Roblogg’s Panthers Portal

It’s about time the Panthers started to capitalize on a very favorable schedule. All through February up to the deadline they had a terrible schedule; being pitted against all the top teams – while those teams were still motivated to win their games. Yet, it is ironic that when the tide finally turned, so did Florida’s on-ice fortunes – they took a nosedive in the wrong direction…

Since the trade deadline the Cats have been in action 5 times, of which 3 games were against direct playoff rivals, and they only managed to pick up 4 out of a possible 10 points. That’s not only below .500, but worse is that in those three crunch playoff-type-games, Florida picked up 1 out of a possible 6 points. And since losing to direct rivals has a dual effect, not only do we lose two points – but the rivals gain two points, it’s actually more like losing 10 decisive playoff points.

The game versus Tampa Bay on Saturday was actually a step forward in the right direction. There is no doubt that Florida deserved to win that game on effort alone and the team played some 50 solid minutes of hockey before being hit with a double sucker punch in the last seven. And as we know from experience the Panthers need to avoid a shootout at all costs, and when that was unavoidable; so was the defeat.

Of course there can be no sugarcoating; a last gasp collapse as against the Bolts is both inexcusable, but also more importantly, a terrible blow to our collective playoff hopes. It is now the second time in a row that the Cats have collapsed when two goals up entering the third (also against Pittsburgh) and then wound up losing the ensuing shootout.

This ill must be cured and so does the ailing power-play. The Panthers need to start moving more; feet, mind, stick and puck to have any success. Screen the goalie and drive the pucks on goal for deflections or rebounds; it’s really not that hard – it’s just takes a lot of effort!

Getting Bryan McCabe back to the line-up will surely help a lot in this respect and he’s penned in for a performance against the Caps tonight. Question is who’ll be the healthy scratch amongst the back six?

My guess is Nick Boynton, despite him being our – quite possibly – best defender since his return to the line-up three games ago. Having Rostislav Olesz back amid the forwards is also a healthy sign and it was good seeing him being physical against the Lightning on Saturday after such a long time off from hockey due to his hernia surgery. With some more games under his belt, he should be able to help contribute on the top lines if needed. Meanwhile, Nathan Horton won’t be back on this current home stand and it remains uncertain when he’ll be up to playing again.

So, looking ahead at this current home-stand, we face Washington tonight, Toronto on Thursday, Columbus on Saturday and then that vital game versus Carolina next Monday. Then follows a three game road trip to Buffalo, Philadelphia and Dallas – before returning home.

With the playoff race being as tight as it is, I think it’s a fair assessment that the Panthers should need to collect at least 7 point from this current five game home-stand. That means we would need to win 3 out of the next 4 games. That certainly doesn’t seem impossible, but if we lose tonight that will obviously be all the more difficult. Hence, tonight’s game is a very important one for Florida!

Good news is that it’s not only the Cats that have been stumbling of late. Despite only picking up a point over the weekend we still didn’t lose pace with our playoff rivals; although both the Rangers and Penguins picked up W’s on Monday. Washington meanwhile seems to be in a day-to-day based form, losing yesterday in Atlanta, 1-5, after winning their previous three games.

In that fixture, the stellar offensive defenseman Mike Green was out with the flu, Jose Theodore in goal had a torrid game and was hooked after letting in four goals. Rookie netminder Simeon Varlamov got the chance for the remainder of the game and made four saves and let one in. He’s expected to get the nod today in South Florida.

Superstar Alex Ovechkin meanwhile was in search of his 50th goal of the season, but was outshone by Atlanta’s goalie Kari Lehtonen – who made 49 saves – of which 10 were on shots from Ovechkin. Alex was so furious after the game he refused to talk to reporters.

The win was all the more extraordinary for the Thrashers as they did it without their captain Ilya Kovalchuk, who missed his second straight game with an undisclosed upper body injury. Atlanta got a franchise high six consecutive victories with this latest triumph and now make sure a pumped up Capitals team will be coming to South Florida in search of revenge… Gee, thanks Thrashers!

Yet, having beaten the Caps 6-2 on their own home ice in the previous meeting, that was always going to be the case anyway.

The Panthers need only worry about themselves and their own effort. If they play to full ability, with heaps of desperation for measure, there is no reason to believe they can’t beat the Capital team again. It will however, require 60 minutes of hockey and hard work – not 40, 50, 55 or even 59 – 60! – get that Cats?

Prevailing in the playoff race is all about grit, hard work and determination – and the Panthers desperately need to clench those jaws and go for the jugular; to get back in from the chasing pack. Ninth is not good enough, not this year!

The Florida Panthers kept their collective heads above water by winning last night’s game in Atlanta. The Thrashers are a tricky team to play and have done well as of late. The Cats again started slow, and in the end it took two game tying goals from rookie Michael Frolik and mesmerizing set-up pass from Karlis Skrastins to get them playing some good hockey. Atlanta then staged a late comeback in the third and made for a couple of nervous minutes before the buzzer relieved the dangling visitor’s nerves.

It is a time of dread and apprehension for most players and fans as the trade deadline approaches and several Panthers players have seen their names out there in the rumor mill. The call-up of Keaton Ellerby and disciplining of Nick Boynton also added some fuel to the flames already burning around the heels of Jay Bouwmeester.

Will Jay Bouwmeester stay in South Florida for the remainder of the season or be traded later on today?

But with the deadline finally upon us all, here are my last minute predictions for the Florida Panthers and our involvement: It may very well be a quiet trade deadline after all.

I base this guess on what Head Coach Peter DeBoer said prior to the Atlanta game when asked about the Panthers current situation and the pending trade deadline: "Jacques (Martin, Panther GM) realizes we’ve got a good group in here, we’ve got some chemistry. Unless he feels he can improve the team substantially, I think he’s going to keep that in mind going into the deadline."

Hence it seems unlikely the General Manager would go against his Head Coach’s wishes and make big changes to the chemistry of the team. Jacques has previously said he’d be willing to do that if it was in the clubs best interest, but then again, the best interest of this club is to make the playoffs and making big changes could severely hamper those goals.

Many hockey experts also seem to be of the opinion that the franchise would do best in keeping Jay Bouwmeester for the playoff race and then trade his rights at the upcoming draft. This seems like the most probable outcome right now. Jay-Bo will see out his contract here in South Florida, unless there is some GM out there that is ready to mortgage his entire franchise in getting Bouwmeester. And that’s pretty much what it would take.

Jacques Martin has said that the Cats don’t just want draft picks or prospects; they want a top six forward and a top four defenseman – in addition to some mouthwatering prospects and picks. Now that’s a hefty price! And I don’t think anyone will be willing to pay that price right now with a tight salary cap and few movements in the transfer market as a whole over the season.

Yet, who knows what’s really going to happen? That’s the thrill of this day and why I, and many with me, are anxiously waiting for some news to start trickling in….

As for other movements, apart from the Bouwmeester saga, I think Nick Boynton is in danger of being traded. But then again, it all depends on what kind of disciplinary breach he really made. If it was of a severe enough magnitude; he could be traded. The call-up of defenseman Keaton Ellerby from the AHL sure makes you wonder anyway – what’s going on!?

What does the future hold for Florida defenseman Nick Boynton?

What the Panthers do need and are probably going to go aggressively in search of; is a top six forward. The recent injuries to the front line have shown Florida are vulnerable here and would need at least one reinforcement in this compartment. I feel pretty confident Jacques will pick up such a player, but if it will be the top centerman we so badly crave is a different question completely. It may be too much to ask to be able to get a star centerman and the Panthers lack perhaps the right high profile prospect for such a deal; unless of course Bo is available after all….

Anyway, we’ll soon see what our General Manager has in store for this club and it will be an exhilarating day to watch the action unfold. Some nervous movements are sure to follow!

Having been bit by the injury bug of late, the Florida Panthers are starting to experience some hardship along the winding path of playoff hockey. As the teams get more desperate in that race, the checks get harder and the injuries more prone to occur. Now is when a team’s depth is usually challenged. That has been the case for the Panthers on this latest five game road trip, which will be closed out tonight in Atlanta, Georgia.

Two players that are definitely out of the line-up are: David Booth and Nick Boynton.

David was hit hard a couple of time by Washington’s defenseman Mike Green, in the previous game, and will be out with an upper-body injury. He’ll then be listed day-to-day and might be back for the pivotal Pittsburgh game on Thursday.

Boynton will perhaps also be back in the fold for that game. He was sent home after an alleged breach of discipline, after the NY Rangers fixture. Quite what happened has not been fully revealed, but it seems Nick may have confronted Head Coach Pete DeBoer as to why he was sat out in the second half of the game. Whatever was said, and how it was said, it was enough for DeBoer and GM Jacques Martin to discipline Boynton by sending him home to South Florida. Pete has said the Panthers will meet with Nick tomorrow and “go from there”.

Cory Stillman and Tomas Vokoun however, may be ready to return today, already.

Stillman who has been out since the morning skate at Madison Square Garden on Feb 26th with a bruised foot, looks like he might be ready to return: “If Cory makes as much progress today to (Tuesday) as he did from (Sunday) to today, I’m pretty sure he’ll play. We still have to give him another 24 hours to make sure,” Pete DeBoer said yesterday. With Booth definitely sidelined it seems like a sure thing that Cory will be starting the game tonight.

Vokoun meanwhile is doing better after an ear infection had sidelined him for the previous four games on the road trip. He joined the team yesterday, after driving from Washington to Atlanta. Coach Pete DeBoer said: “I want to see how Tomas feels after the skate today. […] When he wakes up tomorrow morning we’ll make a decision.”

At time of writing, no decision has yet been made, but with Craig Anderson rebounding well against Washington (after the big loss to New Jersey), I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s in goal today too. There’s no point in rushing Tomas unless he’s fully fit to play. Craig is a capable back-up goalie who’ll be ready to play if needed.

Whoever is in goal, he’ll have an active night tonight, as he’ll face the hottest player in the NHL at the moment: Ilya Kovalchuk. Kovalchuk was named the NHL’s No. 1 star of February; after scoring 13 goals and getting a total of 21 points during that previous month. Atlanta will however be without veteran puck-moving defenseman Niclas Hävelid, who was dealt to the New Jersey Devils yesterday. Rookie defenseman Anssi Salmela went in the other direction.

So this is how fifth heaven looks like?

(Hey, if there is a seventh tier there must be a fifth – if logic were to prevail, right?)

We the southernmost hockey-fans in the land have not been spoiled rotten with hockey success, rather starved and left wanting, and so we will take all the more in pleasure in this triumph against our perennial rivals…

5-0! Say it again: Florida = a high flying five; Carolina = none, zip, zilch, zero, nil, nought, nothing – null and void *leave empty space here* not even one – shutout in their own house!!!!! Taste it, savor the flavor of sweet victory; and in Carolina nonetheless… If all Hurricanes were as friendly as the one we met in Raleigh yesterday… By all means, take me for a spin around the North Carolinian wilderness anytime – blow me away!

OK… exhale – take a few deep breaths – a moment of sanity is needed to recollect just how this stunning victory came about in the first place…

The game started in an open fashion with both teams circling around one-another looking for an opening. The Panthers were the first to find a gap in the first period as a joint two-way forecheck by Horton and Booth presented the puck to Ballard, who confidently stepped in from the slot, feigned the slapshot and fed the puck to Horton – who in turn was presented with an alluringly amount of empty net to aim at – and he made no mistake.

That was, believe it or not, the winning goal – after a mere 7 ½ minutes played of the game…

Minutes later a similar forechecking move by the same line presented Richard Zednik, stepping in un-marked from the line, with an excellent opportunity to give Florida a 2-0 lead. Cam Ward made the first save on Zednik’s shot, but Richard got the puck right back to him and jammed in home on the second time trying. Both goals were a real testament to coach Pete DeBoer’s tactics and how they can yield results if the forwards keep playing aggressively in the opponent’s zone; maintain high pressure on the defenders and in-so-doing create turnovers around the boards.

Yet, this was no walk-over. Carolina stood their ground well and over the course of the game had no less than 42 shots on goal. Several of those were qualified chances and a couple were open netters. The difference between the teams was first and foremost the goaltending.

Cam Ward was replaced by Michael Leighton half way through the contest after letting in four goals on thirteen shots. This while Tomas Vokoun continued his outstanding form by fending off any and every shot directed at him with poise and composure. He never looked rattled and the defenders were always there to dispose of any loose pucks around the crease. A special mentioning in that respect must go to Karlis Skrastins, who acts as the proverbial broom; sweeping up goal-bound shots and rebounds – as if he’s somehow magnetic and all pucks want nothing else then to come to the Latvian iron-man.

What really punctured Carolina and any lingering hopes of a comeback was however Anthony Stewart. He’s been playing with so much energy of late that you just couldn’t help but think a puck must finally bounce his way – and in goal. This, at long last, happened in the second period as two Carolina players collided; presenting Stewart with an open pond to skate in to – and to everyone’s collective surprise he scored a beautifully cheeky goal in Ward’s considerably wide five-hole. And you just knew that when Anthony scores it’s one of those days of Midas when everything you touch turns in to gold – and in this case – goals.

Prior to Stewart’s three-nothing goal, the Hurricanes had had a couple of power-play opportunities and were swirling around Vokoun’s net in search for a way back. The goal therefore came at a very opportune moment and you could see the Carolina players literally fold after Anthony’s rare moment of glory. The mental collapse was quickly exposed as the Panthers scored again – barely 12 seconds later. It was suitably the CPR line that put the game to bed after Gregory Campbell scored in rapid succession of Stewart’s deflating goal. A despondent Cam Ward was now withdrawn from the game in favor of back-up Michael Leighton.

Further gloss to the scoreline came only minutes later as Michael Frolik, who has been going through a dry spell of late, pounced on a ricochet from a rapid Kamil Kreps strike, which hit the cross-bar and bounced straight to Michael. Frolik had his stick on the ice and reacted quickly to put the puck away behind Leighton in goal.

After this 5-0 goal it was merely a question of waiting for the game to end for both teams. Carolina were frustrated and no one more than Eric Staal who took a couple of stupid penalties in the third. However, by this point any lingering hopes the home team may have had earlier in the game, of getting a share of the spoils, were long gone anyway.

While Vokoun was the obvious match-winner with his shutout, this was truly a team victory for the Panthers. The defenders ably dealt with any rebounds and kept the Hurricanes forwards at bay. The Florida forwards meanwhile, had a lot of success with its aggressive forecheck and especially the first line of Booth – Horton – Zednik showed how it can be used to full effect in those first two goals. The fourth line has been playing very well and with a lot of energy for quite some time now and has finally started to get rewarded for all that hard work. Frolik got out of his recent slump with a goal and the CPR-line (Peltonen – Campbell – Dvorak) can always be counted on; both for defensive solidity and forward production. The penalty kill was also of the highest order yet again.

If the Florida Panthers can keep their focus and play the way they did yesterday; making the playoffs doesn’t look all that intimidating anymore. However, it’s important we stay a bit grounded nonetheless – a very tough schedule is coming up with no less than 9 (!) consecutive games against teams currently above us in the standings. It will be a stern test of the Cats resolve coming up; starting later today with a home tie with the New York Rangers.

It’s dangerous to speculate or look forward too much, but imagine if we can beat the Rangers tonight… That would take us to within one point of NY – currently in fifth spot of the Eastern Conference. Now isn’t that a remarkable change of fortunes for a team that was dead last in the league just a couple of months ago!

It does put in to perspective just what head coach Pete DeBoer has actually managed to do with, what on paper looks like, a rather modest set of players and inherent skill within the squad. Yet, we can’t let up now. The Panthers need to dig even deeper to get through this upcoming set of games victoriously. And now it’s truly time for the people of South Florida to start rallying behind this club: The players are working their hearts out, but will need that seventh player more than ever as we enter a very tricky six game home stretch, starting today.

We can all make a difference and sound our support to the players on the ice doing the deeds. It’s time all South Floridians woke up and took notice of the heroics being done here; got in to the action laded thrills and spills of hockey and once again embraced the Panthers.

I for one will be at the Bank Atlantic Center tonight, cheering for the Cats in thick and thin: Where will you be?