Kyle Okposo, Kevin Stenlund Talk Barkov Return to Florida Panthers, Game 3 of Cup Finals at Edmonton

Kyle Okposo, Kevin Stenlund Talk Barkov Return to Florida Panthers, Game 3 of Cup Finals at Edmonton

got a two first for o what do they mean to see barkie back out there for practice today uh it was great you know it’s nice to nice to have him out there and um yeah it’s uh you know obviously uh he’s a huge part of our team maybe the biggest piece of our team so um yeah it was great great time that he was out there and then for we talk about face offs throughout this year in the playoffs or not you guys are really dominating the circle through two games like you’re at like 70% something just how important is that in this series in particular when you want to keep possession away from the Oilers yeah it’s it’s obviously it’s a huge piece of every game um so got got to stick that stick to it and and keep working on front right two questions for for both of you guys uh first Paul’s kind of mentioned u a couple times that the series against Boston got mean I think is the word he used um after everything happened in game to you guys anticipate the series getting meaner and then also you guys were up against Edmonton’s top line for a little while in game two just you know how what’s working so well for you guys defending uh you know McDavid and those guys go first I I think just uh trying to stay calm trying to stay patient I mean pressure when we can and obviously they still SK guys but but just press when we can and and and U be hard yeah I mean obviously team defense is something that I think we do pretty well and um I don’t think many players around the league are winning a foot race against 97 but um you know I think that it’s it’s defending by committee and you know as far as the series getting me I mean it’s it’s a standing Cup finals I think both teams are are pretty desperate to win obviously and mo motions are going to be high and Ratchet it up and you know we’re looking forward to game three left side front R you ad for two games you need two wins to win the St cup do you allow that to enter enter your mind that you’re two away well I it’s going to be impossible not to be on your mind but in saying that when you go to the rink or when you’re preparing for the game you’re preparing for one game and that said your your next game is is always the most important one so we’re focusing on on game three you know obviously you can you can think about the the bigger picture if you want but but once it’s time to go there’s no thoughts of that it’s about your next shift it’s about the next period the next game front right George this question is for both of you guys if you don’t mind answer you guys are such a strong defensive team but um how big has Sergey bosi been not only the first two games of this series but throughout the whole playoffs I know he didn’t have to carry the load the first three rounds but just in general all all postseason well been unbelievable the whole season uh he’s there when we need him uh and obviously he gives us give us a lot of confidence and playing our game and we know when we have him in the back yeah it’s it’s phenomenal just to watch him work every day and he makes all these saves and he’s always in the right position it seems like during the games and that’s not by accident it’s because of how dialed in he is in his preparation so so uh I think that’s been the most the fun part for me is is just watching her every day and how it’s translating to the games uh front left Kevin how do you think I was you didn’t give a power goal in game one either but how do you think your PK was better last game as far as you lied your shots it seem like changes well I think first of all as we’re mentioned here before is we want to face offs uh and we got to clear right away and kill s some time and then just uh just trying to pressure when we can and and obviously you got to be smart you can’t just force pressure uh but pressure when you can and then get the the CLE your go differential and the third period has been really impressive this cup run um on the road is it more of a mentality like it’s an even game to score um is the mentality any different I guess on the road in a in a tight game in the third period I don’t think so I think we’re pretty comfortable in those types of games these guys you know well before I got here have been playing a brand of hockey that you know is is suited for a game like that and that’s one thing that has really been apparent to me since I’ve been here is how comfortable we are in those types of games and how well our game translates to those situations so um you I think that we just on the road even more so you stick to your game plan and you you stick to the things that that know that work for us and that’s what we continue to do left side second row uh this question is for both of you you mentioned barov importance to the team obviously but you’ve also gotten a lot from other guys on the team like EV and Nico how big is that and how important is that in a series on this yeah it just talks about us as a team I feel like U we get goals from pretty much everyone um it just we have a lot of Fai in this in this group and feel like a lot of guys stepping up yeah I think goes to what Kevin said and everyone plays the right way so there’s going to be opportunities just through how we play and it doesn’t really matter which line is getting those opportunities it’s just um kind of the nature of our game and what we do so when you see a guy like Evan scoring a couple goals last game it’s just I mean it’s just phenomenal for everybody we’re everyone’s extremely happy for anybody else that scores obviously this time of year that’s how it’s going to be but we have a lot of different guys that can contribute in the offense that there are no more questions than time guys thank thank you fellows

Florida Panthers Kyle Okposo and Kevin Stenlund talk before their team’s flight to Edmonton on Wednesday, June 12, 2024.

The Panthers beat the Edmonton Oilers 4-1 in Game 2 of the 2024 Stanley Cup Final on Tuesday and have a 2-0 lead in the series.

Game 3 on Thursday night at 8 p.m. (ABC) in Edmonton.

Barkov Back on the Ice for Panthers: https://floridahockeynow.com/sasha-barkov-is-back-with-the-florida-panthers/

Paul Maurice In Better Mood: https://floridahockeynow.com/better-call-paul-maurice-in-better-mood-following-dour-presser/

Panthers In Control, Lose Barkov to Head Shot: https://floridahockeynow.com/florida-panthers-4-edmonton-oilers-1-game-2-stanley-cup-final-barkov/

Gretzky Has Praise for Barkov: https://floridahockeynow.com/the-great-sasha-wayne-gretzky-has-high-praise-for-barkov/

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On Monday night, the Panthers trailed 1-0 before Niko Mikkola tied the score in the second.

Evan Rodrigues scored twice in the third — including on the power-play resulting from the Barkov hit — with Aaron Ekblad adding an empty net.

Sergei Bobrovsky had 18 saves; Anton Lundell had two primary assists.

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