enjoy the ride, and the veteran defender is looking forward to just getting started.Just have fun with it, Jones said.

Theres going to be ups and downs.

Theres going to be shifts, periods where you dont play great, where it seems like the other teams all over you and its the end of the world, but its not.Just continue to play our game.

We want to try to impose our will on them, and theyre trying to do the same.

So especially starting on the road, the guys have told me how great that building (and) the atmosphere is, how loud it is.

So just trying to understand how thats going to feel in that situation.Panthers center Brad Marchand skates during practice on Sunday in Fort Lauderdale.

(Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel).

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