Don’t Blame Vokoun!
Tomas Vokoun has been the Florida Panthers stand-out performer of late, making spectacular saves and facing an increasing barrage of shots from opposing teams. Without Vokoun, the Panthers wouldn’t still be in a playoff race – if indeed they still are in that chase, after yesterday’s devastating loss to Buffalo.
While forwards and defenders have broken under the pressure of chasing an elusive post-season in Florida, Tomas has been stellar between the pipes, earning the Cats points they didn’t always deserve. Yesterday Vokoun made one mistake, the first he’s made in such a long time I can’t even remember last time he made one, and immediately coach Peter DeBoer pinpointed the fault at Vokoun’s slightly widened five-hole, saying:
"We need a big save at a critical time in the third period to win a game. I don’t think we’ve gotten one lately," Pete said. "You can’t let (the loss) be devastating. The goalie’s got to close the door when you’re in that situation. You know what? He didn’t."
Tough words. But is it right to pick on the man that has been Florida’s only reliable asset in the playoff chase?
One mistake doesn’t make or break the Panthers’ post-season chances, and last I looked it was three goals that the Cats let in, in quick succession at Buffalo, not just the one. And Vokoun could do nothing on the other goals. They were of fluke character and stemmed from defensive mistakes, in fact, one of the goals that Tomas let in – originated from a poor clearance by Jay Bouwmeester and then Radek Dvorak was all-too easily pick-pocketed and bullied off the puck at the blue line.
Hence, it was not just one but several mistakes that led to the Sabres turning a 1-3 deficit to a 5-3 victory in the third period. Being the last outpost of his team, it easy to point the finger of blame at Vokoun, but it is not fair.
Tomas Vokoun takes a safety first approach and makes the save against the Hurricanes.
The Panthers simply seem to lack the mental might to close out games in the third (where have we heard that before…?). It has happened again and again down the stretch here and it seems the worst possible score for the Cats is the 3-1 lead going in to the third. Almost always it ends in despair. And yesterday was no different…
Actually, if Pete really feels it necessary to point fingers after last night’s game, he should take a long hard look at the role of Jay Bouwmeester. He was at the forefront on all those goals, making one mistake after another – gifting the Sabres the puck in favorable positions, or failing to keep the puck in the attacking third, or directly steering the puck into his own goal. This was probably the worst period in Jay’s professional career. An absolute disaster!
Indeed, whilst being on a critical note, don’t you think Jay Bouwmeester has been underperforming lately? Apart from the occasional good game, he’s been anything but solid in the back and doesn’t really look like he cares too much whether Florida makes the playoffs or not. He’s leaving anyway, right?
Jay Bouwmeester on the prowl against Carolina. Bo had his perhaps best game down the stretch against the Hurricanes, but it has been a far too unusual sight seeing him bomb down the ice like this of late. And against Buffalo he had horrid game.
Also, General Manager Jacques Martin must take his share of the blame. Not only did he keep a player that is looking ahead to pastures greener (or whiter, in fact, we assume), and rather than getting what we really needed for the run-in, i.e. a top class centerman (and yes, there were actually several available) or someone that can actually shoot the puck and score goals; instead he went out and got another defenseman. Please explain that logic to me!
Yes, we need to bolster the defense for next season if indeed Bo does go, but the emphasis was supposed to be winning now – wasn’t it? And yes, Eminger seems like a decent defender that brings greater depth to the back six, that now is a back seven, but it isn’t really what we craved or required, is it?
So, whilst the teams around us in the standings got noticeably better, with no exception really, we stayed the same. The result of that policy is easy to see. Since the trade deadline Florida have played 10 games and won 2. Five of those games were against fellow Eastern playoff hopefuls. The result? Panthers lost all five…
I understand the reasoning behind keeping Bouwmeester, but to not strengthen an already light forward compartment – is bordering criminal.
My point is not to claim the heads of those in the front line of this string of playoff chase failures: Jacques Martin, Jay Bouwmeester and yes; Peter DeBoer himself. I still believe – to make mistakes is only human and everyone will do them, including this otherwise excellent trio of hockey knowledgeable people, and we should do everything we can to keep them here for the long term. Rather, my point is that pointing the finger at your otherwise best player (by a mile!) Tomas Vokoun and putting the blame squarely on his shoulders is not only suspect, but also, clearly, wrong.
One mistake doesn’t make or break a team’s season. There are far too many games to be played for any such scapegoating comments. Pete would do better to keep those remarks to himself or talk to his netminder – face to face – rather than through the media. It is a cheap shot that is beneath him. I’ll scratch it down as inexperience, but Pete, watch your mouth!
