Ups & Downs is a feature that looks at the individual performances of your Panthers over the past week.

*

2011-12 Florida Panthers
27-20-11 (65 points), 1st in Southeast Division, 3rd in Eastern Conference
Goals For: 144 (25th of 30), Goals Against: 162 (14th of 30)

Biggest Gain: Jose Theodore

It's been an interesting week for Theodore, who saw 144 minutes while stopping 77 of 82 shots (.939 save percentage). As fantastic as Jose was this week, the offense didn't give him much support scoring only two goals with him in net (Sean Bergenheim and Tomas Fleischmann).

Biggest Loss: Mikael Samuelsson

After a hot start to the month of February, Samuelsson had a week to forget. Going minus-three (minus-one in all three games) and scoring zero points while playing 51 minutes this week. Samuelsson also didn't record a single shot on goal against Washington, a game where the Panthers desperately needed his offense.

Continue reading this post »

Ups & Downs is a feature that looks at the individual performances of your Panthers over the past week.

*

2011-12 Florida Panthers
27-17-11 (59 points), 1st in Southeast Division, 3rd in Eastern Conference, 11th in League
Goals For: 141 (22nd of 30), Goals Against: 152 (13th of 30)

Biggest Gain: Sean Bergenheim

Bergenheim's hot streak continues with a two goal week, where he scored the game tying goal against the Devils and opening goal against the Kings. With 11 goals, Bergenheim is only four way from tying his career high (15 in 08-09).

Biggest Loss: Krys Barch

You know your team had a good week when the team enforcer is the only minus of the week. Barch was a healthy scratch against the Islanders for Jack Skille, and his weekly performance didn't help. Barch scored zero points, zero penalties minutes (currently on a four game PIM drought, his longest of the season), and two hits. As the bodies come back, we're likely to see less of Barch.

Continue reading this post »

Ups & Downs is a feature that looks at the individual performances of your Panthers over the past week.

*

2011-12 Florida Panthers
24-16-11 (59 points), 1st in Southeast Division, 3rd in Eastern Conference, 14th in League
Goals For: 131 (22nd of 30), Goals Against: 145 (14th of 30)

Biggest Gain: Mikael Samuelsson

Samuelsson scored a point in all three games this week, and currently has a four game point streak. With three goals off 11 shots, Samuelsson's shooting percentage went from 5.9 last week to 11.1%. He also helped the powerplay with two points (goal and assist) working on the point with Brian Campbell.

Biggest Loss: Erik Gudbranson

Gudbranson scored zero points and went minus-four during the week, dropping his plus/minus to a team worst -15. With 52 minutes of ice time, Gudbranson scored zero points and had only four hits and blocked shots.

Continue reading this post »

We'll keep this astoundingly easy: given a very hypothetical two choices (actually three, including the "too soon" option) where do you stand on the Panthers' lineup with four weeks remaining before the NHL Trading Deadline? We're not going to lay out a half-dozen obvious scenarios or player targets; you know the names, you know who you would select, and presumably which of the following options you'd own. Again...this focuses specifically on whether to deal prime prospects for established scorers; in essence surrendering a potential long-term piece for (again, potential) short-term solution. The subject had a lot of attention in today's Caterwaul, so have at it.

43 games down, 39 to go. The season has been an enjoyable ride so far and with everyone handing out mid-year trophies, we here at Litter Box Cats might as well jump on the bandwagon. Join us as we make our selections for Florida's Hart, Norris, Selke, and Lady Byng recipients.

Continue reading this post »

Ups & Downs is a feature that looks at the individual performances of your Florida Panthers over the past week.

*

2011-12 Florida Panthers
18-11-7 (43 points), 1st in NHL Southeast Division
Goals For: 94 (16th of 30), Goals Against: 98 (13th of 30)

Biggest Gain: Kris Versteeg
It's hard to find gains this week, but Kris Versteeg had a fine week with three assists (one on the powerplay). His six game hitting streak did come to an end against Boston, and he was a minus-one, but his offensive game is still the best on the team.

Biggest Loss: Tomas Fleischmann
In 55 minutes on the ice, Fleischmann scored only one point (an assist) and went minus-five. While his defensive game is improving with four blocked shots and two hits, his shooting percentage dropped again from 13.5 to 12.2.

Continue reading this post »

Lost & Found gonna be a busy spot. Pic via Magdalena C./FaceBook

*

NHL Rule 63.4 - Objects thrown on the ice (subsection):

When objects [read: plastic, rubber, live, deceased or otherwise] are thrown on the ice during a stoppage in play, including after the scoring of a goal, the Referee shall have announced over the public address system that any further occurrences will result in a bench minor penalty being assessed to the home team.

Ok, that being said, the wording is a bit fuzzy, as in he'll have it announced that a penalty will be forthcoming after a "further occurrence", whatever that means (after next whistle?). Then again, fuzzy or not: would you volunteer to be the penalty-causing guinea pig in a one-goal game?

We're all thrilled beyond words that the rats have returned - due primarily to a very few who kept the fire burning through some awfully desolate seasons. This unique practice is ingrained in the region, and scores of non-hockey locals continue responding to an off-the-cuff query about the Panthers with one of two words: "Vanbiesbrouck" or "rats". So cool, that.

But it wouldn't take much to ruin the goodwill. Was an easy gig in 1995-96, when a mass-launch of the wee-beasties was a regular occurrence and more importantly, legal within the NHL's rulebook. Not so today, wherein one plastic toy impacts ice prior to the final whistle and it's curtains for the Cats, in the shape of a two-minute minor.

Can only hope folks jumping aboard the bandwagon (and there remains plenty of room) have enough sense to realize the consequence to the team involved when making the decision to toss a rat at the wrong moment.

Anyone else miss the good ol' days?

Was perusing the print version of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel (Palm Beach edition) this morning, looking for Panthers representation following last night's thriller against Chicago. Surely some semi-prominent mention would be made regarding the tri-county area's only live pro sporting option of the evening...

Continue reading this post »