Everyone knew this was going to be a tough game for Florida. Since Dan Bylsma was appointed Head Coach in Pittsburgh, they’ve looked like a team reborn; playing hard, with heart and attacking the net. With Sidney Crosby back in their line-up, after a groin injury had sidelined him for the last four games, it was going to be all the harder for the home side.
The game set out in a furious tempo – to the delight of the big crowd at Sunrise. There was a good vibe in the house all evening; as the South Floridians finally start coming back to the B.A.C. After so many years of mediocrity, it would take plenty of success to convince the hockey fans to believe again – and now we do!
Fencing for the puck in front of the net. One of many goalmouth scrambles in an action laden playoff-race contest.
The first period was an even affair, with both teams carving out some quality chances. The goalies however were both at the top of their respective games and wouldn’t surrender any goals in the opening 20 minutes. The first puck to light the lamp came in the second period instead, 37:49 in to the contest.
It was Gregory Campbell that picked up a puck behind the net, drove a backhand at goal that Marc-Andre Fleury saved, but on the rebound Radek Dvorak turned up to tip-in the puck for the opening score. The crowd was on its feet celebrating, what could have been a back-breaking goal. However, returning Penguins captain Crosby had other thoughts; and before people had a chance to sit down in merriment, he squeezed himself through the Panthers back-two and shot an unstoppable shot – to tie the game at one – merely 24 seconds after Dvorak’s goal.
“It’s pretty deflating,” said defenseman Jassen Cullimore after the game. “You’re sitting on the bench and they come right back while they’re announcing your goal.”
And a deflating goal it was for the Panthers. The Penguins meanwhile, got a spring to their step and came out flying in the third. Tyler Kennedy scored after only 2:24 in to the final period and Kris Letang followed up that goal with one of his own, 4:37 in to the third. The rout was rounded up; 55:34 in to the contest, when Evgeni Malkin fed Tyler Kennedy a precision pass for an easy second.
The big crowd now packed up and went home frustrated. Except for the Penguin fans of course, that stayed on to give their team a standing ovation – for what was truly an impressive performance by the visitors.
Marc-Andre Fleury, in the Pittsburgh net, was first star of the game and here he makes one of many pad saves on the Panthers efforts.
The Cats meanwhile seemed to have skated out in the third with plenty of flat tires all around and simply couldn’t keep up with their playoff rival and the furious tempo they produced. The first home game after a long road trip is always a difficult one, hockey players will tell you, and that was proven yesterday. And it wasn’t due to a lack of effort that the Panthers lost; they simply met a better and stronger team on the night. Pittsburgh fully deserves praise for the way they played and won this crucial game; fair and square.
Jordan Staal attacks the net, but Tomas Vokoun is alert as always, and with help from his defenders, averts the danger.
Sure, Florida had some good chances, hit the post a couple of times, but fact is that Tomas Vokoun kept us in the game when we already should have been counted out in the second period. Despite letting in four goals, Tomas was stellar between the pipes and was kept very busy with no less than 47 shots directed at him. Marc-Andre Fleury in the other net – was the first star of the night – and he was equally impressive, and at times, looked almost unbeatable.
That darned puck just won't go in!! Nope, it's not in... Marc-Andre Fleury makes another good saves and deflects the puck wide.
Thing is, the playoff race is getting more and more congested and the teams involved in this race are all playing ‘desperation hockey’ right now. The Panthers therefore no longer have that mental edge on their opponents and can now begin to expect the team on the other side to play just as aggressively, and gritty – determined hockey, as they have been doing all year. Points will be at a premium and it will be a big scramble for a playoff berth; come April.
That makes for some exciting games ahead and all the more reason to turn out and cheer for the Cats. Thrills and spills are virtually guaranteed!
Tomas Vokoun makes a save and the airborne puck deflects over the goal.
It’s a bumpy road and much can happen in the 19 games that remain for the Panthers. Next up is a tricky contest that pits Florida against Western opposition – in the form of a resurgent St. Louis Blues on Saturday in the Bank Atlantic Center.
Good news is that the Cats have a knack of quickly rebounding from adversity, whether it is when going down in a game – or getting back up after a tough defeat. They still haven’t lost any consecutive games in 2009 and hopefully we aren’t going to start doing that now either!
A win against the Blues may very well be necessary or we’ll have to be prepared to plunge from sixth spot – and out into the wilderness – to ninth or tenth. It’s that small margins right now and as the teams around us, seem to just keep on winning, we must too!
Nathan Horton gets another glimpse at the net. Hopefully on Saturday he'll stop hitting the post and start hitting the net instead...
Steve Eminger makes his bow
Florida’s only acquisition on trade deadline day, defenseman Steve Eminger made his Panther bow yesterday; getting a reasonable amount of ice time (13:45) and making some hits (3), blocking shots (3) and moving the puck well. However, he spent a team high of four minutes in the penalty box and if he wants to fit in and play here – he needs to minimize that part of his game. Coach Pete DeBoer doesn’t like players who take penalties on a consistent basis and Nick Boynton knows all too well what happens to players that can’t keep out of the box…
Overall it was a decent debut, but we’ll be expecting more out of him as we go down the stretch. Otherwise, David Booth was back on the ice playing – which meant that it was the two Nick’s (Tarnasky and Boynton) that were the healthy scratches on the night.
