The Panthers have made the Stanley Cup Playoffs once the past five seasons (2015-16). They're on their fifth coach in five seasons. When 2017-18 began, they were adjusting once again. They started 4-8-2.
But they went 8-8-3 over their next 19 games, and are 6-2-1 in their past nine entering their game against the Calgary Flames at BB&T Center on Friday (7:30 p.m. ET; FS-F, SNF, NHL.TV).
Although they lost to the Detroit Red Wings 4-2 at Little Caesars Arena on Jan. 5, they trailed 2-0, tied it 2-2 and played better than the score indicated. They defeated the St. Louis Blues 7-4 at Scottrade Center on Tuesday, after falling behind 2-0 again. Trocheck had three points (two goals, one assist). He has 17 points (seven goals, 10 assists) in his past 17 games.
"Earlier in the year, a little bit too much panic, not enough confidence," Trocheck said. "We have a great team in here. I feel like we have a lot of great young players that make plays and put the puck in the back of the net, that know what they're doing out there. It's just a matter of kind of getting that confidence into our game."
Trocheck said he thought back to 2015-16, his first full season in Florida. He looked up to defenseman Erik Gudbranson, his teammate then. Even though Gudbranson was less than two years older, he was in his fifth full season in Florida. He might as well have been a wise, old vet.
Well, now Trocheck is in his third full season in Florida and has played 270 NHL games. Ekblad, 21, is in his fourth and has played 269. Barkov, 22, is in his fifth and has played 293. Huberdeau, 24, is in his sixth and has played 345. Bjugstad, 25, the No. 19 pick in 2010, is in his fifth and has played 322.
"We have, I think, enough experience that the age doesn't really make much of a difference now," Trocheck said. "We know what it takes to make it to the playoffs. We've been there. We can kind of have that experience in the back of our heads. …
"It's that time. … I think that's kind of sunk in for me now. I may not be older than a lot of guys on the team, but I have played a lot of games and I have kind of seen what it takes. I've had a few different coaches. I've had different points of view that I've been able to kind of take from each of them."