Roblogg’s Panthers Portal

A couple of Panthers threats to that eighth spot, and beyond, were in action yesterday as the race tightens further. Making the playoffs will be a momentous task for Florida, but on the bright side we have fate in our own hands – with plenty of home matches and games to spare on the closest opponents. Winning against Philly was a great scalp, coming out from the All Star break, but there is no room for error as all teams get in to playoff mode.

The Panthers were hoping from more helping hands from Rangers, after they beat Carolina in their previous game, before taking last night’s trip to the steel city. Sidney Crosby returned from injury for the Pittsburgh Penguins and stated assertively that the playoffs start here. And a playoff game it was as the Penguins and Rangers were locked in crunching action. It was tied at one going in to the third period, but then the scene exploded and Pittsburgh ended up winning the period 5-1, and the game 6-2.

Pittsburgh finally started playing as a team and Captain Crosby deserves some credit for this revitalization. He had four points on the night, including a spectacular backhand shot – buried deep in to the top corner. Kris Letang also contributed with timely goals (2) and Florida need to take the threat posed by the Penguins seriously. We all know the level of talent in the squad and what they are able to do on their day (after all they were Stanley Cup finalists just last year). Level on points as us, but with a couple of games more played; who would bet against the Penguins making the playoffs? Not me.

All the more important then to catch up with the Sabres, and perhaps one of the other teams ahead of them, if we don’t want to bite our collective Cat claws all the way down the wire in April. Buffalo played again yesterday in Northwestern Canada, this time in Calgary. The Flames were well warned following Sabres 10-2 undressing of the Oilers the previous night and turned out to be too hot to handle for the visitors. The home side formed a different challenge entirely and there was always an element of control in their 5-2 win. Mike Cammalleri scored a hattrick and former Panther Todd Bertuzzi chipped in with the game winning goal, as it later turned out to be.

Good news for Florida that the Sabres finally lost, and so; we have a chance tonight to move within one point of them by beating the Canadiens – who are on a three game losing streak – sitting merely eight points ahead of us in the table. A win tonight and they too are within striking distance. Montreal’s last loss, their first after the All Star festivities, came at Tampa Bay, losing 3-5.

Whilst most Panthers sneer contemptuously at what the Lightning have been up to this season, fact is that they’ve won their last three and have been in scorching form since the Christmas break. They are now eight points out of the playoff race, but if they can continue to keep up their play at a consistent top-level and get the star players to continue shining; we can’t yet count them out of the race either. Later today they travel to North Carolina for an important game against the faltering Hurricanes. With the teams respective in-form-temperature-gage going in opposite directions, it remains uncertain what result would be best for the Cats. But of utmost significance – is that it doesn’t become a three point contest.

Elsewhere highflying Bruins entertain the red-hot Devils, whilst at the bottom the Thrashers entertain the Islanders. Ottawa and Toronto travel west for games against St. Louis and Colorado respectively. None of these games are expected to have any immediate effect on the Panthers, but as we next head to New York to meet the Islanders; an eye might be glanced at their direction to assess their current form: After all there are no easy games and we did lose that last time we played in the Nassau Coliseum on New Year’s Eve.

So, with all the action elsewhere and all the possible outcomes of those contests, the most important one is indubitably the game we play inside the Bank Atlantic Center. We are 0-2-1 against the Canadiens this season and need to change those statistics. A win would be priceless, but will undoubtedly come at the price of a sizeable Panther effort; all players need to perform tonight!

Hopefully Thomas Vokoun can continue his solid ways between the pipes – it will be necessary. We also need a couple of pucks bouncing our way whilst remaining unyielding at the back – as there is no room to err in a tight game as this will almost certainly be; and with Pittsburgh, Tampa Bay and Buffalo doing what they can to take the playoffs spots up for grab away from us – the Panthers must defend what we currently have with every drop of blood and sweat available.

Bust or break, it’s now or never; if we are to realize our playoff dreams and ambitions!

Similar Articles:

• The Playoff Race Tightens Up – Eastern Conference
• Pre-playoff Action in the East
• A Positive Line

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