Much has happened in the Panther world since I took my Christmas vacation, and I'm happy to be at it again for the Southeast leading Florida Panthers.

The current story is injuries out the wazoo. It is almost comical in the most painful of sitcoms how the ailing Panthers are staying afloat at all. The injuries to Marcel Goc (concussion) and Scottie Upshall (hernia surgery) have been a problem for several weeks now, but Upshall has started skating and should be returning soon. Goc is still day to day and as we all know about concussions these days, his return could be tomorrow, or next October.

Losing two starters is par for the course for most teams, but what has transpired recently should be crippling. Sean Bergenheim, arguably the hottest player on the team, is out indefinitely with a lower body injury (pulled groin). Mikael Samuelsson, who finally started to get his legs under him after returning from hernia surgery, is out with what is likely a severe tailbone/back bruise. Jack Skille, the team spark plug that crashes the net in amazing ways, separated his left shoulder. Marco Sturm, who has provided great speed and veteran savvy on special teams, was hit in the face with the puck while sitting on the bench. Seemingly the Panthers don't even need to be on the ice to get hurt.

As if those weren't enough, the symbolic and hopefully soon-to-be-named team captain, Stephen Weiss, is now out with a bruised sternum he suffered against Ottawa last Thursday. He has now missed two games and is questionable for tonight against the Rangers. Losing Weiss, especially as the anchor on one of the best lines in the NHL with Kris Versteeg and Tomas Fleischmann, is a punch in the stomach for a team that is trying to tread water until bodies can get healthy.

After a brutal 2011 schedule where the Panthers were all over the country and already played half their road games, they look forward to more balance and home cooking in the future as they try to increase their division lead over Winnipeg and Washington.

Needless to say the team is nicked up and tired, and the 8-0 loss at Boston at the end of the last road trip said as much. After recharging the batteries to start a three game homestand, the Leafs came to town in what was a very important conference matchup.

After Toronto's hot start at the beginning of the season, hockey fans knew it was a matter of time before they came back to earth. Slowly that has started to happen, but with Eastern Conference as bunched up as it is every game is huge.

The Leafs have their share of injuries as well, but nothing like the Panthers, who are leading the NHL in man games lost. Thanks to GM Dale Tallon, the organization is much deeper than it has ever been, and although there is a significant dropoff in talent from the regular squad to the San Antonio Rampage, there is enough talent to whether the storm. The game against Toronto was a shining example of this.

In place of the injured forwards were Mark Cullen, Evgeni Dadonov, Tim Kennedy, Bill Thomas, and Michael Repik. Panther fans had to be thinking the slump might begin now, as the team has not been healthy all season. They were limping, tired, and losing focus from time to time on the ice.

But in what was an astonishing offensive outburst with over half the starting forwards out of the lineup, the Panthers won 5-3 behind five points from the fill-ins. Bill Thomas scored an extremely important goal to make it 2-1 19 seconds after Toronto's Mikhail Grabovski tied it at 1. Thomas' goal started a three goal second period that proved to be enough to get a regulation win against a chasing Leafs team that is suddenly trying to stay in the top 8 in the conference. Making matters worse, losing to the lowly Carolina Hurricanes last night certainly doesn't help ease the angst in Leafs Nation.

Such a win with a patchwork, AHL lineup is a huge confidence boost to Head Coach Kevin Dineen and the rest of his young squad as they count the days to becoming healthy again.

It does not get any easier as the Rangers are in town, followed by the Canadiens tomorrow night. Should the Panthers be able to sweep the homestand that should quiet the naysayers that are ready to pounce on this team as soon as the struggles arrive. Eyebrows were raised when the Cats lost 6-1 after their loss to the Rangers at the end of a brutal scheduling stretch, and once again after the Boston debacle.

Since this organization is known for nothing but pain and ineptitude, it is hard to believe the continued success this team is enjoying this year. Most Panther fans agree due to their conditioning. However, if Dineen can keep this team winning, or at least gaining points, while the clock ticks closer to replenishing the lineup with the bonafide starters, the playoff run might be as exciting as South Florida has seen in some time, in any sport.

Twitter @DanSpiegel
www.danspiegel.net

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