Good morning Panthers fans.
To the superstitious fans out there, for $100/game I will turn off the TV and go to bed whenever the Panthers are losing and look lifeless because that is exactly what happened last night.
For the first 50 minutes, Dallas seemed to take it to the Sunshine State Cats. The Panthers were giving up odd-man rushes and looking outclassed in their own defensive zone. Whether it be the first goal, where Joe Pavelski was on a 2-0 with Robertson, or the other multiple defensive zone break downs. The game could have easily been 4-0 at the end of the first period as the Panthers looked like they had run out of their mojo.
The second period wasn’t much better as the Panthers gave up 2 goals within 23 seconds of each other and about had me turn off the TV on the spot. While one was a PP goal on a very weak call, the Cats still did not look like they had the fight in them last night.
Even after a former teammate, Mason Marchment, took a stupid (or fluke – still not sure if he meant to hit Mahura on the icing call as the whole play looked odd) penalty and Verhaeghe some how throws a changeup over Ottenginer’s shoulder in to the net; the Panthers still did not seem like themselves.
With 10 minutes to go in the 3rd period and the Cats looking pathetic, I turned the game off and went to bed. Yes, it was 10pm, but I am getting old so get over it.
I do not claim all responsibility, but it must have been just the spark the Panthers needed because in the next 5 minutes of the game, the Cats scored 3 goals and went on to grab yet another W.
The big dogs stepped up with Barkov netting 2 powerplay goals and Tkachuk getting 2 apples inclusive of assisting Barkov’s game winner. I wish I could say more, but as mentioned my only recollection is from what I saw on the NHL Network this morning.
I will say that before I went to bed, the Panthers were doing their usual rat-like behaviors. They were mucking it up and causing scrums after every whistle. You saw the frustration coming from Dallas as they were constantly barking back and pushing, shoving, and taking stupid penalties.
Giving up 3 goals to the Panthers powerplay, inclusive the game winner, shows the Stars lost their cool and got suckered in to the BS that the Panthers love to get involved with. You have to keep a level head against the Rat Kings as Biznasty so lovely put it.
Either way, I feel cheated as I sat through 50 minutes of pathetic hockey only to miss the comeback of the year. Morale of the story, a hockey game is never over; especially not against the Florida Panthers!
Vamos Gatos!
The Morning Skate 