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After tough Game 1, Kindl likely to be healthy scratch

Tyler Kennedy,  Jakub Kindl

New Jersey Devils’ Tyler Kennedy (48) moves the puck as Florida Panthers’ Jakub Kindl (46), of the Czech Republic, defends during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, March 31, 2016, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Luis M. Alvarez)

AP

After suffering a 5-4 defeat at the hands of the New York Islanders in the series opener, it seems the Florida Panthers are tweaking their lineup for Game 2 on Friday.

Defenseman Jakub Kindl is on course to be a healthy scratch based on this morning’s practice, per the Miami Herald’s George Richards. It looks like Michael Matheson will take his place.

Kindl logged just 12:30 minutes of ice time in Game 1 and didn’t look good in the sequence that led to Ryan Strome’s game-winning goal, as you can see below:

At the age of 22, Matheson has three regular season games under his belt and has never participated in an NHL playoff contest. That being said, he’s one of the Panthers’ top defensive prospects after being taken with the 23rd overall pick in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.

In other news, Panthers coach Gerard Gallant put to rest any doubt about the team’s goaltending situation. Not that it will come as a surprise, but goaltender Roberto Luongo will start in his second game in as many days, as reported by George Richards.