Panthers blow 3-1 lead

We got a point - now on to Buffalo to get two more.

This was a tough playoff-intensity type game. The Panthers played well, except in the shoot-out. I think Vokoun was exhausted by the that point due to all the saves he made in regulation and OT and he just couldn't do any more. We stood up well to a fine Pens team. We are still in the playoff hunt and we got a point. Mostly positive for the Cats last night.

Louie wrote:

This was a tough playoff-intensity type game. The Panthers played well, except in the shoot-out. I think Vokoun was exhausted by the that point due to all the saves he made in regulation and OT and he just couldn't do any more. We stood up well to a fine Pens team. We are still in the playoff hunt and we got a point. Mostly positive for the Cats last night.

I've got to disagree with you. And I know all the "rah rah" fans on here are going to slam me today for this, but last night was a pretty big disappointment. Sure, kudos for going up 3-1 in the 2nd period. But if you want to be a playoff team you better close it out in games like this. That was a horrible third period. Did you not watch the 20 minutes prior to the shootout??? They end up with 50 shots against - vs. a talented team like Pittsburgh??? That type of effort won't get you into the playoffs. And before you slam me for not recognizing the fact that they "walked out of there with one point," let me remind you of this: 6 teams are battling for 4 playoff spots. There is a very good chance that one of those teams will miss the playoffs by, yes, 1 point. Guess how many points we let slip away last night? That's right, 1 point. The Cats better get hot again because teams like Pittsburgh and Carolina are very hot right now.

Peace out. And have a good time slamming me today since you guys don't like it when people have something negative to say.

Don't agree at all. No excuses, at this point in the season when you are up by 2 going into the third period you have got to close the game out and get the two points. Yes, they played hard but this was a 3 point swing in the standings against Pittsburgh. Instead of gaining two points on them the Panthers lost ground by a point. Cannot do that against teams they are directly fighting for a playoff spot with.
Once again way too many shots given up.

Need to win that game against Buffalo or else they could find themselves out of the top 8.

50 Shots on net, great defense! The team is all mixed up, it has become the role of the defense to score and defend! No wonder! Horton being out is for the better as he is a waste when hes on the ice.

What happens if we miss the playoffs and then get absolutely nothing for Bouwmeester in return? Luckily Martin traded for Emminger, the answer to our offensive problems!

Also, am I crazy or should we have picked up Roberts off waivers?

I don't feel it was a very well coached game. The lines were a disaster. Why start the game with McLame up on the #1 line? He brings nothing (except a -14 for $1.7 millio) obviously Deboer figured it out (again) as he only talled 9:30 TOI. Krepps should have been there instead the whole game. Looked like the striped shirts were Penguin fans.

Last night was very disappointing. McLean was useless centering on a top line and you can bet that DeBoer was well aware of that, cutting his minutes way down as the game went on. He tallied only 9:30, with just 56 seconds in the third (two short shifts).

In all fairness, they gave up 3 goals to a hot Pittsburgh team and the goal by Crosby was a bit flukey. The Panthers also had some good chances but couldn't convert them. Actually, they didn't even get some of those good set-ups to be shots on goal, recording just 21 SOG's for the game. The bigger problem was the 50 shots given up to the Pens, though it should be noted that 13 of the Pens' shots came as a result of being on the PK 6 times.(And does anyone else agree with me that the refs were clearly slanted towards the Pens?)

Worst thing about the Horton injury is that it came when he was beginning to play his best hockey of the season, hustling more than ever before, shooting the puck and using his size and strength to his advantage. Really bad timing to lose him now for what could be almost the entire final month of the season.

Wait a Minute wrote:

Last night was very disappointing. McLean was useless centering on a top line and you can bet that DeBoer was well aware of that, cutting his minutes way down as the game went on. He tallied only 9:30, with just 56 seconds in the third (two short shifts).
In all fairness, they gave up 3 goals to a hot Pittsburgh team and the goal by Crosby was a bit flukey. The Panthers also had some good chances but couldn't convert them. Actually, they didn't even get some of those good set-ups to be shots on goal, recording just 21 SOG's for the game. The bigger problem was the 50 shots given up to the Pens, though it should be noted that 13 of the Pens' shots came as a result of being on the PK 6 times.(And does anyone else agree with me that the refs were clearly slanted towards the Pens?)
Worst thing about the Horton injury is that it came when he was beginning to play his best hockey of the season, hustling more than ever before, shooting the puck and using his size and strength to his advantage. Really bad timing to lose him now for what could be almost the entire final month of the season.

I'll agree that there could have been one or two calls in favor of the Cats in the 3rd. However, all the calls against the Cats were good calls. That's what happens when you are on your heels for the majority of the period - you tend to clutch and grab and hook to slow the other team down.

Mc Lean is useless, Vokoun was shaky and slow but just lucky the D's did work hard. Without Ballard and Boynton this team will be the same like last year's. I don't know why they let Andy be always a backup when he was well ahead of Vokoun at the beginning of the season. By not playing him you can't expect him to be a happy camper or a "tiger" on short notice. He was the guy more prepared for the season, yet they slowly degrade him. It must be Martin!!!

Obviously the Pittsburgh video goalie trainer had Vokoun number well described and the shut-out was piece of cake for them.

JM should make an appeal to the NHL Officals Association and find out why the Panthers constantly get hosed night in and night out on ticky tack penalties that are not called both ways. True we didnt give up any points last night on the PK but we were on the defensive all night. Another thing has anyone else noticed how quickly Cullimore hits the ice to block shots. He commits way too early rather than putting a body on the guy in the post. I know it takes a lot of guts to dive in front of a puck traveling up to 100+mph but he needs to anticipate a little better and not give up the man he is defending.

There must be better guys in ahl to replace Stewart and McLean.

Get a serious name goalie trainer-from now on it's 50% about goaltending. DONT BE CHEAP NOW !!!

CATastrophe wrote:

Looked like the striped shirts were Penguin fans.

I thought so too. The Pens were (again) getting away with hooks, picks, late hits, and interference. Lots of interference.

Watch the Pens on the forecheck. They practically mangle the person who is next long before they actually can touch the puck. That used to be called interference. Give them credit, though. They knew very well how the refs were calling the game and they stayed just under the line. The sad part is that Pens played the better game anyway and did deserve to win.

The Panthers MUST beat Buffalo and Tampa. Period.

Louie wrote:

This was a tough playoff-intensity type game. The Panthers played well, except in the shoot-out. I think Vokoun was exhausted by the that point due to all the saves he made in regulation and OT and he just couldn't do any more. We stood up well to a fine Pens team. We are still in the playoff hunt and we got a point. Mostly positive for the Cats last night.

I must agree and disagree with you, as every other hockey fan has done. Yea it was a high energy fast paced game with alot of intensity. And yes for the most part the Cats played hard. And yes they got the short end of the stick again as they always do with lame penalties. So here is what i saw. the cats where able to match the Penns pretty evenly, but whats up with Bou getting caught flat footed in like the past 4 games? If we didnt have to kill so many penalyies i really think the out come would have been n our favor. But at this time of the year you have to beable to close out games when you are leading no matter what!! And they didnt. Yea we got a point but that really dosnt mean much when its this close. the 3 we got out worked and out played. I agree we cant allow so many shots against that is just crazy, we are taking 50 shots against but only avg. to put out 30-40. thats no good. The forwards have to shot from every where in any situation just put it on net, something good will happen. Thats what Ovechkin, crosby, malkin, and stall plus others do.
Louie i like that you are a big fan, but it really sounds like your a new fan who copies what Goldie and Potvin report. Watch the next game on mute then try to comment.

playoff bound wrote:

Mc Lean is useless, Vokoun was shaky and slow but just lucky the D's did work hard. Without Ballard and Boynton this team will be the same like last year's. I don't know why they let Andy be always a backup when he was well ahead of Vokoun at the beginning of the season. By not playing him you can't expect him to be a happy camper or a "tiger" on short notice. He was the guy more prepared for the season, yet they slowly degrade him. It must be Martin!!!

If the Panthers are paying Vokoun $5.5 million a season, versus Anderson's $575,000, Vokoun had better get the majority of starts to earn his keep. I'm pretty certain the Panthers will let Vokoun walk after his contract is up and Anderson's time will come to be the go-to guy.

Can we please put the whole "the refs always favor the other team" speech??? I just looked back on the last 10 games. It's as even as you can get. In four of the games the Cats had more PP, in four games the opponents have had more PP and in two of the games both teams had an equal number of PP chances. IT EVENS OUT.

dgflhg wrote:

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I'll agree that there could have been one or two calls in favor of the Cats in the 3rd. However, all the calls against the Cats were good calls. That's what happens when you are on your heels for the majority of the period - you tend to clutch and grab and hook to slow the other team down.

Actually I agree that the calls on the Panthers were deserved. But there were at least 3 times during the game where I couldn't believe that similar infractions weren't called on the Pens. One I remember well was in the 3rd and Malkin clearly held/interfered with a Panther on a play behind the Pens net - I think it was Frolik.

But yeah, the Pens were flying in the first and third periods and the Panthers took a few unnecessary penalties in an effort to slow them down.

As for those calling for call ups from the Amerks - the problem is that this team needs centers and Repik is a wing and Matthias just isn't the guy they hoped he'd be at this point in the season. This team is just plain short on centers. In the meantime, they have to put the puck on net more often and score ugly goals. Pretty passing in simply not in this team's playbook.

I agree with most of these posts, and also think that getting a point out of that game was a necesity. But when you are leading by 2 goals going into the final period, you have to win that game regardless of who your playing and even if they get 2 to tie it up. You simply have to take advantage of your opportunites too, and thats my problem with this team. We misuse more odd-man rushes than any professional hockey i've ever seen, sometimes not even getting a shot off on net! The biggest difference i've seen with this team lately is the lack of a physical game. Sure, certain individuals are still making clean hits when they have the opportunity, but we are approaching the time of the year in hockey when everytime an opposing player touches the puck he has to be hit. Those things cause turnovers, loose pucks and start to intimidate after a while. Overall, Vokoun played excellent last night, I thought the 3rd goal was a weak one, but he made at least 5 saves that should have been goals. Keep up the tough work gentlemen and good luck in BUF, lets get a win and bring it on back home with a positive road trip!

Vokoun was outstanding last night!! To be called upon every game to stop 45 or more shots on a regular basis and still make stops and lift your team to wins, that deserves credit. He was by far the better goalie last night. mcFlurry (lol i know its not spelled right)was not playing well, very unsure of himself it seemed like. I really dont like having a goalie being aggresive and trying to play the puck in tight spots.