Florida Panthers

Same Old Story

Facing elimination the Florida Panthers once again are faced with the fact that the playoffs will go on without them for another year, the 8th consecutive for the going nowhere franchise. Yes it appears that once again, after having teasing it’s fans with the possibility of a playoff appearance, it doesn’t seem likely that the Cats will make it. Rather than go into a complete list of reasons why, it can be summed up in two sentences.
The team has no quality scoring.
The team has no quality scoring.

Redundant? Yes. Why? Well year after year for the past 3 and now 4 seasons, we have been teased with this playoff chase that consistently comes up short. I will give kudos to rookie head coach Peter DeBoer, who has taken this team from 15th in the Eastern Conference in November to the 9th spot at this point with the roster that Uncle Jack has given him. Talk about squeezing blood out of a turnip!
The team consistently suffers from slow starts in a game, they have trouble hanging on, and because DeBoer insists on not rolling 4 lines, the first 3 lines at this point in the season are absolutely exhausted by the third period. Which in last nites game, resulted in only five shots on goal.

Brilliant quote though by Little Stevie Weiss last night: “We have to find a way to get more than one goal. It doesn’t matter how well you play if you don’t score.” Amen brother. If you could have somehow reached your alleged potential, and scored at least 10 more goals this year, we might, just might be in the playoffs. So be it however. This season looks as if it’s done. I am not a quitter or one to throw in the towel, but I never bought into the fact that they could actually make it. Even when they were in the 5th spot in the conference, which lasted about 24 hours.

Uncle Jack thought he had the roster he wanted at the trade deadline, and made no major move, while many teams in the conference acquired players that have made a difference. Pittsburgh and Carolina have rebounded quite nicely. Washington just keeps on going. The Panthers however, trade Noah Welch, a healthy scratch for 90% of the games, for Steve Emminger, who has been a healthy scratch for the last 9 games. Good move eh? Also, the non-trade of Jay Bouwmeester who at this point is going to play his last 2 games in a Panthers uniform was a telling sign that this team is only fooling itself.

We have no number one center. The number two center is really a number 3 center, and the 3 and 4 centers are both 4th liners at best. This team has tried, and has kept things interesting and given fans hope. Unfortunately hope doesn’t make the playoffs. Our goaltending tandem hailed as the best in the league cannot come up with the big game when needed. Maybe because they are consistently facing 35-40 shots per night! That with an allegedly improved defense.

Jokineen for Ballard and Boynton was thought to have been a brilliant move to bolster the defense. The minute that trade was made the first thing out of my mouth after “oh crap” was, “who is gonna score?” For all the BS that we were fed about Jokineen’s issues in the dressing room, we did nothing to try and replace the consistent 30-35 goals that he scored every year. Scoring wins in the regular season, and defense wins in the playoffs. It’s an ancient formula that the Panthers just can’t seem to mix the right way.

By not making moves, Jacques Martin has found a way to tell the same story…again. Early tee time!

Thanks for reading.

Can Anderson Carry The Load?

With the season winding down and the playoffs a distinct possibility, the Florida Panthers have apparently placed their trust in backup goaltender Craig Anderson. After Tomas Vokoun let in some “soft” goals against the Buffalo Sabres after leading the Sabres 3-1, rookie Head Coach Peter DeBoer decided to make a change. Up to that point the Panthers were in a bit of a tailspin, only having won one of their previous 7 games. They were at one time 5th in the Eastern Conference, however due to that little kerfuffle, slipped to 9th which is where they are now.

After goalie Craig Anderson won his first game of this current stretch of 3 in a row, DeBoer said, “he’s in until he loses”. Right or wrong and whether it was the right time to make this decision is not the question. It’s has been apparent that when Vokoun gets overused, his game slips terribly. When he has been replaced by Anderson, Anderson has played quite well for a period of time, until he too slips. In my opinion he comes back to reality. My guess is that we are not too far away from that happening again, and it could be as early as tonight against the Atlanta Thrashers.

This time of year all teams need their go to guys, especially goalies to be performing at their best. We have seen all too often that some goalies need more rest than others. We have seen goalies start the season slow and finish strong. We have seen them start strong, struggle in the middle and then turn things around at the right time and get back on track. Who really knows when to give the starter a rest? Or when is it time to just say, this is our guy and we are sticking with him? Look at Dwayne Roloson of the Edmonton Oilers. He has started the last 5,000 games for Edmonton as they basically have no choice. Dwayne is how old? 39? Ok so he’s pushing 40 and is starting to look at bit tired at times, however he did survive a 51 shot performance last week. Somehow these guys are resilient and can respond to the challenge. If you recall a few years back when Ed Belfour played for the Panthers, he started 27 consecutive games. Wonky back and all, almost took the Panthers to the playoffs by himself. If only they could have scored a few more goals in some of his starts, and they had had a more successful start to their season, they might have actually made the playoffs. Ah, but there folks lies the same old story. Scoring goals and poor starts. Not to mention poor finishes.

There are five games left in the season for the cats. That’s ten possible points of which they must get at least 8, if not all 10. Even getting all ten won’t guarantee anything, but they must make the effort to do so to have the best possible chance of making the postseason. They sit two points out of the 8th spot, and have a game at hand on the Rangers who they are chasing. Nothing is impossible and it sure would be terrific if the Panthers made it, ending 7 years in a row of early tee times.

The problem, or the uneasy feeling that surrounds them is that they may not have “enough” of what it takes to get this job done, and at this point it seems that coach DeBoer is placing the Panthers postseason hopes squarely on the shoulders of Craig Anderson. While veteran and workhorse Tomas Vokoun sits and waits and collects 5 million more a year for doing so, I am sure he wonders “if I only had some more goal support, faced less shots, and had one or two more nights off before this, I would be carrying the load and taking us to the playoffs.

Yes Tomas, I am wondering too what would have happened. You have given your all for two seasons here with the Panthers. You have earned your paycheck and are a team leader. But this game is based on results. The Panthers were not getting those results for a brief stretch and needed to stop the bleeding. Unfortunately at your expense. You were not the sole cause, but it appears that you are being singled out right now. I think your chance will come and before the season is over you’ll get your opportunity. Hopefully guiding the Panthers to a playoff spot.

These are desperate times for a club attempting to see a playoff game. I can only hope giving the reigns to Anderson doesn’t turn out to be a poor decision. This is a team sport and all 20 players who dress for a game have a chance to do something about the outcome of the game they play in. If the Panthers can play desperate hockey and make it to the postseason, I’ll be happy.

I’d just rather see it happen with Vokoun in net.

Thanks for reading.

At Least We got a Point!?

Famous words out of stellar (not my opinion) defenceman Jay Bouwmeester. Are you kidding me? Sick, stupid, and tired of hearing the same old rhetoric. I was at this debacle which Carlolina was allowed to hang around and pounce on a giveaway in overtime to beat the Panthers and gain the extra point. Don’t worry fans, though we are now tied with slumping Montreal for the eight playoff spot. This is a game that the Panthers needed to win and should have come out in the first period like bees on honey! We just cannot seem to ever get past Carolina when we need it.

A five game homestand in which there were a possible 10 points up for grabs which we should have been able to grab at least six or seven, yet we come up with 3. We are playing some awful hockey right now and fading fast. This is not the time of year to be going backwards. Our youth, inexperience and lackadasical efforts are beginning to show. Horton came back after an injury to his hand, looked almost invisible. Didn’t hit anyone and was a non-factor. Little Stevie still apparently bothered by the flu was his usual self, not generating too much of anything. Jay Boumeester who did score the Panthers first goal, was also on the ice for all of Carolina’s goals, continued his careless and aloof after trade deadline play. To me, he has shown that he cannot wait for the season to be over and get the heck out of here.

Other teams in the Eastern Conference made trades and deals that they felt would improve their teams. Yet Uncle Jack stood firm on his process of let’s not do anything to hurt the chemistry of our team, let’s not mortage the future, and we can win with who we have!

Sometimes it’s not the deals you make that make a difference, but it’s the deals you don’t make that make a difference. I have been pleading for years, actually ever since the high priced Pavel Bure was traded away, for a goal scorer, and since that time which is actually related to how long the Panthers have been missing the playoffs, my pleading has been falling on deaf ears.

It seems ironic that the Panthers tailspin began with the sending home of Nick Boynton, who has been sharing time now with DeBoer favorite Steve Emminger. Huh? Sorry, but Boynton shows passion, sticks up for his mates, and is much more valuable to his team than Emminger at this point. Sure he has made mistakes, who hasn’t on this team. This has apparently “hurt” the chemistry of this team.
I blame this solely on rookie head coach Pete DeBoer.

I also blame DeBoer for not holding other players just as accountable. Brett McLean, gets promotion to the first line. Why? He hasn’t done anything to deserve that. Nathan Horton meanders all over the ice, yet no benching. Anthony Stewart hustles every shift, yet somehow is getting scratched.
Rostislav Olesz who has missed considerable time from injury comes back without a conditioning stint which almost every other player gets after being out for so loing, gets thrown right into the lineup.
Rookie mistakes from a rookie coach.

It is going to be a dogfight to make the playoffs, and at this point I don’t see the Panthers finishing higher than ninth or tenth, meaning if they do finish eighth they will get knocked out by Boston. I know things can change once you get in, but not the way this group is playing. They are going backwards, not forwards.

Thanks Uncle Jack!

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Will Horton Be Missed?

That’s the burning question here in South Florida as the Florida Panthers enter the stretch run for the balance of the season without the services of forward Nathan Horton. In addition Bryan McCabe is out for a week due to a facial injury suffered Saturday night. Horton’s injury is the longer lasting of the two and has the potential to be more detrimental to the teams overall performance. Or does it?

A few months ago when both Horton and Cory Stillman were out with injuries, everyone wondered how the Panthers would react. Well if we recall the Cats actually played quite well for that stretch and the pundits were concerned that with Horton returning would the chemistry be tainted with his return.
At that time the line of Gregory Campbell, Radek Dvorak and Ville Peltonin came to the rescue and performed magically earning them the name “The CPR Line”.

At this time, many are wondering if the Panthers have enough left in the tank to have the same performance not only from the CPR line, but from everyone else. All along this team has been hard working, energetic, and determined. Those same attributes must continue since there is no guarantee that the playoffs are a shoe in, and since there is a very close race in the Eastern Conference where the standings change nightly. This time of year for hockey is great because of that. As long as your team is in the thick of it.

But when learning of Horton’s injury and that he could be out for as much as 4 weeks, and the additional ramifications of McCabe’s injury, one fan posted on a blog that it’s time to get a group together and catch the sky when it touches ground. I am not sure if that was said before or after learning than Brett McLean would be taking Horton’s spot on the first line!

All the excitement of the playoff race and contention can be wiped away by a broken finger from one person. A player who has a boatload of talent, but on many nights is completely useless, and invisible, and is being replaced by a player who has the worst +/- on the team and has a grand total of 4 goals to his name this year! If there is anywhere to look for inspiration, the Panthers can look at the New Jersey Devils, who played approximately 50 games this year without the best goalie in the NHL and somehow managed to still be one of the best teams in the league.

Nathan Horton has a long way to go before he measures up to the kind of impact he has on his team compared to Martin Broduer, but it should give the Panthers players a gut check and remind them that one player does not make a team. And if the Panthers play as though they don’t miss Horton again, then that should confirm to Nathan that, he needs them, more than they need him!

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Dumb luck? Or just Dumb?

It has been reported today that Panther center Nathan Horton is going to miss up to a month after breaking a finger Saturday night. Surgery has already been completed and it is not certain whether this will keep the young and enigmatic center/right wing out for 2 weeks or longer as the Panthers try to stay in a playoff race. Horton told the Miami Herald that he was stepped on after one of David Booth’s goals in Saturday night’s victory over the St. Louis Blues.

On top of it, defenceman Bryan McCabe suffered a broken nose during that contest, and while he missed a shift or two, he did come back, warrior that he is, however he was not at today’s practice, and no information was given as far as whether he would miss any time or not.

This could be a serious blow to the Panthers playoff chances, where they sit in a 3 way tie for sixth place in the Eastern Conference, and are about to take on the Pittsburgh Penguins Tuesday, and the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday. While Horton is going to be shelved the Panthers are reporting that Brett McLean will be taking his spot on the first line. All I can say is “you have got to be kidding me”!

The Panthers who have been playing extremely well since the New Year, as we all know must work very hard every night to generate their offense and while the defense is better this year then it has been in recent years, they still give up quite a few number of shots and scoring chances. This will put enormous pressure on goaltending and every single player on the ice. Guys like Stevie Weiss, Cory Stillman, and everyone else are going to have to step it up and produce. I am not sure if this team has it in them or not. Horton has been hot and cold and while he has nineteen goals this season, many were hoping for 30 to 35, and those numbers are for sure out of reach. Even if he were to score another 10 this season, I am not sure that McLean should he become the permanent fixture can supply those numbers.

Which brings me to the lukewarm reaction of the Panthers basically doing nothing at the trade deadline. As I mentioned in a previous post there were probably 2 players, if not more that got away from us for virtually nothing. Bill Guerin went ironically to the Penguins for a 5th round draft choice, Nik Antropov went to the Rangers for a couple picks as well. Maybe there is a reason that the Panthers didn’t go after these players, however now their reasoning is going to be magnified if they don’t make the playoffs. Guerin could have provided some solid veteran leadership, and could have definetly taken Horton’s spot on the first line. Antropov is a big center, who could easily have been placed on the first line as a legit center.

I would like to personally thank my brother in law who as usual jinxed the Panthers last night when he said the playoffs are virtually guaranteed. Now, not so much.

Also, and I hope this doesn’t happen, but if the Panthers don’t make the playoffs, I believe that GM Jacques Martin deserves to get the “boot” for his non trade at the deadline. Noah Welch for Steve Eminger is a non-deal of 2 young defenceman. This team was not good enough before to do any damage in the playoffs beyond round 1. Now they will be lucky to get in at all.

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Jay Stays. Are Panthers Better Off?

Jacques Martin could not get a deal that he was happy with before the trade deadline Wednesday and decided to hold onto prize defenseman Jay Bouwmeester. Jay as we know is a pending UFA after this season and has turned down offer upon offer by the Panthers and speculation has continued that he is not long for this organization.

However, with the Panthers in a playoff hunt, and the team improving under rookie head coach Peter DeBoer, things might be turning around. The Panthers now seem to be happy that Jay is going to play the rest of the season here and finish the playoff run with his mates, ultimately not upsetting team chemistry. The word around town is that all of his teammates are glad this is over and glad he’s still here, and now they can focus on one thing. Making the playoffs.

So, that being said, even by keeping Jay, which may turn out to be a good idea, or not, Uncle Jack continued to prove his love of defenceman by acquiring defenceman Steve Eminger from the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for defenceman Noah Welch. All I can say is “HUH”? Yes, Eminger has a bit more experience, but that supposedly was not on the shopping list.

My opinion says that a center, and or a top 9 forward was and is still needed. I think that maybe the Panthers missed the boat on a couple things. Nik Antropov could have been had for a draft pick and maybe a minor league player. Brendon Morrison could have been picked up on waivers.
Bill Guerin could have been had for a 5th round pick. On and on. Other deals were made by teams in the playoffs that improved their teams. Yet the cautious Martin didn’t ruffle any feathers.

It could be that the organization is happy with this team as is. Maybe they are right, and maybe they are wrong. The last thing I want to see is finish 7th or 8th and get knocked out by Boston or Jersey.
Why not pick up a player to add some offense and make a bit of a go to improve?

It is a tough spot to be in. The Panthers are basically saying that our playoff chances are better with Jay then wthout, regardless of who comes back. If the deals that were on the table would have happened, I don’t think that they Panthers chances would be any worse. So in retrospect the balance of the season will be heavily scrutinized based on this non deal, and my thoughts are that Uncle Jack better be right by holding on to Jay. If the Panthers make the playoffs and Jay signs, then everyone will be happy. But in the end, if Jay walks, and the Panthers cannot get a player of some stature next year and miss the playoffs, well, I don’t want to think about that.

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Boynton sent home

In a story that came out of the blue, Florida Panthers management, has sent defenseman Nick Boynton home for the balance of this road trip. Boynton is going to miss key games agaisnt New Jersey, Washington, and Atlanta. None of which will be easy, especially since Atlanta is the last game of the trip and the players will probably want to get it over with.

The only information we know is that Boynton was benched during the third period of Thursday’s game against the Rangers which the Panthers ended up coming from behind and winning 2-1. Apparently there was no explanation given to Boynton for the benching. He then proceeded to question coach Peter DeBoer ab out it and was not given any answer that satisfied him. From all reports he was given no answer other than we’ll talk about it later. Boynton perisisted, the situation escalated and he was pulled out of the room and told, you’re going back to Florida.

Strange. Weird. You name it. If this event ruins the chemistry of the team, and the Panthers miss the playoffs, there will be alot of questions.

Right now I have a bunch.

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Road Trip Starts Off Ugly!

Panther’s coach Peter DeBoer called last night’s loss to the Buins an “Ugly one”. There were alot of mistakes, poor play, and what seemd to be a team that was timid. The score was 1-0 Boston within the first minute when Patrice Bergeron scored for Boston, on a giveaway from Jay Boumeester. From that point it was downhill, and the Cats were in a battle, without enough amunition.

If you haven’t heard of Byron Bitz, after this game you may be hearing more of him. Bitz scored 2 goals last night giving him 3 for the season, and giving the Bruins some scoring from their 4th line. This Boston team looked much different than the team that lost 2-0 to the Panthers on Saturday night, but the Panthers looked different too. Especially in net, where backup, and let’s face it folks, that’s exactly what he is, a back up, Craig Anderson started in place of the flu-bitten Tomas Vokoun.

In watching last night’s game I could not help but notice that the Bruins just kept bringing in on, and forcing the play, while the Panthers who had some good chances just could not bury any shots past the acrobatic Tim Thomas. Everything just seemed to go against the Panthers,and they could never get into it. The lone goal scored by Kamil Kreps on a nice pass from Anthony Stewart brought the Panthers close, but the Bruins showed why they are one of the best teams in the league and they just pulled away.

I also say that I must disagree with the Panthers TV announcers Steve Goldstein and Denis Potvin who thought they the Panthers were outplaying the Bruins for awhile. Maybe they were watching the game from Saturday night, and not this one, but being the “homers” that they are, they needed to be more upfront and realistic. The Panthers needed to play a flawless road game against the Bruins and control the play and be solid in all areas. They didn’t get that last night. Being in a playoff chase requires every game to be played with a playoff type tenacity, and if the Panthers finish 8th they will likely face the Bruins in the opening round. They will need to play better against them, especially in Boston. Coming home down 2 games to none will not be a good thing.

Maybe the Jay Bouwmeester rumours are getting to the team, as the deadline approaches. This is where a team needs to be mentally tough because this is a situation that cannot be controlled by the players. If anyone knows what ultimately going to happen it’s Jay. He might stay for the balance of the year if Uncle Jack doesn’t get a deal he likes, but probably won’t be here for the future. If he’s traded, no one knows what’s coming back, and no one knows how that will help or hurt the Panthers playoff chances. This trade talk will be over in a week and then things will settle down.

Until then, I will ask my favorite question to the Panthers, from a former head coach:
“Do you have the mental capacity ” to play playoff style hockey right now?

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Tough Loss Revealing!

Last night’s loss to the division rival Washington Capitals was a bit revealing of the Florida Panthers and their current playoff chase. While I will proudly admit, it is very refreshing to watch this team actually be in the playoff race, and I have enjoyed their new found style of play, there are still some things missing that will help put this team over the top.

First and foremost this team needs a pure goal scorer. While that is easier said than done, I say this because of the fact that this team does not have a superstar to rely on, and knowing that the likes of a Marion Gaborik, even when healthy are not going to be on the radar screen, this team has to play with all cylinders running perfectly and efficiently to win. While rookie coach Peter DeBoer has the Cats playing a much more uptempo style, and has the forecheck working most nights, against the better teams in the NHL, the Cats need a guy that will score when needed, or at least shoot more!

Nathan Horton, who has a terrific shot, when he uses it and when it’s accurate has become an enigma on this team. Nathan has a ton of talent, however has become lazy, thinks pass first, and on many nights is invisible. I haven’t seen him throw any checks lately and his pass first mindset has become very frustrating. All this could be the result of being counted on to play center rather that his natural position of right wing, but so what! When he was getting his upper 20 and 30 goals a season it was becasue he was shooting and not passing. He even hesitates on one timers, giving the defense and opposing goalie time to get in position to block his shot. If there was a way to get into his head and get him to shoot more, he would score more for sure, but something is lacking in his mindset.

Also missing in my mind is some more physical play. Finishing checks and wearing down the opponent would certainly help the Panthers and their forechecking system. Too many times they are missing the chance to slow down the opponent deep in their zone by applying some physical force and allowing the oppostion to quickly get out of their end. This could be a result of not wanting to get penalized, however, you have to know when to play the body and when not to.

These two minor changes are potentially the difference in the Panthers making the playoffs as a 6th or 7th seed, or barely finishing in the 8th spot, or potentially lower. Don’t get me wrong, I like their game now. Everyone for the most part seems to be on board with the new philosophy and scheme, but improvement in these two areas would make a big difference.

Which brings us to the season long question of Jay Bouwmeester. Word is that the Panthers have recently offered Jay $6.5 million per year in a multi year deal, and it was turned down. The clock is ticking on the trade deadline and their is no assurance that the Panthers can get a deal done to their liking and may just stick it out and hope for the best. He is viewed as their best defenseman and since they are in the playoff hunt possibly feel that it’s worth the risk of losing him for nothing just to make the playoffs. I am torn on this situaiton. Trading him for some offense and a middle grade defenseman along with a draft pick is one thought, however if the Panthers fail to make the playoffs because of that, then it will have been deamed a bad move. Is that worse though than letting him leave, which it is apparent that he wants to do and get nothing in return?

We’ll find out soon enough.

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Who’s a Klutz Now?

Bryan McCabe could not have asked for a better finish to cap off his second visit to the Air Canada Center this year then the one he gave last night against the Leafs. The Florida Panthers who at this point need to win as many games as possible to stay in the playoff hunt were almost on the losing end of this tilt, until McCabe scored the winner in overtime.

Quite a feat by these Panthers, who going into last nights game had not won a game all year when trailing after two periods. Down 3-2 then pulling goaltender Craig Anderson, who was a surprise start for the flu-bitten Tomas Vokoun, Cory Stillman scored the tying goal to send the game to OT. Then in typical Bryan McCabe fashion, he had an opportunity to blast a slap shot on goal which trickled past Vesa Toskala for the game winner, in which McCabe was mobbed or tackled by his teammates in celebration. All night long, each time McCabe touched the puck you could hear the boos from the Leafs faithful, which is exactly what he expected. However I can bet that there were some fans who might have been happy for him inspite of the result, but then I am sure that there were also some that said “it figures”!

I will say that McCabe has been relatively mistake free this year for the cats. I can only remember one or two really costly errors that he has made. He seems to be enjoying the South Florida atmosphere, playing under the radar, and providing the steady veteran leadership that the Panthers expected from him. Things don’t get magnified down here for the most part. If you play well, work hard, get some goals, make some hits, and at least look like you’re having fun, the fans will embrace you. That’s not to say that they don’t recognize NHL imposters, but McCabe has played very very well, and for that I am happy.

The playoff push for the Panthers continues and in a game that they probably should have lost, and had they been playing a better team, more than likely would have, they fought back, hung in and found a way to win. With each game becoming more and more important,w e are going to find out how many lives these cats have.

Thanks for reading.