Posted by …but aren’t waving yet.
Call me naive. Call me blissfully ignorant. I can’t deny it. But I’m trying. Last night’s collapse against the Buffalo Sabres may very well prove to be the beginning of the end for the Panthers (or rather, the continuation of the end. Florida has just 1 win in their last 8 games), but I’m not ready to pack it in yet. After the Cats extended their lead to 3-1 in the 3rd period, the Sabres responded with 4 straight tallies, 3 in just over 2 minutes and an empty netter, to push the Panthers to the brink. After Maxim Afinogenov’s empty net goal, Nathan Horton seemed to hit Afinogenov up high as he spun to celebrate. Keith Ballard gave another shove, and a full line brawl erupted. Frustration bubbling over for the Panthers, adrenaline flowing for the Sabres. It’s too bad the Panthers weren’t showing that kind of emotion over the past few weeks.
Florida was a team for most of the season that knew how to hold a 3rd period lead. 24-1-1 at one point when leading after 2. Last night, Florida blew a 3rd period lead for the 4th time in 8 games. My brain is calling me a moron, telling me this team has already made tee times for April 12. My heart says the Cats are still just 2 points out with 8 games left, and playing well.
“Playing well.” The excuse of the runner up. The reasoning of those who couldn’t cut it. “It’s not devastating because we played well and we played hard,” said Pete DeBoer, after the loss to Buffalo. Guess what. Here’s a DeBoer quote following the loss to Carolina on Monday. “We played hard, we played well.” Brett McLean after the Buffalo loss; “We’re playing the right way. We’re still in it…” David Booth after the Carolina loss; ““That’s the type of hockey we have to play the rest of the way.” Well, that’s the type of hockey Florida has been playing for the past 9 games, in which they’ve won just twice. Maybe it’s the inexperience talking. Maybe they just don’t know any better.
But is this really the wrong attitude to have? Optimism in the face of defeat? A month ago, sure. Find the bright spots in tough losses. Look at the positives when things don’t go your way. But not now. Not with 8 games left. This loss was devastating. This loss should have ended the way it did, with a full line brawl. Unfortunately, the Panthers also should have been playing with that kind of passion since February. In the locker room, ”(this loss) is not devastating because we played well and we played hard. You can’t let it be devastating,” as DeBoer said. You can’t let it be devastating, but it is, and it’s hard to imagine the players aren’t starting to realize their season is slipping away from them.
There was plenty of blame to go around last night. Tomas Vokoun was at the top of the head coach’s list. Pete DeBoer did everything short of accusing Vokoun of not shooting the puck more. “The goalie’s got to close the door when you’re in that situation. You know what? He didn’t.” Think Vokoun will get a shot at redemption tonight in Philly? Craig Anderson has been far from solid as a backup his past few appearances, but Vokoun seems to let in soft goals at inopportune times far too often, like last night’s game tying goal. The blame game can also be played with the forwards. There were ample opportunities for the Panthers to put this game out of reach early. Stephen Weiss, especially, had numerous chances, and each time the puck seemed to hit Mikael Tellqvist’s jersey logo. Simply put, the scorers aren’t scoring, and the goaltender isn’t stopping rubber. It’s tough to win games like that.
Now I will try to do what I do best. Find a positive. Here’s a couple, although they are admittedly very hard bright spots to find in a room that is approaching black hole darkness. The Panthers are still just two points behind 8th seed Montreal. Florida got two goals from the 4th line tonight, so if the top line guys can pick it up over the next few weeks, there could yet be some hope left. There has seemed to be a “get everything to the net, anyway possible” mindset over the last couple games. Full brawls, such as the one that ended tonight’s game, have a way of bringing teams together for one final push. There is no time left for improvement or chemistry to form. You’re either good enough right now, or you’re watching the playoffs from the couch.
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