Claude Giroux a perfect fit with the Florida Panthers

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When Claude Giroux was traded to the Florida Panthers, the assumption was he would play up on the top line with Sasha Barkov and that would be that.

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Then, he started playing with Jonathan Huberdeau and Sam Bennett and things went very well.

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On Thursday, the Panthers lined up for Game 2 against the Washington Capitals with Giroux — a certain future Hall of Famer — on their third line.

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The Panthers, coach Andrew Brunette has professed throughout this season, is a selfless bunch.

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“I think our locker room, our guys are very easy to get along with,” Brunette said before Florida beat the Capitals 5-1 on Thursday night.

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“They are very welcoming and treat everyone the same. We don’t have any big egos. And that comes from our captain.

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We are a very comfortable team to come into. And I think G is an unassuming guy. He is a superstar, but he’s like a little kid who loves to play hockey, loves to compete.

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Keeler: Smashville is toast. Cale Makar is the jam.

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