NHL opening round quick hits: Panthers vs. Islanders

Vitals
Florida: (47-26-9) 1st in Atlantic Division
New York: (45-27-10) 4th in Metropolitan Division

Season Series
The Panthers won two of the three meetings between the two teams this season.

Looking at the Matchup
The Isles enter these playoffs with a bevy of injuries. They will have to start the first round without starting netminder Jaroslav Halak, and it has not yet been determined whether top defenseman Travis Hamonic will be healthy enough to start Game 1. That puts even more pressure on the shoulders of captain John Tavares, who will try to get his team past the first round for the first time since 1993.

Hamonic is reportedly pushing to be ready for Game 1 to help the Isles go up against a Florida team that has been one of the toasts of the 2015-16 season. (Surely, fake rats raining onto the ice and surprise appearances in the stands from Kevin Spacey add a bit to the fantasy-like campaign.) Florida found success with Roberto Luongo between the pipes, an Aaron Ekblad-fueled defense, and a top line featuring Jonathan Huberdeau, Aleksander Barkov and, of course, Jaromir Jagr.

Quotables
“Last year we were battling for respect, and this year we earned a playoff spot. I don’t hear ‘are you for real’ a lot anymore. Our team and coaches from around the league know we’re a good team. We believe that. We didn’t sneak up on anyone. We’re a good team, we’re getting better every day, and it has been a lot of fun so far.’’ —Gerard Gallant, coach Florida Panthers ( via The Miami Herald)