Florida Panthers Game 2 updates and lineup news

LAS VEGAS — We are just a few hours away from puck drop in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final between the Florida Panthers and Vegas Golden Knights.

Earlier today, Panthers head coach Paul Maurice announced that forward Eetu Luostarinen would miss his second straight game tonight. 

Luostarinen left Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals on May 24 against Carolina with an injury and did not return – he hasn’t played since.

Veteran forward Zac Dalpe came into the lineup in place of Luostarinen in Game 1. He is expected to remain in the lineup tonight for his 11th game of the postseason. 

Maurice was asked pre-game about the “opportunity” that has been given to Dalpe this year. 

“I’m not giving him the opportunity. The opportunity was going to somebody and he took it. He made it be him,” Maurice said about the 33-year-old. “Right now he’s playing in the Stanley Cup Final… He’s gonna build some of the most important hockey memories of his career toward the end of his career.”

Trailing 1-0 in the series, the Panthers need the win tonight to split the series before heading back to Sunrise for home ice — and they are confident they can get it done.

“Obviously it would have been so nice to get the win out of Game 1, but we came here to Vegas to try to get home ice back so all it needs to happen is a win tonight for us and we got that,” Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk said. “That’ll be a successful road trip for us.”

The Panthers players seem to be relaxed heading into tonight’s matchup — already putting the Game 1 loss behind them.

“Whether you win or lose Game 1, you just got to get ready for Game 2 and kind of put down the past,” Panthers defensemen Josh Mahura said.

Puck drop for Game 2 will be at 8 p.m. EST., 5 p.m. PST. from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, NV.

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