Game 1 against the Hawks was great and, in my eyes, set the bar high for this season. But alas, the next 4 games remind me of the 06-07 season (at best), where the Cats find ways to lose in the third.

If I need to call out players, two come to mind, Stillman and Allen. Stillman is not a threat on offence, and seems to have lost a step. As for Allen, it may just be rust, but he’s a defensive liability, and there was no excuse for his retalitory penalities last night.

Very middling effort and the third after the Bolts took the lead? I figured that the team would do what the Bolts did so well last season and concede the lead and go to OT.

The difference was Antero Niittymaki, the Southeast killer with a 29-6-4 lifetime record against SE teams. It’s feels like a LONG time since I saw a Bolts goaltender as the difference in a winning and losing effort. Frank was just that last night at Times Palace.

I’d be hoping that Clemmensen’s “personal reasons” are pretty damn dire for him to be missing all these games. Not like he’s needed or anything.

I’m fairly po’d that the immigration issues keeping Moore from reporting haven’t been handled yet. Makes me wonder if he’s had any prior issues that require a more in-depth review or is it just a slow Department of Homeland Security.

Overall it was a fairly typical Panthers v Lightning game. One thing that worries me is that, after viewing every game so far, there hasn’t been a standout other than Vokoun. I’m not the biggest V fan but he’s stood on his head with some really bad defensive efforts to start the season. Obviously the Carolina game doesn’t count.

In the What Happened?!?! department:

McCabe – vs the Devils he bobbled more pucks on the line or while making a shot than most Juniors players, not too bright in the Lightning game either
Booth – just think its a matter of time before the pucks go in for him, he’s taking the shots, getting good chances and has been unlucky or robbed a few times

I’d like to see the Weiss/Booth/Horton line get to their potential – there are flashes but its so inconsistent plus they aren’t able to hold the puck in the offensive zone for long periods. Horton needs to toughen up and start hitting people to make some space for the other 2.

And stop with the Lone Ranger BS – too many times I’ve seen a forward or defenseman cross into the offensive zone alone, trying to fight off 2-3 opposition players with nary a sign of support from his teammates. And this is not during line changes. It was better during the Lightning game but it was pathetic during the Devils one.

With the season only 5 games old, we are seeing more of the same as the Panthers struggle out of the gate, which has been a constant since the lockout was over.

I would personally like to thank Jacques Martin for the lovely preseason schedule that he set up, which of course was followed up by a trip to Finland. I am not blaming the travel, but in all honesty, who in their right frame of mind does something like this.
People thought Keenan was nuts? Martin is friggin stupid. And if I’m right I believe the same nonsense for preseason is already set up for next year.