Florida Panthers: Top 3 players who must step up to beat Islanders

To beat the New York Islanders, the Florida Panthers will need these players to lead the way.

For the first time since 2016, the Florida Panthers are in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Yes, it took an expanded postseason for them to get in, but who cares? They’re in! Waiting for them in the play-in round will be the same team that eliminated them in 2016 – the New York Islanders.

The Panthers are going to be the underdogs in this series. During the regular season, the Islanders beat the Panthers each of the three times they met and outscored them 8-4. However, an upset is quite possible in a five-game series. But for that to happen, the Panthers will need a few of their players to step up.

3. Anton Stralman

Aaron Ekblad will be important to the Panthers’ success as well, but Anton Stralman might be the most important defenseman on the team against the Islanders. That’s because it wasn’t Ekblad who drew the most minutes against Islanders star center Mathew Barzal during the regular season. Rather, it was Stralman.

To beat the Isles, you’ve got to shut down Barzal because the Islanders rely pretty heavily on him. And to be fair, he can be handful to try and stop. Barzal didn’t win the Fastest Skater Competition for no reason. He’s lightning fast. And what’s scarier is Barzal can make plays at his top speed.

During the regular season, the Panthers were outscored 3-0 at 5v5 when Stralman was on the ice against Barzal. Either Stralman needs to do a better job or Ekblad needs to be the primary guy assigned to shutdown Barzal. In either case, Stralman is going to have to do better against the Islanders.

The Panthers signed Stralman last summer to ease the pressure on Ekblad. If he can help the Panthers limit the damage done by Barzal, he’ll be worth his contract.