Roblogg’s Panthers Portal

Center Jeff Taffe has signed a 2-year deal with the Florida Panthers. The former Penguin will add depth to the threadbare forward compartment and will compete for a space on the roster at training camp. Whether or not he’s seen as a genuine Panthers player, or is more brought in to help the ailing Rochester Americans affiliate in the AHL, remains to be seen. The Minnesota native is 28 year of age and played together with Keith Ballard and Jordan Leopold at the University of Minnesota. Last year he featured in eight games for the Stanley Cup champions from Pittsburgh.

It makes you wonder if Keith Ballard has been given new assignments doesn’t it? Is he to be the new Assistant GM if Randy Sexton get’s the nod as General Manager?

In other news, former Panthers goaltender coach Pierre Groulx has been swooped up by the Canadiens. With Jacques Martin already in place as Montreal Head Coach, this move hardly comes as a surprise. It seems Florida didn’t see it as necessary to have a full time goaltending coach this season (another cost reducing move?) and so subsequently didn’t renew Groulx’s contract with the club at the end of last season. In addition to Pierre, the Cats also lost former strength and conditioning coach Andy O’Brien last month – as he took up a position outside of the NHL.

To be honest I doubted we’d be here – with three games left and having a, not great, but good shot at the playoffs – yet here we are and tonight is one of those nights where things could essentially, although not mathematically, be decided.

Deciding – it would almost certainly be if the Panthers lost and the NY Rangers beat Montreal in the ‘Garden’. However, if we win – we’re still in it. But what a game to win! Away to Philadelphia… One of the toughest, literally, home teams in the league. Yes, we beat them there on March 26th, so its definitely possible, but will lightning really strike twice?

As this the final week began yesterday, some good news came to Florida’s aid as Montreal dropped a 2-1 lead and lost at home to Ottawa 2-3, in no small part thanks to Dany Heatley; who scored twice to turn the game on its head. The Habs looked all but set to claim a playoff berth, but with injuries to key defenders Andrei Markov and Mathieu Schneider, their powerplay has fallen like a house of cards (having previously scored 50% of the teams goals in its recent resurgence). Considering this, despite having a three point advantage on both Rangers and Panthers, the Canadiens have every right to be worried and looking over their collective shoulders.

Another piece of good Floridian news, was that Buffalo also lost at home. Perhaps more of an expected defeat as they hosted the Detroit Red Wings; who have won 16 out of the last 18 games versus the Sabres. No change to that woeful statistic as the Wings came away with a 4-1 win on the night. Detroit seemed to be in a constant powerplay as they utilized an unusual tactic by placing a player in front of goalie Ryan Miller at all times when attacking – whether 5on5 or on the powerplay. Odd, but effective it seemed as the Sabres scrambled for an answer to the unwanted offensive presence of Detroit’s power-forwards on the edge of the crease.

So, with Buffalo effectively out of the race, it’s now a three horse sprint. Florida competes with the NY Rangers and the limping, yet leading, Montreal Canadiens. It should be a thrilling rush of emotion and hockey desperation down this stretch!

And in the playoff chasing, last week of regular season, possibly no night will be of more importance than tonight.

Montreal travel to New York for a crucial head-to-head battle with the Rangers. Panthers’ fans will be hoping that this contest will finish a two point game and not a three point affair. But, whoever comes out on-top of that fight; Florida still need to take care of their own business – first and foremost. A point will be of absolute necessity, and most likely – unless Rangers lose – nothing but a victory will suffice in such a tight race. Not an easy task, but it should be enough motivation for the Cats to bring their A-game to the rink.

Shame only that the game isn’t aired on local television… but for those that have NHL Center Ice – at least you’ll have an exciting game to look forward to….

Lastly, a little note about the Florida Panthers being in the limelight as of late.

Our plight and search for some post-season action has not gone unnoticed around the hockey world. I’ve seen several articles – ranging from Canada to Sweden – that focus on the Panthers and our hunt for a playoff spot. Most articles focus on our nine years on the outside looking in, the inconsistency of the teams’ play this year and coach DeBoer’s optimistic statements that the club will make the playoffs. Meanwhile, Keith Ballard’s hipmongous-check of Evgeni Malkin is catching headlines and burning up at YouTube (see it below in previous post!)

The Panthers have become a bit of the “forgotten team” outside of South Florida, heck, even in South Florida; and suddenly people are realizing we have a hockey team here – that actually has a chance of achieving something. And more than one eyebrow is being raised, both on this and the opposite side of the North Atlantic, let me tell you!

Nonetheless, the undertone is still a bit condescending and it seems few really believe we have what it takes. With our record, one can’t help but being a bit skeptic too. We the fans, know better than any outsiders ever will, the constant crushed hopes and disillusionment that goes with the package of being a Panthers fan; and probably none is more skeptic of our chances than we, right?

Anyway, at the end of the day, all we can do is hope for a miracle – that somehow we’ll make the post-season. And tonight I’ll be holding my thumbs for a victory in Philly. Oh how sweet that would be….

Keith Ballard single-handedly won the game for the Florida Panthers yesterday with two key-moments at the end of the first period. With the game locked at one and the Penguins circling Florida’s wagon-like-defense, getting shots off in bunches at Vokoun, Keith stepped up at the blue-line and sent Evgeni Malkin spinning in to a seemingly never-ending cosmic revolution – off a monstrous hip-check that Malkin won’t ever forget.

[Video] The Russian star not only experienced weightlessness for a moment, but was also sent spinning right through the center of our Universe; through its supermassive black hole of pending darkness – before crashing out the other side – plummeting head-first onto the unforgiving ice in Sunrise, Florida. No wonder Malkin looked dazed and confused mere moments later as he checked his vital signs to see if indeed he was still on planet Earth or had left for pastures unknown….[/Video]

See this outrageous hip-check below and marvel in Evgeni’s somersault! Also see Ballard noseburning Crosby after the latter’s juvenile retaliation reaction!!

Penguins captain Sid “the Kid” reacted babyishly by squaring up to Ballard and instigating a fight. It’s ridiculous that a clean hit should command a fight every time, but that’s how the NHL works these days and until someone puts a stop to that childish like-for-like mentality, we’ll just have to live with it. Keith is no stranger to immature responses, having recently received one from Philadelphia’s own coward in residence Scott Hartnell – the previous week on a similar good hip-check on the toddler in question.

Ballard stood up as he always does; defended himself and gave Crosby a sore noseburn for his efforts.

The hit sparked the 18000+ crowd no end and put some zest back in to the Panthers’ zeal. They came out a changed team in the second and dominated the rest of the game; winning 4-2 in the end. And Crosby and Malkin? They disappeared into a corner somewhere and licked their ego’s – as in the remaining contest they were virtually invisible.

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.