20-05-2025
Addition of Brad Marchand to Panthers' third line has set trio ablaze during Stanley Cup Playoffs
It's pretty remarkable how strong and consistent the Florida Panthers' third line has been during the postseason.
Adding veteran Brad Marchand to the Anton Lundell, Eetu Luostarinen pair has been the secret sauce that has made the unit sing.
"It's been awesome getting to know him, he's a great guy," Lundell said of Marchand. "He has so much experience that he brings to the table, you can tell he's been a captain, and he acts like a captain. He's been a huge add for our group."
We've seen the young Finns flourish with a skilled winger added to the line – Sam Reinhart and Vladimir Tarasenko come to mind – but Marchand has taken the group to new heights.
"He stays calm, he knows how to motivate us," said Lundell. "At the same time, it's so fun to watch him, how he battles, his energy. He talks nonstop."
Through 12 playoff games, the trio has combined for 10 goals and 34 points, racking up 55 shots and combining for a ridiculous plus-31 on-ice rating.
Looking at the advanced metrics, when on the ice together at even strength, they are +14 in scoring chances, +8 in high danger scoring chances and have scored eight high danger goals while allowing none.
'There's a Brad Marchand effect there,' said Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice. 'He's effected those guys in such a positive way about thinking about the game and the small area plays. I felt those two young guys had it in them, but the role that I gave them stunted them. I don't want to let them do that, every puck deep, all that stuff, on and above it, get it deep, put the puck at the net. It's not a lot of creativity in the way that I coach, right? It's pretty simple. Brad comes in says, 'Hey, we can do all those things, but we can also make some plays around here, fellas.' And so it starts in practice, right? They start close supporting small area plays, and there's some hands there. Lundell, I think we knew, because he scored 18 as a rookie, but Eetu, he's got some pretty good hands.'
It doesn't matter which end of the ice they're playing in. Clearly, there is some serious chemistry between these three.
"Our line is just trying to work hard and be honest, and right now we're getting rewarded," said Luostarinen. "It feels nice."
The interesting thing about Marchand, the guy known for toeing the line and getting under players' skin, meshing with the two quiet young Finns is that Marchand has been an extremely positive influence and teammate for them.
'It's always positive,' Maurice said of Marchand. 'It's always, 'Stay in there, hang in there, that was great.' So we get these two young guys, especially Lundell, playing (with a guy) bordering on legendary status at this point, and he's pumping their tires, and he's just like every day excited. It's his personality that I didn't know. He's moved into the Matthew Tkachuk, where you hate them – that's a horrible word, but it's close – and then they get here and you go, you're the exact opposite person that I thought you were. He's just a wonderful human being.'
We'll see if Marchand and his new friends can keep it going as they begin the conference final on Tuesday night in Raleigh.
Stay tuned.
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Photo caption: May 9, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers center Brad Marchand (63) celebrates after scoring the game-winning goal against the Toronto Maple Leafs during overtime in game three of the second round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Amerant Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
