Never Say Die
The Florida Panthers head coach Peter DeBoer has recently gone public in his praise of the team’s never-say-die attitude and playing right down to the final buzzer. It has given rise to some spectacular comebacks already this season; salvaging important points that looked long lost – when entering the final minutes in the third. Not least in that last game away to Toronto.
Overall it is a remarkable difference from previous years’ tame third period kittens; and the timid meow has now been replaced with a snarling growl!
Yet, yesterday really took the cake with a script Tinseltown would be proud of. But the common man would probably shrug their collective shoulders and say “typical Hollywood” with a scornful sneer. No wonder then that the crowd were literally on their way out of the stadium in the third period – after going 1-4 down to the Maple Leafs. Normally that would be “game set and match – Elvis has left the building”. But the buzzer had not yet sounded and the Panthers were back on the prowl 26 seconds later when Nathan Horton was presented with an open goal from a fortuitous Boynton bounce. Florida was happy to capitalize and it was game on…
Ville Peltonen then put the price firmly within range by stabbing in a rebound – to make it 3-4. But from then on it was the “Richard Zednik show” once again as he first tied the game then smacked home a delightful cross-ice pass from Cory Stillman – to win the game in overtime.
Not only the Maple Leafs looked stunned, but the entire Panthers nation was probably rubbing their eyes in disbelief: For the first time in franchise history the Florida Panthers had overcome a three goal deficit and won the game!!
Times are changing and so are Florida’s fortunes on the ice. Of course the team can’t keep digging holes for themselves, as they’ve done lately, and hope for a stunning third period riposte. As Washington proved in the previous game; such comebacks are hard to achieve if the opposing team is a skilled top-opponent brimming with confidence. And considering the up-coming Cats schedule will include Carolina, NY Rangers, Washington, New Jersey, Chicago and Boston – the need is there to get a better start in those contests: These are teams that won’t fold the way Toronto currently does (perhaps with the exception of Rangers).
Nonetheless this is a time for rejoice and ample sighs of relief, as the victory puts the Panthers above the Hurricanes in the standings – clinging to that eight spot – as indeed a trip to Raleigh is next on the agenda tomorrow.
Richard’s Ztory
What makes the game against Toronto the perfect Hollywood story is naturally the remarkable journey Richard Zednik has been through this last year. Yes, it was exactly one year ago yesterday that that horrific accident in Buffalo almost ended Zednik’s life.
Olli Jokinen’s skate unluckily flew up in a board tussle and lacerated Richard’s neck and almost severed his carotid artery. Fortunately Florida’s trainer Dave Zenobi reacted quickly and together with the Buffalo medical staff could stem the bleeding. An emergency operation at the hospital miraculously completed the life-saving mission. One year later and Richard Zednik is not only in good health, but incredibly in top form scoring crucial goals for the Panthers. Now that is a truly astonishing comeback!
Richard started this season carefully and has slowly but surely become more assured on the ice and now looks back to the form he displayed just before that accident a year ago. With yesterday’s game he has double digits in goals scored – including some real match winning gems – and has 22 points overall, is plus 6 and is increasingly starting to get in to a groove.
It will be needed if the Cats hope to squeeze in among the eastern eight. Zednik has that skill and flair to unlock opponents that otherwise is lacking in an industrious Florida offense. Pete DeBoer will be counting on Richard and the other veterans down the stretch to perform. And at this current crossroads – all lights are green as far as Zednik is concerned.
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