Stepping Up
The words of gloom and doom have faded and the Florida Panthers have steadily climbed up the Eastern Conference standings these last couple of weeks. Much credit must go to Head Coach Pete De Boer that has managed to get the players focused better on an individual level and also most crucially; playing as a team. The playoffs are within reach, despite the loss against Vancouver on Sunday, and the next game will be against the Panthers ever-rivals for that elusive playoff place – Carolina Hurricanes.
Exciting Hockey times seem to finally have returned to the Sunshine State…
Thinking back over the last few weeks, when Florida turned their season around, there seems to be several important keys for unlocking the secrets of this surprising string of successes:
One is the injuries that befell the Panthers. Now, normally, you wouldn’t consider injuries as a positive, but strangely enough it helped propel the Panthers on the path to success. Indeed, it seems the injuries to so-called star players had the desired effect of giving playtime and confidence to players normally not considered for the top lines. Especially the line of Campbell, Peltonen and Dvorak led the way in scoring and transforming confidence. New recruit Nick Tarnasky, skillful rookie Michael Frolik, playmaker Stephen Weiss and faceoff specialist Kamil Kreps have all, to Coach Pete De Boers delight, stepped up in a notable fashion. Young charges sent up from Rochester Americans helped supply much needed energy and enthusiasm to the complementary lines. In fact, all through the four forward units players were noticeably starting to enjoy being on the ice <em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">playing the game</em>. With confidence and sheer enjoyment of being on the ice, also inevitably, come results.
Another key is paradoxically; the lack of injuries. The lack of injuries within the defensive units to be more specific. It seems the injuries lately have been confined to the forward lines, while the defense has been able to remain healthy. Panther’s strength this year, inexorably after the trade of Jokinen, lies in its strong defense. At the moment the team has six very competent defenders, which after some early injuries, now has been given the time to gel in respective pairings.
Stability in the defensive lines gives confidence moving forward. The defenders have increasingly taken on the task of assisting in the offensive play, and no one more dramatically so than Jay Bouwmeester – who now incredibly leads, not only the way in a directional sense, but also his team in points.
Connected to defense is goaltending and the solid displays of Craig Anderson can’t be underestimated. While getting good support from the defenders, limiting many shots from harmless angles, Anderson still supplied an important element to the goaltending situation; namely competition. Tomas Vokoun seems to be the kind of goaltender that relishes and rises with a challenge; something Anderson squarely has put on his shoulders after being sat out in most recent games. Riding the form of Anderson has given the Panthers players an injection of confidence and Andy certainly hasn’t disappointed. Taking on a more serious look of late, he has made some important steps toward becoming a No.1 goalie of the future – Vokoun will have to rise to the challenge and up his game, which wasn’t quite up to his high standards early on in the season. With a solid performance against Calgary, Vokoun will however be back in goal against the Canes tomorrow and hopefully he’ll now be at his forceful best in front of the net.
Stepping up their game has put the Panthers back into contention, but a few losses could quickly rock the boat, so it is crucial to be back to winning ways against the Canes. With some top liners returning to the starting line-up (Booth, Stillman, Horton, Vokoun) there is much to play for and prove. Coach De Boer has shown he won’t have patience with underperforming players, no matter how much money they earn; they must still earn his professional respect. If first team players don’t play with the heart and energy of a McArdle, Repik, Glass, Sprukts or Matthias, Coach knows where to find them…
Indeed, I couldn’t agree more!! Coach De Boer has certainly showed his tactis work effectively, with the pressure and competitiveness instilled and rewards being given to those who work hard.
I’m impressed with the team as of late and can only hope they all keep up the winner’s attitude they’ve had – which I’m sure has contributed to the overall performance – as we always say, confidence does play a big part!!!
Well written, a very good summary of the team’s current standing!!!