Penalized Panthers can't hang on, lose to Capitals
by Ryan Meier on Feb 17, 2012 10:29 PM EST
in Florida Panthers Game Recaps: '11-12
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PrintDespite holding the lead for much of the game, the Panthers couldn't muster up enough goal support to keep it, and eventually succumbed to the star power of the Washington Capitals, losing by a final of 2-1. This was yet another divisional game that Florida needed to win to ensure a solid grasp on first in the Southeast, but thanks to some lackluster offensive totals the Panthers gave up the win and are now only two points ahead of the Caps. Florida netminder Jose Theodore was fantastic throughout the whole game and finished with 39 saves on 41 shots, but he had very little help as Tomas Fleischmann would be the only Panther to score.
Alex Ovechkin and Alexander Semin would bring the Capitals back to life in the third period and Tomas Vokoun would hold down the fort as the Panthers pressed hard to tie it up late in the period. The Caps have now beaten the Panthers in their last two meetings and these games could end up being the difference at the end of the season as these two teams compete for first place in the division. They have one meeting left in Washington, and you have to hope the Panthers can take that one, else things are going to get very difficult for Florida in the end.
More postgame coverage from Japers Rink and SB Nation
Scoring Summary
1st
- Tomas Fleischmann (19) 19:20, assists to Stephen Weiss and Brian Campbell
2nd
- No scoring
3rd
- Alex Ovechkin (24) PP 4:47, assists to Alexander Semin and Mike Knuble
- Alexander Semin (16) 13:27, unassisted
Observations
- Jose Theodore was just awesome. So awesome, in fact, that Billy Lindsay described one of his glove saves on Brooks Laich as "succulent." He was quick, acrobatic and looked just fantastic all game. Hate to say it, but his effort was wasted.
- The first and second periods were a Washington shooting gallery as the Caps peppered Theodore with THIRTY shots. The Cats tend to lose games where they're allowing that many shots. That trend would continue with this loss.
- Keaton Ellerby had a pretty good game, leading the Panthers in hits and making opposing forwards pay when they tried to take the puck deep into the offensive zone. His puck possession skills and shooting leave something to be desired, but if he can be a consistent physical presence defensively, he'll be just fine.
- Tomas Vokoun had a pretty rough first period. He tried to glove several shots and either bobbled or dropped the puck, leading to numerous chances for the Panthers. Maybe some jitters playing against his former home crowd... all 8,000 of them. He calmed down as the game went on though and looked sharp throughout.
- Mike Knuble looked to have tied up the game late in the second period as he was camped out in the crease and tipped one by Theodore. Unfortunately for Knuble, he was in the crease and that negated the goal and earned him a two-minute goaltender interference penalty. Good to see that getting called because that penalty gets overlooked a lot.
- The Capitals' fourth line was very good almost the entire game. They pinned several different Florida lines in their own zone for long stretches and generated a bunch of shots and scoring chances. Can't say the same for the Panthers' fourth line.
- Mike Weaver took a hard stick to the face from Knuble during a scramble in front of the Panther net before the Ovechkin goal while he was laying on the ice trying to cover up the puck or block a shot. However, Weaver is indestructible, and he was back on the ice after missing only a few shifts.
- The Panthers really made things difficult for themselves with some bad penalties later in the game. The Ovechkin goal was due to a Mikael Samuelsson slash that was ill-advised (though a little questionable as well). Moments after that goal, Krys Barch went to the box and the Caps nearly scored again, though Theodore was able to hold them off. Finally, Ellerby got caught high sticking (again questionable), giving the Caps a third chance on the powerplay. It's always bad to take penalties, but late in the game against a team like the Caps is tempting fate.
- One goal isn't gonna cut it. This team needs to start scoring more or they're toast.
- Beer me: Southern Tier Choklat Stout. LIke a Hershey Kiss with alcohol.
First Star: Jose Theodore. With the Caps posting over 40 shots, Theodore had to be sharp and he was excellent. Unfortunately for him, he only got a single goal from his teammates for support.
Worst Star: Can't really blame any one person when the team as a whole only scores one goal. The offense has to start showing up every single game or this team won't sniff the postseason.
Up Next: Two straight losses could very easily turn into three, because the absurdly-hot Anaheim Ducks are coming to Sunrise on Sunday. The Ducks have been tearing it up and although they just lost in a shootout to the New Jersey Devils, they are playing great hockey and will give the Panthers a whoopin' if the Cats aren't ready for them. Hopefully this loss stings just enough to make them come out with a great game and not a fowl one. (ZOMG PUN)
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Either hang on for a few years as prospects develop, or deal some of it away for short-term gains. Question is thus: what’s the goal? Sustained competitiveness or Win Now?
Litter Box Cats - Your tarp-free Florida Panthers Colossus
goal for now should be make the playoffs. Trade a pick and/or prospect for someone who can help offensively. Keep prize prospects and change the forward mix in the offseason with free agency or trade. Biggest needs to me are a #1 center and rugged winger that can score. No guarantee we have either of those in junior and if we do we are a few years away from seeing it come to fruition.
112 days until Prometheus
by Todd Little on Feb 17, 2012 11:38 PM EST up reply actions
The goal is A. Tallon has never said otherwise. His response to questions about his deadline has echoed what he’s said all season: The goal is long-term, this year’s team is actually doing better this season than he expected and they’re only making deadline deals that make sense for the long-term plan.
Anyone who is so desperate to see the playoffs that they expect him to mortgage the farm just to get in the first round might as well prepare to be disappointed because it’s likely not happening.
"Shut up, Pierre!" -Everyone
Litter Box Cats - Your Panthers Colossus.
a deadline deal to help the make playoffs does not mean mortgaging the future or a Win Now mentality. It doesn’t have to be such a simplified case of one or other. Of course the real plan is for long term competitiveness but the panthers have picked what, 23 players in the last 2 drafts. even if by some miracle they all reached their max potential there wouldn’t room for all of them on the roster. Tallon will keep adding to the roster every June (draft) and July (fa). We can afford to make a trade or two. Missing the playoffs this season after spending so much time and first and still being in first with 25 games left would be a huge disappointment for management, players and fans. They will do something to help gain a birth without mortgaging the future.
112 days until Prometheus
I never said it was either/or. What I said was “they’re only making deadline deals that make sense for the long-term plan.” I expect to see some minor tinkering. I also expect that the people thinking the Cats are going to make a pitch for a Rick Nash are going to be disappointed.
"Shut up, Pierre!" -Everyone
Litter Box Cats - Your Panthers Colossus.
Normally the goal would be A…..but THIS year……is not like the last 10. We have been IN the race and spent the majority of the season in 1st place in our division…….This year is different. We need to make the playoffs…..imagine the dissappointment if after having this most successful season …we can’t throw in the towel now and keeeeeeeeeep building for the future….THE FUTURE IS NOW !
Right on John. Dale will not take any short reward for long term risk. Sure we have some prospects to spare but those aren’t the ones other teams want.
CFS93
by chesterbardo on Feb 18, 2012 10:34 AM EST via Android app up reply actions
Cats were asking for a loss by not playing after the first. Infuriating performance.
Steve Diaz
Twitter - @sdiaz6215
by Sdiaz6215 on Feb 17, 2012 10:53 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
very disappointing. The offensive execution was terrible. Could not keep the puck in the Caps end. Lots of missed shots, constantly offside, the passing in all areas of the ice was bad. Too many guys trying to make the perfect play.
Ok, you have a bad second period but get away with it and have a 1-0 lead going into the third and basically do nothing to win the game in the third. I don’t get that. They deserved to lose, a big game and they just were not good enough. I am not a big proponent of calling regular season games “must wins” until they really are life and death must wins but this was a statement game and once again instead of picking up the win and saying “hey, we are for real doubters” they went out and laid an egg.
If this season goes up in flames I have a feeling this home stand is going to have a lot to do with it. 0-2 with the very hot Ducks coming to town. Better sack up guys.
112 days until Prometheus
by Todd Little on Feb 17, 2012 11:53 PM EST up reply actions
3 rookie defensemen in the lineup. Thanks to theo the score was not worst. One game at a time. A statement would be making the playoffs this year.
I kind of blame Tallon. He should have picked up some more Dmen when Gary went down.
by Hawkseye on Feb 18, 2012 12:50 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
gotta start scoring more goals more often. there have so many games where just one more goal would have met a victory.
112 days until Prometheus
Yup. Guys were hesitating too much last night and not shooting.
"Shut up, Pierre!" -Everyone
Litter Box Cats - Your Panthers Colossus.
No pole. Didn’t want to get it messy with Semin. In any case Jose really deserved to win (could’ve pitched a shutout) and no one came up to the plate for him the last 2 periods. The rest of the team better reward him his next start.
Fish, Heatles, Cats, Fins, Noles
by National Mario on Feb 17, 2012 10:59 PM EST via iPhone app reply actions
On the bright side...
The arena singing the anthem due to microphone problems was pretty awesome.
Steve Diaz
Twitter - @sdiaz6215
Best moment of the night, and one of the best of the season. Some Canadians usually look at the US and say that we don’t know the words to our own anthem. Well we just proved them wrong. Very epic, wouldn’t mind doing that more often instead of having an anthem singer. Way more exciting and got the crowd into it, especially when we all said “Red”.
- Go Panthers -
by flpanther360 on Feb 17, 2012 11:22 PM EST up reply actions
I’m sorry, but saying red like that during the anthem I think is disrespectful and silly. They do that at the college games and also tell “red” at the crapital games. Just saying. It’s unnecessary.
by Hawkseye on Feb 18, 2012 12:48 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
By the way, for how many Caps fans I heard on The tv… They must have thought they were at Verizon center in DC with everyone yelling “red” like they do at Verizon center and then the caps winning.. How about cheering during the anthem like at the Hawks place in Chicago.
by Hawkseye on Feb 18, 2012 12:53 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
And not a word about Brian Campbell’s “great plays” tonight? I must have been at a different game. Wouldn’t shoot, lame passes and giving up the puck way too much.
Yeah he needs to shoot it more often. I know he’s a passer, but man, he had some great looks tonight where he should’ve shot it.
- Go Panthers -
by flpanther360 on Feb 17, 2012 11:29 PM EST up reply actions
Is he finally tired from playing so much in a game? I wonder if that is affecting his play.
by Hawkseye on Feb 18, 2012 12:46 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
I disagree Garrison will resign with the panthers. I am disappointed tonight because the Panthers are missing what the fins have never had. The killer instinct to win the big games and the big fan draws. You got to win the games that the fans get excited about like against your divisional opponent . I think we may see it when Huby joins next season. It not only having a star but the attitude. The club’s not there yet, adding a star won’t fix it. Someone has to step up and be the captain also. I dont even think the captain is with the team yet since we are already into the second half of season and no captain.
Also,
It was just one game. There are so many more to play. Panthers had 3 rookie Dmen in the lineup and were able to stay in it with the caps.
by Hawkseye on Feb 18, 2012 12:44 AM EST via mobile reply actions
I like this post. this is what I was trying to say above about a statement game. It seems whenever the Panthers have a game the general public and the press might actually be paying a lot of attention to they seem to lose and last night they played pretty poorly to boot.
This little stretch of home games had me nervous from the get go. In the past a home stand like this would find the Panthers outside the top 8 with a chance to get back in and they would promptly go out and lose most if not all the games and it would be bye bye playoffs. This season this home stand presented a chance to really solidify their position in the standings and so far 0-2 against teams they are directly competing with for a playoff spot.
112 days until Prometheus
I second that. All the talk of having more home games and easiest schedule and games in hand don’t mean jack to me because it is with the assumption the team is able to be consistent which is not the case. All of a sudden we are losing games in regulation in a bad way since the All-Star break. Better start looking at video from the win streak and remembering what makes them successful.
Fish, Heatles, Cats, Fins, Noles
by National Mario on Feb 18, 2012 12:05 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
His game is improving practically by the night right now. Ellerby and Strachan didn’t look too bad, either. The real problem is the forwards couldn’t get anything going and then just started taking questionable penalties. Ellerby gets a pass because he didn’t touch the guy on that phantom high stick.
Weaver taking a stick to the face right before that Ovechkin power play goal was unfortunate, but the Panthers got noticeably worse after that happened.
"Shut up, Pierre!" -Everyone
Litter Box Cats - Your Panthers Colossus.
I think the losses are coming from getting rid of the my chemical romance goal song.
by thebiz34 on Feb 18, 2012 6:53 AM EST via iPhone app reply actions
I was there and there was a lot to be disappointed about. The Panthers went into a prevent defense for the whole second and third periods until they fell behind. They need to attack like they are behind, the whole game. Weiss was a nonentity- he, like Booth should be gotten rid of as part of the old regime. Ellerby is the weak link on defense. But the Panthers had no heart, no fire, as they were more prone to backpedal into a defensive posture than to charge in after loose pucks. And the Capitals aren’t that good either-tthat’s the sad thing. Even though they dominated puck possession and were in our zone 80/20, they were lackluster too, not generating that many good scoring chances even though they got a lot of shots. The crowd sucked too, the place was only 2/3 full on a Friday with a meaningful game. How can we afford good players when we aren’t supported. It seems like Washington doesn’t draw down here (I didn’t see one Capital jersey) and we can’t fill the place up without the out of towners. And a lot of them started leaving with five minutes left in a one goal game. It was a bush league effort in what looked sadly to be a bush league hockey town.
actually I saw a quite a few Caps jerseys on TV. I thought Weiss played really hard last night it just didn’t result in anything not counting the nice assist on the goal. The Panthers execution in the offensive zone last night was simply terrible. Crowd was disappointing. Panthers will be one of the teams benefitting from the realignment when it happens extra travel be damned. You are right despite all the shots the Caps were not that great either. Yet another game where if they could have scored one more goal and added to the lead the outcome would likely have been different.
112 days until Prometheus
Yeah
I’m putting here for reflection later on in the season…. #14 Tomas [Fleischmann] is getting a 40G season. FLASH COUNT: 18G/24A
by RPC on Sep 17, 2011 5:20 PM MDT
Find me on Twidduh And look at my Marmots
by Chris S Roberts on Feb 18, 2012 4:23 PM EST up reply actions
Beer me: Southern Tier Choklat Stout. LIke a Hershey Kiss with alcohol.
Good choice.
"Shut up, Pierre!" -Everyone
Litter Box Cats - Your Panthers Colossus.
love chocolate stouts especially Young’s Double Chocolate. I’ll have to try this Southern Tier.
112 days until Prometheus
You should check out Milk Stout by Left Hand Brewery. One of my favs.
Steve Diaz
Twitter - @sdiaz6215
That’s another good one. I should get some of that soon. First I have to polish off the Terrapin Moo-Hoo I have in the fridge (yes, yet another chocolate/milk stout).
"Shut up, Pierre!" -Everyone
Litter Box Cats - Your Panthers Colossus.
It’s good stuff and pretty available down here.
"Shut up, Pierre!" -Everyone
Litter Box Cats - Your Panthers Colossus.
I didn't leave early...
I think before the game Coach was asked about what he would say- and his response was something like- I don’t need to say anything, lets see what the response is tonight-. I can only imagine what was said last night or coming into today’s practice. I was expecting a BIG push back after wed’s game. Seems only some of the team felt that same way. The Scrum at the end, I would have preferred to see actually fists flying-from Versteeg and Weiss (Flash needs to keep out of that), they were frustrated and getting handled. Standing up for yourself and the team needs to happen even by those that aren’t the ‘tough’ guys. Ovi does, Crosby does, if your going to blow up emotionally then do it all the way. Don’t be a Pussycat be a Panther!
I hereby predict Captain Mike Weaver #43 will score 6G 20A -RCR 0G13A 2/13
Be impeccable with your word, don't take anything personally, don't make assumptions, always do your best...
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