Optimism Abound
It is not often one can claim optimism to be thriving – when the topic is Florida Panthers Hockey, but indeed good things are starting to happen. Pieces in the puzzle seem to be falling in to place. Not only are to team playing an aggressive, hard working style of Hockey – which is paying dividends, but the latest news is that FOX Sports Florida have reached an agreement with the Panthers for a multi-year extension. For next season a good 70 games will be aired, a great relief to all South Floridian Cats – who will now get a chance to see many more games than has been the case this year.
One game we won’t see on local TV is tonight’s clash with the Carolina Hurricanes. It is an important game, as it always is when meeting the Canes, and some optimism can perhaps overflow in to this context as well. While we still have great difficulties against the North Carolinians, we snatched a point last time out in Raleigh and of course this game is played on home ice.
If fans can generate a raucous atmosphere inside the Bank Atlantic Center, that is also bound to help the cause. As stated in a previous blog; this is the time for Panther fans to rally around their team and help them over the hump which is playoff Hockey.
We’re only half-way there yet, but, as General Manager Jacques Martin said before leaving Toronto: “This month, is going to be critical”.
With seven of the next nine games to be played in Sunrise, the Panthers here have a golden opportunity to start their playoff push in earnest. If they can stack up some wins we might suddenly find ourselves in the elusive Top 8 of the Eastern Conference before soon. We are, after all, only two and three points respectively, behind Buffalo and Pittsburgh (8th and 9th in the Conference). Five points behind tonight’s Carolina opponent (7th) and seven behind the Devils (6th). It is a tight race this year, apart from the Boston Bruins and Washington Capitals – who are in a race for the President’s trophy on their own in the East, and the Cats could easily start climbing in the standings; if they go on another extended winning streak. And when you look on the upcoming opponents – that doesn’t look like an impossibility.
Hopefully the Panther players aren’t starting to look ahead too much however, last time they relaxed and got too self-assured; we lost four straight games against opposition we’d normally expect to beat. So, while there is no place for overconfidence within the squad – they simply can’t afford that luxury, we fans can however dream a little and lend our voices to the cause.
Carolina will perhaps be the most difficult game this month. They have found their stride and the points have been trickling in on a regular basis. Also, they will no doubt enter the Bank Atlantic Center with good memories and customary poise and it will be up to the players and crowd to knock them off from their moorings.
Key is not to give them any chances on the power-play and here of course home fans always play a big part; officials are only human and habitually find themselves intimidated by a vociferous crowd – giving the home side the advantage (look at our last Toronto outing if you are in doubt; the ref frequently gave the Leafs the benefit of doubt, while being overzealous when it came to Panther penalties. While it could be argued Panthers are more often than not at the receiving end of biased refereeing, you could also simply state that Florida doesn’t have the same strident backing as many Northern teams have, and if we did, this might not be such an issue in the first place).
The importance of “the seventh player” cannot be underestimated, but neither can any opposing team. The Panthers have this season showed that they can outwork and defeat any team in the league on their day (consider when we beat the Sharks and gave Detroit a run for their money at the Bank Atlantic Center). But, we can also lose against the basement boys, as we remember vividly still (Tampa Bay and NY Islanders). We must take a game at a time and stealing some points from Carolina would be very satisfactory indeed. It would nevertheless not be right to state it as being a “must win” game, as we have continued home advantage and there is plenty of time to rebound – not least against Saturday’s opponent Atlanta. Hopefully we won’t need to consider that option, however.
Finally a reason for optimism is that Florida players are long last starting to rack up some numbers. In fact all Panther players have been chipping in of late and no longer is a defenseman (Bo of course) leading us in points, as both Weiss and Booth are stacking up some respectable stats. Defensemen Bouwmeester and McCabe are nonetheless still in the internal scoring top 5; which is a testament both to Panthers offensive play (utilizing a defender as fourth forward when gaining momentum) and its power-play; which has been firing on all cylinders. Role players, like the Peltonen – Campbell – Dvorak line, has been regularly contributing firepower, whilst youngster Frolik is having a breakout season. It doesn’t harm the team none to have two match winning goaltenders, in Anderson and Vokoun, either of course…
All in all the equation looks good and GM Jacques Martin and Head Coach Peter DeBoer have done a great job so far in transforming the team and building a winning mentality – arguably the hardest thing to accomplish in Pro-sports. So if we feel optimistic, it’s not just that fruitless hope we have felt before, it is because – this time – it’s warranted by the ever grey area that is Hockey statistics. There are no guarantees, but reason enough to look forward to the second half of the season with renewed vigor.
I feel optimistic! The fact is we are ONLY half way through – and with all that road ahead, we can surely continue the winning streak and make it to the playoffs. The question is, do the FLorida Panthers players want it enough? If they do, I have no doubt they will succeed – I believe they have what it takes this season (finally!!)
I also think that if the fans flock to the Bank Atlantic Center and show their support, it can not only be beneficial for the confidence of the players on home ice, but like you said, make the refs think twice about their calls, as we see so clearly with the Canadian teams.
While morning the lack of TV for tonight’s game, I do look forward to more TV games next season, as it is tough to make it to every live game. That’s very good news!!