Saturday Caterwaul: Florida Panthers Open Forum

What gives Desert Dogs? After coming to Sunrise and pinning a 5-2 defeat on the Florida Panthers to regain a share of first place in the Pacific Division Tuesday night, the Arizona Coyotes had two chances to actually help the Cats out and got blanked in both of them.

After falling 4-0 in Tampa Bay on Thursday, the Coyotes were whitewashed 3-0 by the Carolina Hurricanes last night in Raleigh. The only team that helped out locally was The Rolling Drones, my ESPN fantasy league team, as Petr Mrazek is one of my goalies.

Another one of my fantasy team players, former Panther Jared McCann, also did Florida no favors on Friday with the overtime winner for the Pittsburgh Penguins against the Colorado Avalanche.

Back to reality, the Pittsburgh win wasn’t that big a deal as they are further ahead of the Panthers and in second place in the Metropolitan Division.

Carolina’s win, however, helped them solidify their hold on Wild Card 1, putting them two points up on the Philadelphia Flyers (WC2) and three up on the Cats.

While the Panthers are off until its showdown with the Toronto Maple Leafs tomorrow night, the Flyers are in action tonight at 7 p.m. against the aforementioned Lightning. Let’s hope the Bolts (9-1 in their last 10) stay red-hot and post a regulation win over Philadelphia. That would open a path for Florida to pass with a point, or better yet two, against the Buds.

Other games on the Saturday slate of extreme interest to Panthers fans are Los Angeles at Carolina 7 p.m. and Columbus at Vegas 10 p.m.

Wild Card Standings

WC1: Carolina 54 points - 44 games played

WC 2: Philadelphia 52 points - 44 games played

Florida 51 points - 44 games played

Columbus 50 points - 45 games played

Atlantic Division Standings

3rd: Toronto 54 points - 45 games played

4th: Florida 51 points - 44 games played

Let’s go Lightning, Kings and Golden Knights!