Monday Caterwaul: Panthers Open Forum

Short-handed goals - the regular season variety - were scarce for the Florida Panthers in 2011-12, but no worse than a year earlier: both campaigns saw the Cats finish with 4. Stephen Weiss, Kris Versteeg, Sean Bergenheim and Jack Skille (#12 above, after scoring against San Jose in December) each picked up a shortie in the most recently completed season, which was two better than last-place Detroit (!) and Tampa Bay. As is no secret around these parts, New Jersey paced the league with 15.

Sunday's Results

• (5) Philadelphia over (6) New Jersey, 4-3 (OT): Marek Zidlicky skied a third puck over postseason glass, this one in overtime. PHI unable to convert but Daniel Briere eventually ends it with a slapper at 4:36. Flyers lead series 1-0; local reaction from Broad Street Hockey and In Lou We Trust.
• (3) Phoenix over (5) Nashville, 5-3: Four 'Yotes finished with a goal and an assist while Mike Smith shut down 30 shots to give Phoenix a 2-0 series lead. Delight and dread from Five For Howling and On The Forecheck.

Tonight's NHL Playoff action

• (7) Washington at (1) NY Rangers, 7:30 p.m. (NBCSN): Chris Kreider picked up his second GWG in three games on Saturday; he turns 21 today. Eight combined man advantages led to zero PP goals in Game One. New York leads series 1-0.
• (8) Los Angeles at (2) St. Louis, 9 p.m. (CNBC): LA is 5-1 in the postseason despite a spectacularly poor power play: 3-for-31 (9.7%). Kings lead series 1-0.