Roblogg’s Panthers Portal

I bet a few people don’t think me so crazy now.

Maybe if I had been GM we’d have won the game against Toronto yesterday…

I would have gone in hard to acquire Niklas Hagman, at a heavy cost if necessary and he would not have been a two-goal scorer in this game as a consequence.

Yeah, I know. Wishful thinking at best. But you have to admit he’d have been a nice addition to this club that finds it so hard to score goals.

Sure, the Panthers did get four on the board against the defensively challenged Maple Leafs, but that was to be expected. That the Cats would surrender six however, was probably not according to anyone’s plan.

After going two-goals up in the opening exchanges, one could have been forgiven for thinking this contest was as good as over. However, the Ontarians had other plans on the night.

After expensive signing Phil Kessel found the net in the first period it was game-on and a wild contest was ready to unwind before us.

Kessel and Hagman were the offensive juggernauts that the Panthers defense couldn’t handle in this game. Both scored two goals to help Toronto claim both points and secure Florida’s first regulation loss since Washington.

Dmitry Kulikov kept the Panthers in the lead with his two goals on the night, but, immediately after the 4-3 go-ahead-goal by Dmitry; the Leafs came back and equalized.

This quick answer seemed to tip the balance ultimately in Toronto’s direction and they ran out 6-4 winners, with the last goal scored in an open net.

Panthers GM Randy Sexton had said on FSN Florida prior to the commencement of the final period that “the team that wants it the most will win it”. It was apparent on this night that the team that wanted it the most was the visitors.

Apart from stellar individual performances above all from Dmitry Kulikov, Nathan Horton, and Steve MacIntyre—in the enforcer department, the Cats looked rather tame for most of this contest.

Especially on the blue-line.

The defenders that had been so unyielding of late did not impress and ultimately could not handle Kessel, Hagman & Co. Keith Ballard and Jordan Leopold in particular had games to forget.

Perhaps it was a Thanksgiving hangover, but whatever it was, the Panthers will have no time to ponder upon this loss for too long. It’s off to Nashville tonight for a tricky game against another in-form team: the Predators.

We can expect to see Scott Clemmensen in goal for this game. After his solid performance in Detroit he deserves another start and Vokoun could certainly do with some rest after a hectic schedule.

It will be important to bounce straight back and win tonight’s game.

Florida remain in thirteenth spot in the East and lost vital points against most teams above us last night, and that’s not even mentioning Toronto behind us in fourteenth—who are starting to string together some impressive performances and points.

Nevertheless, one game doesn’t determine a season and the Cats will need to find their way back to their stingy away-game tactics tonight.

It is obvious this style of playing suits this team much better than the more expansive home-game tactics—that regularly comes back to bite us in the .

Being of a more skeptical nature, I didn’t jump on the whole third jersey bandwagon, which is why this blog is probably the only one not to rave about that much vaunted unveiling which occurred on Monday, at the game versus the Pittsburgh Penguins.

To me it seemed like a superfluous money-making scheme that failed to hold my interest for more than the required minute or two to write about it.

Nevertheless, many-a Panthers beat writer were caught up in the hype.

No one more so than George Richards of the Miami Herald however.

After at least six articles (as many as I could be bothered to count, even less read) on the subject from Mr. Richards, one can’t blame Panthers’ fans for being fed up already with the jersey talk.

Most seem negative about the jerseys or a bit skeptical at least. The color scheme is different from anything previously seen in South Florida. The baby blue doesn’t convince many fans either.

Richard meanwhile, is ranting about the FLA on the shoulders—more than anything more closely related to the game of hockey—in his extensive coverage of the third jersey issue.

Personally I was, of course, skeptical to the whole question of new third jerseys to begin with. However, I’m not one to jump any grousing bandwagon either.

In fact, despite my early cynicism—I must admit—I like these new jerseys.

Yes, they are different color-wise from anything we’re used to. But, isn’t that the whole point with third jerseys anyway?

I like the shades of blue, and the sun with FLA running through it, is actually surprisingly cool.

Anyway, that’s how far I’m willing to get involved in this minor “controversy”. I like the jersey. The Reebok people showed some balls in stepping away from the mold and trying something different for the Panthers.

My only grievance is that the jerseys look far too much like the Penguins’ third jerseys…

Nonetheless, let’s leave all that happened Monday behind, not least that sour ending against the same Penguins, and focus on tonight’s game instead.

The Florida Panthers and New York Rangers always serve up a juicy Thanksgiving dish and I would expect no less in tonight’s encounter.

The NY Rangers are two points ahead of us in the standings, despite our win in the Garden, and hence this is an important game for both teams in the playoff race.

Yes, it’s early to talk of a playoff race, but in a time of league parity, it’s never too early to win important games.

Whilst the Panthers sneaked out from Manhattan with a W in the column, the Rangers still bossed the Cats around for much of the second half of that game. The sheer physicality of John Tortorella’s charges—caused a lot of problems for Florida.

Likely because of this, the Panthers have decided to add some grit, size, and power, in the form of Steve MacIntyre.

Recently claimed on waivers from Edmonton, the 6-foot-5, 260 pound left winger, was then sent to Rochester to get in game shape. Two games later and he’s been called back to South Florida to stand up for his new teammates against the powerful Rangers.

Falling into the “big brute” category of hockey players, Steve will be counted on to bring something quite different to the Cats’ lineup: Sheer physicality and a heavy punch or two.

Other Rochester call-ups, namely Kenndal McArdle and Victor Oreskovich, have brought some much needed grit to the team; but MacIntyre’s contributions are likely to be on a level above what they bring—if you know what I mean…

Considering the circumstances, I think this is a great move from the coach Pete DeBoer. And hopefully, Steve can shove the stuffing to that insidious coward, Sean Avery.

Update! Not only is Ville Koistinen scratched for the game, but he was also placed on waivers at noon today according to the Panthers’ official website.This could mean that MacIntyre indeed is here to stay in South Florida, and not just called up to meet the physical Rangers and Maple Leafs this week. Shawn Matthias meanwhile is also here to stay and will play tonight.

In a shocking turn of events, the Florida Panthers lost another two-goal lead in the third period, to then be punished by a controversial double-minor penalty in the ensuing overtime by the Penguins.

Referee’s Greg Kimmerly and Kevin Bollocks, sorry; Pollock, with much help from intervening linesmen Tony Sericolo, and Mark Shewchyk, conspired together to hand the victory to their Penguin brethrens in black and white at the game in Sunrise.

The visitors from Pittsburgh didn’t need another invitation, or the entire four minute man-advantage, to cash in on the dodgy call.

Sidney Crosby collected a loose puck in front of the net and tucked it away behind the brave Tomas Vokoun in goal; who to that point had almost single-handedly kept the Cats in the game after a late surge from the visitors.

The play that would be foremost on everyone’s mind was the appalling actions by one of the linesmen.

A minute in to the overtime, the Pittsburgh defender Brooks Orpik checked Nathan Horton in the back well after Horty had released the puck. That would qualify as an interference one would think, right?

But no: The linesman, in all his wisdom, decided to but in and call the penalty—on Nathan Horton.

The Florida Panthers’ forward, the by far dominating offensive player of the game to that point, was sent to the box for four minutes.

Apparently it is now illegal in the NHL to be checked in the back by an opposing player and subsequently fall to the ice.

Let’s call it a high sticking and pretend that the fouled player, checked in the back and falling to the ice, actually has the semblance of means to control his stick in this instance.

In these new directives, apparently sent to the linesmen just prior to this game, they are to be vigilant of any players falling to the ice as the result of a blindsided check.

Obviously that kind of behavior cannot be tolerated by the NHL and shall henceforth warrant four minutes in the penalty box—to the player fouled that is—not the one delivering the foul naturally.

So well done linesman! I’m sure Gary Bettman will reward you handsomely for that brilliant call, and of course; for giving Sidney Crosby the chance to star in another game.

After all, if we are to sell this game to those who have no interest in the sport—we must have our fix stars in hockey. And we all feel Sidney, poor fellow, deserves a few extra breaks in life don’t we…

Seriously though, I have nothing against Sidney or the Penguins, but I see no reason for the referee’s to give them any extra favors either. They are good enough to stand on their own two feet.

Panthers fans are rightfully p*ssed and feel robbed of a sporting chance to win this game.

This latest referee meltdown is likely to reignite not only the discussions of poor overall refereeing, but also the long-held belief that the refs favor the teams from the north.

I’m not one to believe in conspiracies, but fact is that Florida is the subject of one dodgy call after another. If there is any resemblance of a penalty to be taken, no matter how iffy the call is, you can be assured it will be made.

And if you don’t believe me and think this is just a crazy idea emanating from Southern Florida; then take the time to ask the Tampa Bay Lightning what they think of the referee’s calls in their games.

Conspiracy or not, it does seem clear that the Florida teams, Panthers and Lightning, have no “luck” with the referee’s.

And considering this, it is sometimes hard not to think that the refs do in fact favor the northern teams.

After all; the refs come from these regions, the traditional hockey markets, and if they feel what most people do in those areas—well then they do not like the idea of hockey teams playing in the Sunshine State.

If that is the case, then there is a built in bias from the get-go and it is hard to imagine that this would not, even if on a subconscious level, have an effect on the calls that the refs make.

Anyway…

The game is over and there is not much point in keeping on harping about the refs and the bad calls. Despite this dark cloud on the NHL horizon there are still some positives to take out of the game for the home side.

Florida played some good hockey and should have expanded the lead in the third at the score of 2-1. Two shots hit the post behind Fleury and had either gone in; then no amount of dodgy calls from the refs could help the Penguins salvage anything from this game, surely.

And even in defeat, it must be admitted that one point isn’t all that bad.

Pittsburgh is the defending Stanley Cup champions for a reason, and yet, once again the Cats showed themselves able to go toe-to-toe with the champs.

That in itself bodes well for this season.

The Panthers have certainly turned things around and look poised to make a push for the playoffs.

All players are finding their stride—although none more than the trio of Stephen Weiss, Nathan Horton, and Tomas Vokoun—and they have now gelled and look more and more solid as a team overall.

There is communication on and off the ice, the tails are up and the confidence growing on an individual level with all players on the roster.

And now that everyone has bought in to head coach Peter DeBoer’s system—they are starting to develop an identity as a hardnosed team that will give anyone a run for the money; including the champions.