The intense playoff series between the Florida Panthers and the New York Rangers has been filled with exciting moments and unexpected actions. One such incident occurred during a second-period skirmish when the Rangers’ Chris Kreider yanked Panthers star Matthew Tkachuk’s mouth guard out of his mouth and tossed it in the air. Although Kreider claimed not to remember the incident, Tkachuk found humor in it, saying that it was the best play Kreider made all game.
Tkachuk, known for his habit of chewing on his mouth guard rather than wearing it properly, didn’t realize that if the mouth guard had left the ice, Kreider could have faced disciplinary action. Fortunately, the mouth guard stayed on the playing surface, sparing Kreider any consequences. Tkachuk mentioned that this wasn’t the first time an opposing player had grabbed his mouth guard but couldn’t recall who had done it previously.
Panthers coach Paul Maurice offered an interesting perspective on the situation, questioning the trend of players removing their mouth guards after scoring goals or during overtime. He jokingly remarked that just a few years ago, standing within six feet of someone was frowned upon due to the COVID-19 pandemic, yet now mouth guards were flying everywhere.
In another key moment of the game, Blake Wheeler, playing his first game since recovering from a leg injury, found himself in the penalty box during overtime. After a turnover by the Rangers’ Mika Zibanejad, Wheeler fought for possession of the puck but ultimately hooked Panthers’ captain Aleksander Barkov. Although Wheeler took responsibility for his actions and expressed regret, he acknowledged that he would make the same decision again in hindsight.
Despite Wheeler’s penalty, the Panthers capitalized on their power play and secured a victory with Sam Reinhart’s goal just 72 seconds into overtime. The Panthers’ power play has been particularly effective in recent games, scoring five times in their last three outings. Reinhart’s game-winning goal showcased the team’s quick one-touch passing, with each skater touching the puck within a span of 13 seconds.
Artemi Panarin, a key player for the Rangers, saw a decrease in ice time during Game 4, playing only 16:06, his lowest of the playoffs. Coach Peter Laviolette explained that defensive-zone faceoffs resulted in Panarin’s line getting fewer opportunities, but he expressed satisfaction with their performance.
As the series between the Panthers and Rangers heats up, both teams will need to rely on their star players and make strategic adjustments to gain an advantage. The intensity and unpredictability of playoff hockey continue to captivate fans and players alike.