Gus Forsling & Tomas Nosek: Florida Panthers Off Day Before Game 2 @ Carolina Hurricanes

Gus Forsling & Tomas Nosek: Florida Panthers Off Day Before Game 2 @ Carolina Hurricanes

He’s so calm back there and uh you know it spreads to the rest of the team. Uh Jordan right here in the first round. Yeah, Tomas uh the last since you got back in the lineup, there have been some some times where you’ve had to move up. You had you played on the top line with Barov when Rodriguez got hurt. You played on the third line a few times when Marian got ejected and when Lendell got hurt. Just how much do you relish those opportunities and what do you does your mindset change at all when you’re given the extra responsibility, the extra opportunity? Um, no, I don’t think so. I try to keep uh keep my uh uh game simple and and doesn’t matter who I play with and uh try to do my best every time I’m step on the ice. Mike, same side. Uh Thomas, uh Paul joked after the game that how much he hated the play that that you made it that he got mocked on the bench because everybody seems to know that he doesn’t love those inside plays at the offensive blue line. uh you know, were you part of that on the bench because obviously it worked out. Yeah, I mean it’s uh if you make those plays, you have to make it and if you don’t, then you’re in trouble. That’s that’s for sure. over here to Greg. Thomas, uh, you are one of the, uh, few guys in that locker room that doesn’t have a Stanley Cup ring yet, and I was wondering when you were around so many people that have won already, is there any extra pressure when you get to the playoffs? Um, I don’t think there’s extra pressure because I don’t have a ring, but I want to I want that ring, too. That’s that’s one of the reason I joined the Panthers. And uh um I don’t think there is a extra pressure. It’s always pressure in playoffs. That’s what I like it. And it’s always uh it’s always fun games to to play in the playoffs. Back to Mike. Uh Gus, uh you know, obviously you’re known for, you know, being a gym rat and and working out. And I wanted to ask you about Babski. Uh Paul was talking yesterday, too, about how just he’s always in there with his routine, the Olympic lifting, things like that. I mean, how unique is that for a goalender and and um how cool is it for even somebody like you to see that that you’re not the only one? Yeah, I mean, uh Bob is, uh, you know, he’s he’s Bob. He’s doing his own thing and I mean, it’s working for him. Uh, you know, he’s a he always g gives you energy when you see him. He’s he’s in there working and gives you inspiration and and I think it spreads to the rest of the team. Everyone’s everyone’s in there working. So, uh, Bob’s a leader for sure, uh, on and off the ice. Jameson G’s been asking a lot of guys about Nico Mika, just outside of the play and the stuff on the edges, what does he bring to the group? Guys talk about how funny he is, how funny he is, just how much do you love being in that locker room with him? Do you have any good stories or anything like that? Uh, no. But he he’s he’s uh he’s very funny. you know, he’s uh he’s got a uh the Finnish uh accent, which is hilarious. Sometimes I don’t I don’t know what he’s saying, but he’s he always comes back to the bench saying something, and it’s it’s it’s hilarious. But uh you know, he’s been he’s been so good for us. So, I’m uh I’m really happy for him. Will Beck, you guys have been through so many of these, but I’m curious when you’re the road team and you win game one, how much does that impact the psychology of it or doesn’t? How do you avoid that trap of hey, we got one that kind of mentality? Uh to be honest, nothing really changed uh changed for us. We always trying to trying to get to our game and and and and play our hockey. Uh you know, last round we lost the first two. So, it’s always good to get the first one, but you know, now it’s reload, refocused, and get back at it tomorrow. Anything else for Gustav or Tomas? Gus, this is for you. Can you just describe what is it like playing against the Hurricanes when you know what they’re going to try to do? They’re predictable. They do it every game, but what is that like to play against? Uh, you know, it’s hard. Uh, they’re I I would say they try to play pretty similar that we do. Uh, put a lot of pressure, hard gap, and uh, you know, just the for check and and the sticks and the hits. So, I feel like we’re pretty similar and uh you know, it it’s a very hard game to play and and hard to play against. So, you do you think uh I mean for me I I always try to play the same way and and same with our team. We have the same game plan. You just got to be a little more aware that they’re they’re coming a little harder and uh they’re pinching and you just got to be know when you get the puck someone is is going to be on you. So that’s probably the biggest effort. Do one more if we need it, Mike. Sure. Gus, you know, Matthew was talking the other day, Kachchuck, about just how kind of you’re they’re slaving, you know, um and and you know, Slavven and you are known as two having two of the best sticks in the in the league. Um one, how much do you admire his game and and how do you work on that craft? Uh yeah. Yeah, he’s an he’s an awesome player. He’s he’s for sure one of the best demons in the league and you know just the way he plays uh I for sure look look uh look to play like he is and he’s got a great stick and great gap and you know all those things that that I’m trying to do as well. So, it’s something you try to work on in practice. Uh, even the simplest drills, you always try to knock puck down and and and have a good stick.

Florida Panthers Gus Forsling and Tomas Nosek speak on their off day after their team beat the host Carolina Hurricanes 5-2 in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, in Raleigh, N.C.

The Panthers are in the ECF for the third straight year.

Game 2 of the best-of-7 series is Thursday against the host Hurricanes at 8 p.m. (TNT)

Florida beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 6-1 in Game 7 of Round 2 on Sunday night. Six of its nine playoff wins have come on the road, and the Panthers have outscored Toronto and Carolina 17-4 over the past three wins.

How Brad Marchand Joined the Florida Panthers: https://floridahockeynow.com/brad-marchand-joins-florida-panthers-how-it-happened-nhl-trade-bruins/

2024 Stanley Cup Champions Honored at the White House: https://floridahockeynow.com/stanley-cup-champion-florida-panthers-honored-at-white-house/

Florida Panthers, Tampa Bay Lightning Bringing Hockey Outdoors – In Florida: https://floridahockeynow.com/nhl-outdoor-hockey-miami-tampa-florida-panthers-lightning/

The Florida Panthers Get Their Rings. They’re Spectacular: https://floridahockeynow.com/florida-panthers-get-stanley-cup-championship-rings-theyre-spectacular/

The Florida Panthers Are Stanley Cup Champions: https://floridahockeynow.com/can-you-believe-it-florida-panthers-are-stanley-cup-champs/

Tuesday, the Panthers took a 1-0 lead on a power-play goal from Carter Verhaeghe; Aaron Ekblad made it 2-0.

A.J. Greer scored in the second for a 3-1 lead. Sam Bennett and Eetu Luostarinen scored Florida’s final goals in the third.

Sergei Bobrovsky made 31 saves in the win.

For the most in-depth coverage of the Florida Panthers:
— Visit Florida Hockey Now — https://floridahockeynow.com

— Subscribe to Florida Hockey Now: https://floridahockeynow.com/membership-account/subscribe-to-fhn/

— Like Our Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/flahockeynow/

— On Bluesky:

* https://bsky.app/profile/georgerichards.bsky.social

—Follow us on Twitter: 

* https://twitter.com/GeorgeRichards

* https://twitter.com/thegovman

Video Courtesy Florida Panthers / Panthers Vision