When I looked at GM Dale Tallon in the elevator last week in Tampa, he looked like a man that was at a loss and beaten down emotionally. Red-faced but sullen, he was just as upset as Panther fans, as his team had no fight. No punch. No consistency. No cohesion.
Well what a difference a week makes. The Panthers are now 3-0-1 since that 5-2 loss in Tampa, and to make this streak even more astonishing, they dominated a shootout in Philadelphia tonight.
Dismal doesn't describe the Panthers in the shootout era. More like an abomination. No Panther fan in existence will tell you they ever expect to win a shootout. So many points have been thrown away over the last several years because there wasn't any true skill and goal scorers on this team.
Rookie Jonathan Huberdeau wowed everyone tonight with his first NHL shootout goal. He had Ilya Bryzgalov almost completely out of the net on a juke to the right that was so sweet it is on Sportscenter if you can believe that(and they hate hockey). Huberdeau extended to the left beautifully and easily swept the puck into the open cage, and the Panthers went up 1-0 in the shootout at that time.
After Jose Theodore stopped Matt Read, newcomer Peter Mueller shined as well as he ripped a wrister top right past Bryzgalov to go up 2-0. Theodore then stopped Grioux and ho hum, game over. Yeah right.
I know I was in utter shock. I could not remember the last time the Panthers just smoked a shootout. But that goes back to the different culture on this team.
While the Panthers have continued to improve and play more solid over a 60-minute stretch since their 1-5 start, it's the SKILL that is more evident than ever.
In 1996 the team was a bunch of grinders. When Pavel Bure was around it was, well, all Pavel Bure for the most part. Then the decade plus of complete ineptitude. But now the Cats have balance. They are finally pretty healthy. They are building chemistry. The youngsters in Drew Shore and Jonathan Huberdeau are shining.
What a difference a week makes. Tallon has a pep in his step now and just 9 days ago he was searching for answers. Strange game we love, isn't it? And it's a long way from all smiles. But Florida is showing some heart and guts on this tough road trip. A win against the struggling Capitals in Washington Saturday would not only be a great road trip, but possibly a season saver.
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Dan Spiegel...
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