No Pain, No Gain!
March 28th, 2008 by The IcemanI am making this one brief due to the frustration that has set in.
This week as been an emotional roller coaster. A win at home against Atlanta last Sunday. A loss to Tampa on the road Tuesday and a loss to Atlanta at home Thursday night has all but eliminated the Panthers. At least if you do the math.
Otherwise you can stick a fork in this season. I also am having a very very difficult time wondering why the practice on Wednesday was a “Light” practice? We lose to the worst team in the conference on Tuesday night, still have a glimmer of hope if we win all our games,yet the coaching staff basically says, take it easy boys. We need to relax a little bit.
YIKES!!!! Are you kidding me. We are taking the pedal off the gas because why? We need to let up and have some fun in the sun? We need to take things less seriously?
I just don’t understand. The Panthers have attempted to do the impossible with a March playoff push again and try to win all their games. They certainly played with some desperation however where was this in October, November, December, and even January when we were giving up leads in the third period?
In addition for what appeared to be the first time I have seen him do this all season, Uncle Jack puts Olli on the 4th line last night. Now let me get something straight. Your captain who has survived a third season in a row of trade rumours, survives a personal on ice incident with his own linemate that he accidently caused, is playing with 2 fourth liners most of the season and is pissed off at his coach has a couple bad games and NOW you are trying to send a message and bench, or limit his ice time? Listen I am all for sending messages when a player is not performing or is lax in his effort, but where was this earlier in the season.
Nathan Horton deserved this type of treatment many times. Bryan Allen as well.
But our wise and intelligent coach decides that now is the time to do it with the season on the line and does it with the team leader, who quite frankly, has had a rough time of it since the allstar break. This is B.S.
Uncle Jack should be the one taking the blame for this instead of making Olli the scapegoat and trying to save his job. He has had this team playing in eggshells for most of the season with such a tight rope wrapped around their neck and basically having them fake a nuetral zone trap all year it makes me ill!
By the way the empty net goal scored last night was by none other than Mark Recchi whom Atlanta picked up on waivers earlier this year. When he was asked about it at the time Uncle Jack said, we’re not interested, we have other needs to fill. Nice going! The headcoaching and GM job will need to be filled as well when this season is over!
Thanks for reading.
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