Despite an offensive barrage well north of 45 shots, the Panthers found a way to lose two leads, allowing for Tappara to take an exhibition match to the Cats’ personal suite in Hell: the shootout.
Though Steve Reinprecht (1 shot, no goal) and Michael Frolik (1 shot, no goal) just may end up as mainstays in the SO top five for Florida, the addition of defenseman (and Tampere native) Ville Koistinen appeared from a practical standpoint as, well, a bit Steve Montador vs. Roberto Luongo odd.
I stated earlier that Pete DeBoer should probably not take any heat for the decision, given the outpouring of local love for Koistinen in his hometown. He was indeed a Big Deal.
That said, was it the right move to be made at a time when the club is – again – being consistently ransacked for a perceived lack of scoring, in the shootout, no less? I’m thrilled the fans he grew up on got the opportunity to see him in major league North American duds, but was sitting a Horton, Dvorak, or Booth the proper strategy?
Keep in mind, his three game-winners in 86 career NHL contests over two seasons come on the heels of seven career NHL goals: the guy is clutch when he’s on.
So…good move or bad?
Koistinen on the shootout: yea or nay?
| Yea…it’s an exhibition in his ‘hood | 47 |
| Nay…every game should be treated as a GAME | 4 |