Game Day Preview: Pre-Season Game 4, Tampa Bay Lightning at Florida Panthers
by John Beatty on Sep 24, 2011 3:01 PM EDT
in Florida Panthers Game Previews: '11-12
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PrintFlorida: 1-2-0 (2PTS)
Tampa Bay: 1-1-0 (2PTS)
Pre-Season Series: 0-1-0
Today is likely our last chance to see many of the Panthers' prospects in person for the year and our first chance to see new Panthers Kris Versteeg and Tomas Fleischmann in action. Sunday is an off-day and Monday is the first day of waivers, so we can expect to see a lot of bubble players cut tomorrow and the rosters for the two games against the Stars next week to more closely resemble the roster the Panthers will carry into the season.
Last meeting: Last night the Lightning beat the Panthers 5-2 in Tampa. The Panthers went down 4-0 in the first two periods but clawed back to 4-2 before Lightning captain Vinny Lecavalier put the final nail in with 2 minutes to go. It is of note that the Lightning played a team composed mostly of NHL regulars against a Panthers squad composed of mostly minor league and juniors players. It is also of note that the third period was again the Cats' strongest period. Former Senator Ryan Shannon scored two goals for the Lightning.
Notes: In this home and home, the two teams are swapping playing A against B teams. Last night the Lightning fielded a roster that included heave hitters Steven Stamkos, Lecavalier and Marty St. Louis as well as starting goaltender Dwayne Roloson while the Cats had veterans Steven Reinprecht and Marcel Goc with prospects Jonathan Huberdeau, Jacob Markstrom and Erik Gudbranson. The opposite will happen tonight. The Lightning will again be playing Stamkos and Pavel Kubina, but support will be coming from a lot of younger players including last season regular Victor Hedman, prospects Cory Conacher, Brett Connolly and Carter Ashton and new Bolts Ryan Shannon and Matt Gilroy. The Panthers will ice a mostly NHL lineup featuring the pre-season debuts of Jose Theodore, Steven Weiss, Kris Vergsteeg, Ed Jovanovski and Tomas Fleischmann. Many of last night's bubble players will sit in favor of the veterans, though Jonathan Huberdeau, Steve Reinprecht, Michal Repik, Evgeni Dadonov and Erik Gudbranson will get another chance to make a good impression on the coaching staff before the next round of cuts.
Injuries: None/unknown. Possibly Quinton Howden.
Healthy Scratches: Matt Bradley, Ryan Carter, Marcel Goc, Quinton Howden, Shawn Matthias, Jack Skille, Scottie Upshall, Keaton Ellerby, Colby Robak, MIke Weaver.
Starting goaltenders: Jose Theodore will get the start for the Panthers and be backed up by Scott Clemmensen, while Mathieu Garon will get the start for the Lightning, backed up by Jaroslav Janus.
Lines:
Forwards:
Booth - Kennedy - Kopecky
Fleischmann - Weiss - Versteeg
Bergenheim - Reinprecht - Repik
Huberdeau - Santorelli - Dadonov
Defense:
Garrison - Campbell
Jovanovski - Gudbranson
Kulikov - Kostka
More from our Tampa Bay cohorts at Raw Charge, and stay tuned for a live chat at OnFrozenPond.
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If anyone needs 2 tickets for tonights game feel free to let me know. I’ll be at the game early, around 6.
by Rob PKane McMahon on Sep 24, 2011 3:05 PM EDT reply actions
I think this game will most likely end up in a win, good chance to watch Huby and Guds before the wave of cuts hit, as they’ll impress tonight most likely to keep themselves in the fold. Lightning are most likely gonna be like us from last night, as we’ll have a good NHL roster playing. Gonna be a great game, it’ll be good to be back for me!
- Go Panthers -
Taking an awfully long time to get served at Friday’s. #It’sOnlyAFreakingSandwich
Litter Box Cats - Your tarp-free Florida Panthers Colossus
by Donny Rivette on Sep 24, 2011 5:31 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
Old question, hoping for new answer
Any radio broadcast for tonight’s game?
Check the Lightning site. I’ll be posting game updates on twitter. No, not the same, I know.
"We don't need the designated goon. Those fights aren't even fun to watch." -Mike Milbury
Litter Box Cats - Your Panthers Colossus.
by John Beatty on Sep 24, 2011 7:23 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Building looks great
Litter Box Cats - Your tarp-free Florida Panthers Colossus
by Donny Rivette on Sep 24, 2011 7:33 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
Clearly evident: these guys need some familiarity with each other, and quickly.
Flash has some sick creativity; has to be seen.
Litter Box Cats - Your tarp-free Florida Panthers Colossus
by Donny Rivette on Sep 24, 2011 9:09 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
There’s replay in the building, on the score board. Just not broadcasting.
"We don't need the designated goon. Those fights aren't even fun to watch." -Mike Milbury
Litter Box Cats - Your Panthers Colossus.
by John Beatty on Sep 24, 2011 9:17 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Looking directly at the LBC Luxury Suite; big room!
Litter Box Cats - Your tarp-free Florida Panthers Colossus
by Donny Rivette on Sep 24, 2011 9:41 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
Guys definitely need to work on their chemistry, but I think most people figured that would be the case early on. I noticed some pucks sailing to open ice or to a Lightning player rather than an intended teammate. There were times, though, when the team was actually set up in the zone, that they had wonderful quick movement of the puck. For player MVP, I thought Kopecky was a standout tonight.
I also had the opportunity to sit three rows behind Cliff Viner tonight. What an experience. That man is so passionate, I could hear him yelling “Shoot the puck!” and “That’s it!” His eyes never left the puck. I wasn’t able to hear what he was saying to the group of people he was with, but I know he pointed out Versteeg twice to the gentleman next to him and he yelled at Versteeg a couple of times. I just loved seeing that he actually cares about what’s going on on the ice. He was sitting among fans, too, not stuck up in a box.
Dead-on with the chemistry. Just not there yet.
Litter Box Cats - Your tarp-free Florida Panthers Colossus
by Donny Rivette on Sep 25, 2011 1:00 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Very interested in seeing Clemmensen about now.
I’m putting here for reflection later on in the season…. #14 Tomas [Fleischmann] is getting a 40G season.
by RPC on Sep 17, 2011 5:20 PM MDT
Find me on Twidduh And look at my Marmots
by Chris S Roberts on Sep 25, 2011 12:03 AM EDT reply actions
Why not? They said he’s probably going to play on Tuesday.
"We don't need the designated goon. Those fights aren't even fun to watch." -Mike Milbury
Litter Box Cats - Your Panthers Colossus.
by John Beatty on Sep 25, 2011 10:38 PM EDT up reply actions
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