Resiliency Abound, but what about Consistency?
So the Florida Panthers won the game in Philly yesterday… *yawn*… What is it about these Cats anyway? What is their problem? How come they lose the most important games and then win the one’s no one expects them to have a chance of winning?
I mean, it’s great that they beat the Flyers and finally got two points on the board, but where was this defensive display when we really needed it? Against Pittsburgh, Buffalo and Carolina – these were the games we needed to win!
Again the Panthers show that there is a plentitude of resiliency in this team, yet somehow, they don’t seem to have the mental strength or wherewithal to close out games that really matter. It really is a mindboggling paradox, isn’t it?
Being best when it matters, or rather, the lack of that quality in Florida’s case; is what makes or breaks a team and their chance of success. Wednesday in Buffalo the Panthers broke – for the fifth time in a decisive crunch game – since the trade deadline. And that’s just not good enough!
That could equally be said about constantly rebounding from adversity too, winning in Philadelphia is great – but it won’t magically catapult us in to the playoffs.
Florida seem to always be a step behind the action and react to events unfolding, rather than being proactive and forcing the hand of lady luck, this is true for the timid Cats both on the ice and off it. Resiliency is a great trait to have in a hockey team, but what about consistency? Unless it’s consistently losing, as was the case for a long time (waaaay too long!) here in South Florida, it is actually quite necessary for success in any kind of league format.
And so it comes as no real surprise that we continue to trail the top eight with seven games to go on the regular season.
Meanwhile, as the Cats grounded the Flyers, the Canadiens took care of business against our fellow West Floridians. That means Montreal remain two points ahead of the Panthers in the standings; with one game in hand.
Considering that the Habs are rediscovering that long lost work ethic and the stars are starting to star; the future looks bleak indeed for the Cats. I reckon Florida need to win six of the seven remaining games – whilst praying for a French Canadian slip-up somewhere along the stretch.
That kind of feat is not only improbable, but low and behold, it will require a consistency level that the Panthers so far have not shown themselves capable of this season. So whilst beating the Flyers is always nice, especially in their own building, you’ll have to excuse this punter for being skeptical of Florida’s distant playoff hopes.
I think we had a great chance, but spurned it – over and over – and that the final straw, when we summarize the season, came in Buffalo. Yet, I hope I’m wrong. I just don’t think so…
What is your opinion:
Is it still realistic to hope for a playoff in South Florida?
And so, a couple of notes from last night’s game:
Craig Anderson was back in goal, and as usually is the case when called upon; he did a good job. Yet, the 40 saves he made were, with the exception of one or two, not of top-notch-quality. So it isn’t really reason enough to get all carried away just yet. The Florida Panthers website and coach Peter DeBoer will of course make a big deal of the number of saves, but they both have ulterior motives for that.
The Panthers franchise will grip at any straw of playoff hope and emerging heroes; as they are in the business of building hype and selling tickets. Meanwhile, Peter DeBoer’s recent criticism of Tomas Vokoun has put the Head Coach himself under the microscope: Is he really the man for the job? Can you treat a seasoned professional the same way you would a developing junior?
I remain skeptical to that last question, whilst still positive about the first, but fact is that Vokoun needed a break and Anderson fully deserved the chance to show his metal – at this time of the season.
All teams need to rotate their goaltenders to some extent, and it was long overdue that Tomas got a break from the heavy duty which it is to be guarding the Panthers’ net. After all, no other team in the NHL let the opposing teams shoot as much – and as unhindered – as the Cats do. Although; yesterday the defenders and forwards did actually step up to relieve the goalie by making manifold game-saving blocks.
Craig Anderson finally got another chance between the pipes against the Flyers and did well when facing 42 shots.
Brett McLean and his fourth line combinations continued to produce the goods. If only we had four lines working as hard as this line does every night… No matter who’s playing here, they always seem to do a good shift. The same can’t be said about the inconsistent top two lines. Some nights they have it in bunches and other nights they virtually disappear from the action altogether.
I’ve been critical of Brett McLean at times, especially in the beginning of season and at the turn of the New Year. But, to his credit, he has kept battling through adversity and is now starting to come up big down the stretch. Yesterday he scored in his second consecutive game and got the match-winner in the third period. It seems Brett thrives in the gritty run-in hockey style of play and is feeling more at home in the current playoff climate.
Shame that that isn’t the case with many others on the roster….
Trio in focus. Keith Ballard, Nick Boynton and Brett McLean come to Vokoun's rescue and clear the puck vs. the Carolina Hurricanes. This trio has been stellar of late, unfortunately that can't be said about the rest of the team.
Keith Ballard and Nick Boynton just love playing together, don’t they! Bench Boynton and Ballard suddenly looks like a ghost of his former self. Pair them together and magical – hard hitting and productive – aggressive hockey ensues. It’s easy to see why Keith enjoys the company of Nick too. Just take the incident in the first period in Philly, when Ballard made a spectacular and clean hip-check on the hot-blooded Scott Hartnell of the Flyers.
The incensed and cowardly Hartnell attacked Ballard, who was down on the ice, and started pounding him. Guess who lead the cavalry and came charging in to his blood brother’s rescue — well, it was Nick of course!
Boynton looked like he would move mountains in his effort to free Ballard from underneath Scott’s pusillanimous assault. Nick took four minutes of penalties as he macheted his way through the Flyers’ ranks, but that is more a sign of the horrendous refereeing in this match than a chip off Boynton’s shoulders, and he made sure Keith could get up from underneath the melee and continue the game unscathed.
Ballard and Boynton where, by a mile, the best and strongest Floridian defensive pairing on the night – as they often are. Keith continued his punishing hits on the Flyers forwards and both got assists on stinging point shots that they took – when joining the rush and attacking the opposing net. The fact that Boynton has not been playing much since his run-in with Peter DeBoer, is probably a big reason behind why the Cats have been so timid of late.
It is, unfortunately, however you twist it and turn it, a sign of very poor coaching.
Hopefully DeBoer has learned his lesson and will keep Boynton in for the remainder of games and won’t continue to make the same dire man-management decisions regarding Tomas Vokoun too. In fact, if DeBoer is so desperate to find scapegoats – maybe he should take a long hard look in the mirror – and realize – once and for all; that this is not the juniors and you can’t treat seasoned veterans like they are novices to the game.
