Roblogg’s Panthers Portal

Despite rumors of the opposite, the Florida Panthers are not yet done and dusted from the playoff map. The win over the Flyers put to an end a four game losing streak, and as the performances are slowly improving; a ray of hope is reemerging in South Florida.

That however doesn’t deter trade murmurs from buzzing around the Panthers camp like voluptuous vultures. Nathan Horton is the latest and oft recurring target.

Nevertheless, I think these rumors are largely based on faulty assumptions. I’ll go on to explain why in a moment, but first a quick elucidation of the Florida Panthers and its methods may be in order to initiate unacquainted reader…

 

Florida’s Road Map to Success

 

The Philadelphia victory, 4-2, was a hard fought win for the Panthers group, a road map if you will, for Florida to follow in their quest for success.

The Florida felines’ team is not the most gifted in the league, in fact, no one star performer has emerged; scoring has come from the collective team effort and the stats clearly show this fact:

Michael Frolik and Stephen Weiss top the point chart with 2 goals and 2 assists each in the opening six games. Three players; Radek Dvorak, Steven Reinprecht, and Dmitry Kulikov, have notched up three points. Six players have two, and of the players that have appeared in more than one game; only Gregory Campbell has yet to snatch a point.

While this says much about the Panthers need for combined scoring, it also highlights the clubs call for greater point production all around.

Each and every one of the current players are required to step up their game and chip in with hard fought goals if the Cats are to have any chance whatsoever.

In the second and third period on Friday, after a stern telling off from the coach, the players managed to do just that and the end result was a much needed win versus the Flyers.

Now the Floridians will have to keep up the pressure in every game, not just once in a blue moon.

Indeed, consistency was the issue throughout all of last season, or rather: the lack thereof. And this time around the Panthers have probably even less room for inconsistency…

Not least after the uninspiring 2-4 start to the campaign.

People outside of South Florida that aren’t necessarily acquainted with the Cats’ brand of hockey sometimes misunderstand the pillars that the team is built around.

Again; there is no star player to lean against for scoring. That is the job and responsibility of the entire team: the defenders as much as the forwards. Hence why we constantly see Panthers’ blueliners pinch-in at the offensive zone and jump into scoring areas at every opportunity.

Coach Peter DeBoer believes in the collective effort. Yet everybody must pull in the same direction for this tactic to be successful, everyone is looked upon to put in sterling, grinding shifts, for the cause. DeBoer will act swiftly if someone is not pulling their load.

Sometimes, fairly and unfairly, Nathan Horton has been pinpointed as one that doesn’t give 100% exertion into all games. However, worth noting is that Peter DeBoer seems to hold Horton’s endeavors in high regard.

Nathan didn’t start the season in the best of fashion, but in the last two games his, and the teams play overall, has made a remarkable upturn.

 

Why Horton Will Stay Put

 

Horton, a 24 year old 6-foot-2, 229 pound right winger, has only two goals so far into the campaign. However, those came in the two previous games and his play is showing clear signs of improvement.

Yet, the most frustrating part of Nathan’s hockey repertoire, in a Florida fans’ perspective, is his inconsistency. He can win games for the Panthers one day and then be virtually invisible the next. In this light his performances seems to follow the same path as the team as a whole over the last few seasons.

So, to hear Nathan Horton’s name already popping up in trade rumors is not surprising, and yet, probably based on the misunderstanding that he is supposed to be a prolific goal scorer and little else on the team.

Two goals in six games is thus reason enough for some to start the rumor that the Panthers are actively shopping Horton.

However, that rationale is based on a foundation that is not currently employed by the Panthers and its head coach Peter DeBoer. In Pete’s tactic Nathan is a two-way player that is looked equally upon as a defensively responsible and offensively predatory player.

He is not a pure offensive force (as he perhaps once was seen as).

What this does to Nathan’s stats is obvious: less goals scored and points on the board. This could clearly be seen last year as well when Horton was employed in the center. After having notched up 62 points in the two previous campaigns; he only got 45 points in 67 games played in 2008/09.

No one doubts the skill and potential possessed by the former 3rd overall pick from 2003.

What perhaps is lacking sometimes, and that brings Panthers fans to the brink of insanity, is his apparent lack of certain mental aspects of the game, such as a healthy dose of determination and resilience; to accompany those silky skills of his.

If Horton can adapt to coach Peter DeBoer tactics, and required two-way play, I think this can be highly beneficial to Nathan’s progress as a player. If he adds the mental wherewithal to his arsenal, he could become a lethal player yet, in the NHL.

Further, there have been no signs from DeBoer that he is specifically unhappy about Horton’s play; that has been directed more to the team as a whole. And there are no signs that Pete is giving up on Nathan.

Neither are there signs that the new General Manager Randy Sexton is contemplating trading Horton. Indeed, he has stated that the young Panthers players that have become the core of the team also constitute the long term backbone of his plans.

Nathan would surely be seen one of those core players.

When confronted by the Horton rumors from a Sun-Sentinel reporter, Sexton told him that “there is no shred of truth to the report, that it was absolutely made up and that he hasn’t contacted teams, nor have any contacted him, about trading Horton”.

I, for one, have no reason to disbelieve him.

This rumor sounds like a pure fabrication, apparently from the good lads of the Ottawa Sun brainstorming department.

Its basis, Horton’s lack of points, is based on misconceptions of the Panthers style of play and tactics. A poor study of character when it comes to head Coach Peter DeBoer, General Manager Randy Sexton, as well as a confusion of the long term strategy of this club.

 

 

To add to the list, Nathan is in his third year of a six year, $4 million per season, contract. Such a contract is not easy to move in a Salary Cap world. Most teams would be expecting to get more than Horton’s 45 points (last season) for that kind of money. They would also be obliged to give up some serious assets in order to tempt the Florida management.

Overall these hurdles are simply to big too overcome. But, does that mean Horton won’t be traded this season?

No, it does not. A trade could possibly happen later in the season, if the Panthers fail with their endeavor of putting up a decent challenge for the playoffs.

While Florida would probably prefer to move some of their veterans in that case of events, it is not impossible that management might consider moving Horton if they are unhappy with his performances at that point; especially as Nathan has a no-movement clause kicking in next July 1st.

That however, amounts to a grand subtotal of: Copious quantities of ‘ifs’ and ‘buts’.

As Panthers fans, we may or may not wish to see Horton traded, but I think we all understand that he won’t be going anywhere at the moment anyway…

For the time being we’ll have to hope he can dig deep, ignore the rumors, and continue to improve his play. However, he is not alone in that respect; all Panthers players will need to do the same, not least tomorrow; when the Buffalo Sabres come to town.

Coach DeBoer has opted to go with the same team that won against Philadelphia last Friday. That means Scott Clemmensen will continue in goal instead of Tomas Vokoun.

The Sabres on the other hand have started the season impressively and it is up to the Cats to take the game to the visitors and squeeze out another victory.

We need those points accumulating rapidly to keep that early playoff-push on course and catch up with the teams above us in the standings, with Buffalo being one of those teams.

Jay Bouwmeester was never happy in Florida. And as time ticked on without the talismanic defender signing a new contract fans became increasingly restless. Media had the smooth skating Edmonton native linked with virtually all the teams in the Eastern Conference that were above the Panthers in the standings; at one point or another.

Boston Bruins? Philadelphia Flyers? Washington Capitals? Where would Jay-Bo end up?

He would be traded wouldn’t he?

It would surely be crazy for the Florida Panthers to keep the man if he so clearly wanted to leave. At the time of the March transfer deadline the noise reached fever pitch. Jay Bouwmeester was the biggest fish in the deadline lake.

He was a catch however that would come with a hefty price tag attached.

The Florida management made it clear that Jay was an instrumental part of their plans to make the playoffs. The Panthers had not done this since the year 2000 and fans were getting impatient for some much awaited success, to put it mildly.

How exactly do you replace an ironman defender that regularly will not only eat up a good 28 minutes of ice time, but also play a crucial shut-down role against opposing team’s star forwards?

Not to mention being the defensive lynchpin on the special teams…

Some people will be quick to retort that Jay-Bo is overrated, and perhaps he is, but his importance to the Florida Panthers last season could not be stressed enough. He was the blueline pivot; around which everything else would swivel.

With this in mind, it came as no shock here in South Florida that Jay was not traded. He was simply irreplaceable in the Panthers efforts to reach the postseason. To do without him would demand an extreme makeover of the current defense that would likely spoil that all-important key goal of the organization: the ever illusive playoff.

Elsewhere the no-go-for-Bo met with raised eyebrows. Everyone knew the Panthers would lose Bouwmeester for virtually nothing in the summer and most would have expected the club to cash in on their golden g(m)oose. This was the prevailing NHL logic and makes a lot of sense in most cases, but not in this particular one.

The franchise cast its die and hoped for their playoff number to roll in.

It didn’t come.

Bouwmeester returned north of the border to play for Calgary in the end. The Panthers didn’t lose him empty handed however and received a third round pick at the draft together with the rights of pending free agent Jordan Leopold. This was nowhere near what the Cats could’ve got for Bo at the trade deadline, but it was nonetheless something.

And suddenly, life without Bo was not only a reality, but the first step toward retooling the blueline had in fact been taken…

 

Budding Buddies

 

Jordan Leopold, unlike Jay Bouwmeester, didn’t sign for the club that had traded for him prior to free agency. After the deal was concluded at the entry draft in Montreal, Leopold instead decided to wait and explore his July options.

Nevertheless, he still opted to come to Florida and signed a one year deal worth $1.75 million. General Manager Randy Sexton was quoted as being “pumped” and “ecstatic” to have signed Leopold. And it is easy to see why.

Having played some 335 NHL games at that time, he had tallied no less than 109 points, and been an instrumental part on the Calgary Flames team that made the 2004 Stanley Cup Final. The only apparent downside was the string of injury problems Jordan had experienced during the 2006/07 and 2007/08 seasons.

At the time of the announcement Randy Sexton especially emphasized Leopold’s mobility. He made it clear that the team wanted a highly mobile defense for the upcoming season and Jordan fit that role perfectly.

Keith Ballard, being only one of three survivors from the 2008/09 defensive corps, didn’t have too much time to miss his close buddy Nick Boynton (who left for Anaheim on a free transfer after a much publicized bust up with head coach Peter DeBoer at the back end of the campaign). Leopold was an old college teammate of Keith’s and he was clearly delighted with the new signing as well.

Ballard wooed the Panthers faithful last season with his no nonsense hard hitting style and not to mention his favored hip check; which many a player got to see in close up. Most notably Pittsburgh’s Malkin who never saw what, or who, hit him before he was airborne and all became a dizzy for a while.

That kind of play had previously been missing within the Florida ranks. The Cats were getting their noses dirty and the fans loved it.

Another fan favorite for his self sacrificing style of play was Karlis Skrastins. Unfortunately the management wasn’t willing to dish out a two year deal for the hardy veteran and so off he went to Dallas.

The other two blueliners to leave during the summer were veteran Jassen Cullimore and Steve Eminger, who like Boynton, found a new home in Anaheim with the Ducks.

Prior to having traded Bouwmeester, on the second day of the entry draft in Montreal, the Florida Panthers had drafted Dmitry Kulikov on day one. The Russian defender fell down the pecking order on draft day, due to question marks surrounding his contract with his Russian KHL club. The Cats happily swooped for the offensively talented Kulikov with their 14th overall pick.

Dmitry was seen as one of a handful of players drafted at Montreal that could make a team directly out of training camp. And he did exactly that with the Panthers.

 

A New Look Defense

 

Florida then managed to get Dmitry Kulikov released from his Russian club and signed him to a three year entry level contract; just beating the pending deadline.

He has since featured in both opening games and looks every bit as ready for the NHL as you can ask a youngster to be at the tender age of 18. Coach Peter DeBoer has been visibly impressed by the Russian and it looks possible that Dmitry may very well still be around in South Florida after his 9 game tryout expires (after which the Panthers no longer can assign him to his Canadian Junior team).

Like Leopold, Kulikov fits the bill of being a highly mobile and offensive defenseman as does the Finn Ville Koistinen; who signed a two year deal in the summer with the Cats.

In fact, Ville is such a speedy and offensively strong defenseman that he has thus far been playing as a forward on the fourth line. The tactic paid off spectacularly in European curtain raiser of the season when Koistinen became the match winner in Helsinki versus the Blackhawks; helping the Panthers snatch two opening day points.

He is likely to stay in that position until new signing Dominic Moore joins the team and is then expected to be used as a utility player to plug any holes in the lineup which may be the result of injuries down the line. He will thus fill the role of a Steve Montador, from two seasons ago, who despite being a defenseman mainly operated as a winger that year.

One player that made his comeback in those opening games, and will be ecstatic just to be playing hockey again is Bryan Allen. His 2008/09 season was spoiled by a knee injury after only having played two games for the team. But now, finally, he looks set to put all that behind him and bolster Florida’s blueline with his size (6’4) and sheer physicality (220 pounds).

On a blueline filled with defenders of relative small stature (in the 5’11 to 6’1 foot range), Allen will play a central role for the Panthers. He will be called upon to be a shutdown defenseman and will see a lot of the Ovechkin’s, Kane’s and Kovalchuk’s of the league.

Although not being a new signing, he could very well become one of the most important additions to this season’s Florida roster.

Another defender that was added in light of what he can bring to the table in the sense of physicality and puck blocking was Dennis Seidenberg.

Despite being on the top four with the Carolina Hurricanes last season and having a breakout season at that, Dennis did not get the contract from the Canes that he sought. Instead he took a one year deal with the Panthers worth $2.25 million. Considering the experience (295 NHL games under his belt) and undoubted qualities that the 28 year old brings to the Panthers camp, that must be seen as a good deal.

It was also a deal that got the fans excited.

Prior to Seidenberg’s arrival, many had cast doubts over the Panthers blueline and its apparent lack of size and grit. Mobility and offensive awareness is great to have in the defensive ranks, but if you are playing most of the time in your own zone, you need someone to muscle the puck off the opposition and lay their bodies down to protect the goal. Dennis does the latter particularly well.

Seidenberg therefore can be seen a readymade replacement for Karlis Skrastins, only with the additional benefit of his obvious offensive capabilities; mirrored in the 30 points he collected last season.

Around the time of the Seidenberg addition, the management finally settled on a captain of the team. After having gone all last season without one, former Leaf Bryan McCabewho is swiftly closing in on his one thousandth game in the NHL, was chosen.

His leadership qualities shone through during the previous campaign as he stepped up on numerous occasions and inspired his teammates to continue to work their socks off in search of that elusive playoff berth. It was a deserved recognition of what Bryan means to this team, despite perhaps not being as quick as before or as prolific on the powerplay.

His leadership role on the team can however not be underestimated.

 

And so, we have the seven current defensemen in line for the Florida Panthers. On the sidelines, currently learning their trade in AHL with the Rochester Americans, we have Jason Garrison and former first rounder Keaton Ellerby.

Expect one or both of these players to be called up at some point during the season if Kulikov is sent back to the juniors or there are injury worries amidst the defensive corps.

Looking at the group of seven defenders currently competing for ice time: Leopold, Ballard, Kulikov, Koistinen, Allen, Seidenberg, and McCabe, how well can they fill the void left by Bouwmeester, Skrastins, Boynton, Eminger and Cullimore?

 

A Balancing Act

 

Well, first off, you don’t replace Jay-Bo. You simply have to work around the problem and have more guys than one to step up and take extra minutes, special teams and opposing stars. No one player can do what Bo did; at least nobody currently on the Panthers books that is.

The big difference this season is that the Panthers current blueliners look considerably more mobile and offensive minded as a collective than last year’s installment: That despite being at the top of the league when it comes to goals scored by defensemen that campaign.

Again, Jay Bouwmeester and his individual smooth skating skills are irreplaceable, but the Panthers have retained two very offensive defensemen in Keith Ballard and Bryan McCabe, whilst also adding Kulikov and Koistinen to join the rush with their hard shooting and speedy qualities.

Seidenberg and Leopold are neither strangers to racking up the points from the blueline. Skrastins and Cullimore on the other hand were mainly strong defensive defensemen.

And there is perhaps the weakness of this year’s Panthers defense. Mobile and offensive minded as they are they do seem to lack that extra caliber of grit and physicality that is required to disarm the opposing forwards in the first place.

With the notable exception of Allen, who may yet be vulnerable to recurring injury problems related to his troubled knee, the Cats look a bit on the tame side in their own zone; despite the additions of Leopold and Seidenberg.

In my mind the risk of this deficiency is that it will put extra pressure on the forwards to work hard defensively in their own zone in order to help out the defensive corps. Who does that leave us to score the all-important goals?

It is not as if the Panthers are blessed with the most skilled forwards the league has to offer and the danger going in to this season is that they again will struggle for goals. The lack of physical defensemen could also lead to the Cats struggling on the penalty kill.

Let’s look at the two opening games in Helsinki to illuminate what I’m saying.

In the first game, which was won after a shootout victory versus the Blackhawks, the Floridians allowed no less than 55 shots on goal. Despite this the Panthers dominated proceedings in the first period with superior mobility and speed.

In the second period both teams had spells of domination as the Hawks started to grind down the Cats.

In the third and in extra time Chicago set up camp in Florida’s zone and at times Tomas Vokoun in goal had to withstand a virtual bombardment of goalbound pucks.

In the end David Booth broke out of the defensive zone and against the run of play sliced his way through the offensive zone and desperately slapped home the equalizer. With only two minutes left on the clock his impressive solo effort brought extra time and penalties.

It is possible we will see a similar scenario played out in future Panthers games. Speed and mobility can be countered by physicality and grit. This was clearly displayed in the first game. The best teams of the league will be striving toward having a good balance between these opposites in their defensive corps.

I here suggest that the Panthers are still lacking some of that balance for the upcoming campaign.

 

Filling in the Gaps

 

In the second game versus the Blackhawks, the Panthers fell victim to an effective Chicago powerplay; scoring three out of their four goals in the five man–advantages they had. Or was it an ineffective Florida penalty kill?

One game obviously can’t answer that question, but I will imply that the Cats lack of defensive physicality can hurt them in these man–disadvantages. On the other hand, having mobile and offensively skilled puck moving defensemen can of course be a great addition to the powerplay. But, as of yet, we haven’t seen enough of those to perceive any such observable results.

Much like last season, the Florida Panthers will need to be disciplined and stay out of the box in order to have success.

My personal belief is also that they would need another genuinely physical and gritty stay-at-home defenseman of size to balance the blueline a bit better. Maybe the Florida hierarchy is also aware of this and will consider adding someone of these characteristics if Dmitry Kulikov is sent back to the juniors.

While I don’t necessarily want to see Kulikov leave the team, I can’t really see who else it would be if such a move was to be mooted. Yes, Ville Koistinen could be transformed into a makeshift winger permanently, but that would still leave us with six defensemen if Kulikov is retained beyond his initial tryout.

Of course, it is early days and the season has barely begun. Talk of imbalance and restructuring of the blueline may very well be premature. I’m sure the coach and GM are willing to see if the likes of Seidenberg, Ballard and Leopold will suffice in taking some of the load off Bryan Allen’s broad shoulders.

I back that philosophy and the willingness to give Kulikov every chance of proving himself, but if things continue to look frail at the backend, I think something will need to be done around the ten game mark if not before.

I truly do hope the players available can step up and fill the gaps, but at the same time we need to be ready to act swiftly if things don’t pan out according to plan.

 

Post-Bo

 

Filling the boots of Jay-Bo was never going to be easy, but the retooling of Florida’s blueline has come a long way in filling out the blanks. There is definitely life without Jay-Bo, it will however look very different from what we’ve become accustomed to at the Bank Atlantic Center.

It will now, more than ever before, be a question of the combined collective defensive corps; not the individual talent. To work together as a team and fill all the gaps that surface.

In the end it may be a good thing losing Bo since Florida can’t currently attract a clutch of star names and thus needs to focus on the team effort and not individuals.

It is in shared responsibilities, striving for collectively coherent excellence and similarly overcoming adversities along the way, which will be the key for any Panthers success this season.

It is too early to judge, yet I do have my misgivings but the balance of the defense as a whole. But it’s nothing that can’t be rectified with a trade or signing.

Overall however, it must be said that General Manager Randy Sexton has done well in putting this blueline together. It won’t be a punching bag by any stretches of the imagination and clearly it possesses a stinging uppercut when breaking forward. Other teams will need to be aware and be ready to put in a strong shift to hold us back.

Coupled with head coach Peter DeBoer’s never-say-die attitude this could truly be an attractive season to watch for the Panthers and its careworn fans.

There is certain to be its fair share thrills and spills, and similarly I think a few opposing fans will be surprised of what these southern upstarts can do – post Bo.

Well, the Panthers were put back down on planet Earth again, after Friday’s shootout victory in Helsinki, and the Blackhawks placed the Cats firmly back in the cage with a 4-0 drubbing. Hardly unexpected; the Hawks are a team that is expected to contend for Lord Stanley, whilst Florida will be happy to content for an off-season berth, and overcoming the previous 8 season hoodoo.

All things considered, getting the two points is highly satisfactory and the Panthers leave Finland with a few mixed memories. Hopefully the Cats will focus on the good ones acquired in the first game and not so much in the latter contest. The return to Florida will also mean some changes to the roster. Centerman Dominic Moore is expected to sign for the Panthers today, while four players will be going straight from Helsinki to Rochester.

According to the Sun-Sentinel, Dominic will sign for Florida on a one year contract worth $1.1 million. Seeing as Moore was widely reported to be holding out for $3 million/per season, previously in the summer, the contract would seem more than reasonable from newly appointed General Manager Randy Sexton’s viewpoint.

Last season, Dominic split his time with Toronto and Buffalo, recording 13 goals and 32 assists in 81 games. Not a bad record by any means, but perhaps more a third line centerman than a second liner? I’m not sure what they have in mind for ‘Dom’. But, what is for certain is that Moore will provide some competition for places in the squad, and the center position in particular, whichever line he ends up centering.

According to Moore’s agent, Larry Kelly, Dominic is looking forward to being under the tutelage of Head Coach Peter DeBoer: Claiming they are kindred spirits and that Moore and DeBoer will “be able to communicate extremely well and Pete will be able to assess what Dom does well and utilize him properly.”

Personally I have my reservations as to whether Moore is better than the current crop of centermen we already have on the roster, but his signing will undoubtedly give the coach a few different options and additional depth in case of injuries. It could also free up youngster C Shawn Matthias to return to Rochester; to continue to learn his trade in the AHL.

Four players have already embarked on that trip after the completion of the European outing. Forwards Michal Repik, Mike Duco, defenseman Jason Garrison and goalie Alexander Salak – have all been sent back to the Amerks – without playing for the Panthers in the opening fixtures. Seeing as Rochester opened their season by losing 3-2 to Lake Erie, they could probably use the additional help.

The Panthers arrived back in Florida at 4 am on Sunday morning and will now begin practice again at 11 am, at Incredible Ice, today. The Cats will need this preparation time in order to plan for Friday’s game against Carolina, Saturday’s home opener against New Jersey and next Monday’s first derby clash with Tampa Bay on the West Coast.

It will be an interesting upcoming week for the Florida Panthers and its fans, and after these three games we might have a much better idea of what this installment of the Cats really can (or cannot) do….

Yes, it undoubtedly is time to rub those drowsy eyes this morning. Was it real or did I dream it? My dreams are never usually that good, so it must have happened: The Panthers won a shootout!

Key to this miracle was of course, as we all knew all too well from last season, not to use any of the players still left from the prior campaign. Put in the new signings; it couldn’t be any worse – and boy did they deliver.

Steven Reinprecht’s and Ville Koistinen’s shootout pearls had in common that my first reaction was that they missed. Whether this was through extensive conditioning, so that I expected them to miss and hence saw that happen in my mind’s eye, or if they were just that well taken I can’t quite tell… Doesn’t really matter I guess – point is – we won a shootout… What a way to expel the demons and get this new campaign off the tracks!

Anyway, enough ranting. The hockey season is finally off the mark and a fan couldn’t be happier. Whether or not the Panthers are any more competitive this season than in seasons past; still remains a question mark, but it sure felt good when David Booth put us level late in the third. The trio of Reinprecht, Koistinen and Tomas Vokoun then did the rest to complete the object of my marvel.

Hopefully the players have rubbed their collective eyes by now and are focused on making it two-in-two. Considering several players had been battling the flu just previous to yesterday’s game, that victory truly was astonishing and a minor miracle in its own right.

As I expected from a team molded in coach Peter DeBoer’s image; the players came out flying in the first period and put the Blackhawks well and truly to the sword. Only some magnificent goaltending from Cristobal Huet and some, by the opposite token, sloppy finishing from the Cats held the game tied without the net being troubled. It could easily have been 2 or 3 up to Florida at that point.

The second period was an overall even affair. The teams exchanged prolonged periods of pressure as well as a goal each. Both came against the run of play and changed the momentum of the game. Overall it was an even period and 1-all reflected that.

In the third period however, the Panthers’ extreme pre-season schedule and bouts with the flu seemed to be taking its toll, as would be expected. Yet, despite the Blackhawks increasingly dominating the procedure, a dogged team effort from the Cats kept them in the game. Vokoun came to the fore and Koistinen lifted the roof with his goal to tie the game at two, before Booth made a third and final riposte for Florida with just a couple of minutes left on the clock.

It was 3-3 and extra time ensued. Vokoun made a crucial save on a breakaway and kept the contest alive for the climactic shootout scenario, which *rub* *rub* we won!

Nonetheless, it is too early to get carried away, if that at all is possible not to do for a hockey fan, but it sure felt good seeing the Panthers compete with the Blackhawks – an early favorite of going all the way this coming spring. Yes, Chicago had some 50+ shots on Vokoun, but we all know Tomas thrives when he has a lot to do, and, strut his stuff he did. Apart from a few sprawling efforts that left me hand-in-mouth, one can easily see why Vokie is so respected in the goalie community. A very dependable fellow indeed!

The lopsided shot statistics lie a little too. Even in the first period when the Cats completely dominated and should have had multiple goals for their efforts, the Hawks still had more shots at goal, but the quality was not good. Later in the third period the Panthers were up against the wall getting hammered, but considering the effects of the flu on the key defenders – that was rationally to be expected.

Question is how the team will handle playing a back-to-back game today? Will they wilt further or can they find yet more resolve to overcome the Blackhawks a second time?

And lastly, but certainly not least, what an introduction and dream start by new signing Ville Koistinen. To play his first game for the Panthers in his native Finland, play out of position, score a beautiful regulation goal and then the winning shootout effort… No one could have scripted that ending better…. *rub* *rub*

 

On a final note it is worth a moment of awe directed toward the organization, for the speed at which they handled the filling of the General Manager’s position. Rarely has an organization moved so rapidly and decidedly to fill an all-important position within its own being. They only missed the draft, free agency, training camp and total pre-season…

Fortunately for the corporate snails, the right man was already in place and Randy Sexton saved their blushes by acting decidedly during his reign as inter-rim GM. Why on earth they didn’t make the position permanent a long time ago, if they indeed thought he was the best man for the job as they now claim, is anyone’s guess I guess.

Nonetheless, we are no longer a headless chicken and my best wishes goes to Randy, it’s no easy job for sure, but he has at least filled me with some confidence this summer by making some key signings – despite the air of uncertainty that otherwise has rocked the organization. But, as I nowadays console myself – it could be worse; we could be on paw-level with the Phoenix Coyotes if Murphy’s Law was to be extrapolated to its gravest inference.