Shadowing old pal Mike Richards, Florida's Stephen Weiss has yet to record a single point against Los Angeles through seven career games
Surrendering first-period goals (often of the early variety) has been an alarming trend for Florida in recent weeks - like you weren't painfully aware - the overall effect of which has blossomed into a very ugly statistic: 46 first-period goals-against in 52 games ranks the Panthers fifth-worst in the National Hockey League, behind Tampa Bay (58), Ottawa (57), Columbus/Nashville (52), and Philadelphia (47).
That the Cats have managed only 37 of their own in opening frames is a miserable number individually - good for 21st overall - but alas the Kings are in town: L.A. has scored a league-worst 24.
Predictably, forward Kris Versteeg leads Florida with 6 first-period markers, followed by defenseman Jason Garrison's 5. Of Tomas Fleischmann's 17 total goals, a scant 2 have found the back of the opposition's net in the first twenty minutes.
The Eastern Front
|
Rank |
Team |
GP |
W |
L |
OT |
PTS |
GF |
GA |
Home |
Away |
L/10 |
Streak |
|
1 |
NY Rangers |
51 |
33 |
13 |
5 |
71 |
141 |
103 |
16-6-2 |
17-7-3 |
6-3-1 |
Lost 1 |
|
2 |
Boston |
52 |
33 |
17 |
2 |
68 |
180 |
117 |
17-9-2 |
16-8-0 |
4-5-1 |
Lost 1 |
|
3 |
Washington |
53 |
28 |
21 |
4 |
60 |
149 |
149 |
19-7-1 |
9-14-3 |
4-4-2 |
Won 1 |
|
4 |
Philadelphia |
53 |
30 |
16 |
7 |
67 |
173 |
157 |
12-8-5 |
18-8-2 |
4-3-3 |
OT 1 |
|
5 |
New Jersey |
53 |
31 |
19 |
3 |
65 |
150 |
148 |
15-9-2 |
16-10-1 |
7-2-1 |
Won 5 |
|
6 |
Pittsburgh |
54 |
30 |
19 |
5 |
65 |
163 |
141 |
15-7-2 |
15-12-3 |
7-2-1 |
OT 1 |
|
7 |
Toronto |
54 |
28 |
20 |
6 |
62 |
168 |
157 |
16-8-4 |
12-12-2 |
6-3-1 |
Lost 1 |
|
8 |
Ottawa |
56 |
27 |
22 |
7 |
61 |
162 |
174 |
14-11-2 |
13-11-5 |
2-7-1 |
Lost 2 |
|
|
||||||||||||
|
9 |
Florida |
52 |
24 |
17 |
11 |
59 |
131 |
149 |
13-5-7 |
11-12-4 |
3-4-3 |
Lost 2 |
|
10 |
Winnipeg |
55 |
25 |
24 |
6 |
56 |
131 |
151 |
16-8-2 |
9-16-4 |
4-5-1 |
Won 1 |
|
11 |
NY Islanders |
52 |
22 |
22 |
8 |
52 |
126 |
150 |
11-11-5 |
11-11-3 |
6-2-2 |
Won 1 |
|
12 |
Buffalo |
53 |
23 |
24 |
6 |
52 |
132 |
154 |
12-9-6 |
11-15-0 |
4-5-1 |
Won 2 |
|
13 |
Tampa Bay |
52 |
23 |
24 |
5 |
51 |
148 |
176 |
15-8-2 |
8-16-3 |
6-3-1 |
Lost 1 |
|
14 |
Montreal |
54 |
21 |
24 |
9 |
51 |
140 |
147 |
11-11-7 |
10-13-2 |
5-4-1 |
Won 2 |
|
15 |
Carolina |
55 |
20 |
25 |
10 |
50 |
139 |
168 |
14-12-3 |
6-13-7 |
5-2-3 |
OT 1 |
*
Why last night really didn't matter:
- BUF over BOS, 6-0; suddenly that Caps shutout on Tuesday doesn't appear quite so insulting
Panthers Playoff Update:
- Odds down 0.3 to 67% (thank you Sabres) per Sports Club Stats
Why tonight is a HUGE Deal in SoFla, beyond the obvious:
- WPG at WSH, 7 p.m.; fourth game of season series, Caps lead 2-1. Last game at D.C. went overtime - the nightmare scenario
- TOR at PHI, 7; past seven: 6-1 Flyers
- NSH at OTW, 7:30; Sens' Michalek: 11-game goal drought
Next up for the Cats:
- Hosting the Kings this evening; LBC Game Thread powers up at 7. Check in with our buds at Jewels From The Crown and MayorsManor for the Los Angeles perspective on tonight's matchup.
Did you know
- L.A. right wing Justin Williams: 15 points (8G), plus-7, 1 GWG in 21 career games at BankAtlantic Center
Wednesday’s Organizational Transactions:
- G Brian Foster returned to San Antonio
Wednesday’s NHL Waiver Wire
- Jed Ortmeyer (MIN) to waivers
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