The Panthers did just enough to be able to win that game in my opinion. The problem was they left no margin for error.

Error one: Not letting the goalie see the shot from a wide angle 40 feet out.

Error two: Taking yourself out of position on D leading to a penalty when the opposing winger was already out wide and bracketed by two guys. (You can't put your stick in their skates...99% of the time a penalty even if the guy is jumping, gets tapped, lands THEN falls over because he felt the tap)

Shore still playing really well. Aggressive and has a nose for the net. Good job by Hubs being ready to shoot. I thought the late penalty in the 3rd against Weiss was utter garbage. Clemmer looked like Clemmer. Always makes me nervous when the puck gets behind the net and ones that should be stopped some how get through.

Can we get our guys to shoot more in the slot? Putting a shot on goal is never a bad idea. Instead we have a mini-rush and as the play unfolds the D-man preps to take away the pass and our winger still tries to pass....ugh.

Anyway, loser points suck when you should have won the game but this season those loser points are worth gold.

Put Guds in and sit Kuba or Ellerby. I would like to see Skille get back in the lineup too. Sit Parros.

Ah, a voice of reason on the boards. I agree with pretty much everything. But, if I have to choose between Ellerby or Kuba, I'm sitting Ellerby. Sorry, but he is too much of a risk. Our defense is going to be something we need to look into this season. As has been pointed out, we don't have a good looking d-corps under contract after this season. A trade or two along with a signing will need to be done in an orderly fashion. I'm wondering if Jovo and Upshall get bought out after this season... I would feel horrible for Upshall. He is a great young guy with tons of upside.. he just can't stay healthy.

The Panthers did just enough to be able to win that game in my opinion. The problem was they left no margin for error.

Error one: Not letting the goalie see the shot from a wide angle 40 feet out.

Error two: Taking yourself out of position on D leading to a penalty when the opposing winger was already out wide and bracketed by two guys. (You can't put your stick in their skates...99% of the time a penalty even if the guy is jumping, gets tapped, lands THEN falls over because he felt the tap)

Shore still playing really well. Aggressive and has a nose for the net. Good job by Hubs being ready to shoot. I thought the late penalty in the 3rd against Weiss was utter garbage. Clemmer looked like Clemmer. Always makes me nervous when the puck gets behind the net and ones that should be stopped some how get through.

Can we get our guys to shoot more in the slot? Putting a shot on goal is never a bad idea. Instead we have a mini-rush and as the play unfolds the D-man preps to take away the pass and our winger still tries to pass....ugh.

Anyway, loser points suck when you should have won the game but this season those loser points are worth gold.

Put Guds in and sit Kuba or Ellerby. I would like to see Skille get back in the lineup too. Sit Parros.
- Rat-a-Holic

Here's something else to think about: our goaltending. Theo is not under contract after this season. Clem is. Is Markstrom numberone next year?

Here's something else to think about: our goaltending. Theo is not under contract after this season. Clem is. Is Markstrom numberone next year?
- Panthers88

Yes.

This was set up perfectly by Santos and Tallon. Theo retires, Clem has one more year in which to backup or split with Markstrom before a new backup is brought up in the form or Foster or Dov.

Ah, a voice of reason on the boards. I agree with pretty much everything. But, if I have to choose between Ellerby or Kuba, I'm sitting Ellerby. Sorry, but he is too much of a risk. Our defense is going to be something we need to look into this season. As has been pointed out, we don't have a good looking d-corps under contract after this season. A trade or two along with a signing will need to be done in an orderly fashion. I'm wondering if Jovo and Upshall get bought out after this season... I would feel horrible for Upshall. He is a great young guy with tons of upside.. he just can't stay healthy.
- Panthers88

Ellerby had a bad game no doubt but at least he is starting to show improvement. Kuba has just been useless so far how could you be paired with Campbell and have this much trouble? I really want gudbranson to try pairing with Campbell. Bench Kuba!

Yes.

This was set up perfectly by Santos and Tallon. Theo retires, Clem has one more year in which to backup or split with Markstrom before a new backup is brought up in the form or Foster or Dov.
- clarkey

But do we trust Clem behind a rookie Markstrom?

Here's something else to think about: our goaltending. Theo is not under contract after this season. Clem is. Is Markstrom numberone next year?
- Panthers88

Ya markstrom number 1 next year plus I think with how our goalies are doing we might see him soon! Santos already said he would play sometime this season.

Ellerby had a bad game no doubt but at least he is starting to show improvement. Kuba has just been useless so far how could you be paired with Campbell and have this much trouble? I really want gudbranson to try pairing with Campbell. Bench Kuba!
- Crazycaboose

See, I want Ellerby with Campbell, not Kuba. Guds would be interesting there as well. But no questions we need help on the blue line.

Ya markstrom number 1 next year plus I think with how our goalies are doing we might see him soon! Santos already said he would play sometime this season.
- Crazycaboose

I remember that. I think Markstrom is going to surprise people. I would rather extend Theo to back him up and trade Clem.

But do we trust Clem behind a rookie Markstrom?
- Panthers88

Tough question even though Clem looked like poop last night he is a really good backup goalie. He gets a lot of poop but he can be pretty solid. But also very inconsistent.

I remember that. I think Markstrom is going to surprise people. I would rather extend Theo to back him up and trade Clem.
- Panthers88

Agreed.

But do we trust Clem behind a rookie Markstrom?
- Panthers88

Also you have to remember this is only Clem's 2nd start of the season he didn't play during the lockout I think that is making a big impact right now and with our D being shaky.

Also you have to remember this is only Clem's 2nd start of the season he didn't play during the lockout I think that is making a big impact right now and with our D being shaky.
- Crazycaboose

Our D is just awful... moves have to be made back there.

Our D is just awful... moves have to be made back there.
- Panthers88

Kuba

Kuba
- Crazycaboose

Lol not funny!

Ellerby had a bad game no doubt but at least he is starting to show improvement. Kuba has just been useless so far how could you be paired with Campbell and have this much trouble? I really want gudbranson to try pairing with Campbell. Bench Kuba!
- Crazycaboose

I agree with you. Remember last season how bad Gudbranson was for so much of the year? Well now it is Ellerby's turn. These are the growing pains defensemen have to go through at such a tough position. Kulikov was awful his first two seasons, and finally broke out last season...well more or less. And we still have yet to see how Gudbranson plays. He finished strong last season but one season does not a great D-man make. Petrovic and Robak will have to go through the same thing. Strachan had the luxury of playing about a season's worth of games in St. Louis.
Gudbranson and Ellerby both have hard shots, either would seem to be better matched with Campbell. In fact, in the awful Tampa game, Ellerby was paired for the last half of the 3rd period with Campbell and they were good together. But he has also been good with Strachan.
Be patient, its easier to notice defensemen's mistakes than forwards because the stakes are higher on a defensive zone mistake. What is less excusable is a veteran d-man making rookie mistakes or getting beaten all over the zone, see Kuba, and Weaver (and Jovo when in the line up).
I love Dineen but sometimes I wonder what he is watching: I was at camp and Shore was the best player out there, why send him down to start? Why keep sending Kuba out there as your top pairing? Why start Parros or Kovalev over a puck possesor like Skille who seems to be in good shape? and I am waiting to see who he will sit for Gudbranson, every Panther fan knows it should be Kuba or Weaver, but will it be? and if not, why not?

I agree with you. Remember last season how bad Gudbranson was for so much of the year? Well now it is Ellerby's turn. These are the growing pains defensemen have to go through at such a tough position. Kulikov was awful his first two seasons, and finally broke out last season...well more or less. And we still have yet to see how Gudbranson plays. He finished strong last season but one season does not a great D-man make. Petrovic and Robak will have to go through the same thing. Strachan had the luxury of playing about a season's worth of games in St. Louis.
Gudbranson and Ellerby both have hard shots, either would seem to be better matched with Campbell. In fact, in the awful Tampa game, Ellerby was paired for the last half of the 3rd period with Campbell and they were good together. But he has also been good with Strachan.
Be patient, its easier to notice defensemen's mistakes than forwards because the stakes are higher on a defensive zone mistake. What is less excusable is a veteran d-man making rookie mistakes or getting beaten all over the zone, see Kuba, and Weaver (and Jovo when in the line up).
I love Dineen but sometimes I wonder what he is watching: I was at camp and Shore was the best player out there, why send him down to start? Why keep sending Kuba out there as your top pairing? Why start Parros or Kovalev over a puck possesor like Skille who seems to be in good shape? and I am waiting to see who he will sit for Gudbranson, every Panther fan knows it should be Kuba or Weaver, but will it be? and if not, why not?
- clarkey

Not Weaver. He has woken up i nthe last two games. He's even started shooting more. Look, Gudbranson looked better in the last 20 games of last season than Ellerby has in three seasons. I understand that defensemen have a steeper learning curve, I've been watching the game for a loooooooooooong time. But at some point, that learning curve can't cost us goals.. and it cost us two last night. And it's been causing them for three seasons. Now I will admit, and I have said it on the last three posts Dan has written, that Ellerby needs to be paired with a Brian Campbell type blue-liner. I will totally support that. We shall see. But our defensive corps will undergo some changes in the future, it's in rough shape.

Lol not funny!
- Panthers88

I mean move him.

And here is a big difference between gudbranson and ellerby. Gudbranson got to play almost every game in his rookie year helping him get use to the NHL. Ellerby has never played a full season and a good example last year half of the season he sat in the press box a player isn't going to improve unless he is playing. He has a little over a 100 games in his career and I think this is his year to break out if he doesn't he is done with the cats. Either that or we trade him this year.

I mean move him.
- Crazycaboose

I don't think anyone would take him. He's valuable... but as a 5th or 6th defenseman. Nothing more than that.

I don't think anyone would take him. He's valuable... but as a 5th or 6th defenseman. Nothing more than that.
- Panthers88

I would be happy if we moved him for a draft pick!

And here is a big difference between gudbranson and ellerby. Gudbranson got to play almost every game in his rookie year helping him get use to the NHL. Ellerby has never played a full season and a good example last year half of the season he sat in the press box a player isn't going to improve unless he is playing. He has a little over a 100 games in his career and I think this is his year to break out if he doesn't he is done with the cats. Either that or we trade him this year.
- Crazycaboose

Exactly my point, Gudbranson got better in his last 20 because he played every game. Ellerby sat. and sat. and sat. I fear we move him and he will turn into a very decent top 4 D-man who will haunt us. Where I disagree is that this must be a make or break season, only because it is a short season, robbing him again of all those games that someone like Gudbranson got to develop. He has to do it in a half season that is compacted with fewer practices than normal to correct game mistakes, and fewer games to show it in. There is a reason folks from other teams are chiming in saying they will take him, he is unrealized potential right now. Lets not make another Grabner, or as Panther88 points out: Kostka, etc. mistake here.

Exactly my point, Gudbranson got better in his last 20 because he played every game. Ellerby sat. and sat. and sat. I fear we move him and he will turn into a very decent top 4 D-man who will haunt us. Where I disagree is that this must be a make or break season, only because it is a short season, robbing him again of all those games that someone like Gudbranson got to develop. He has to do it in a half season that is compacted with fewer practices than normal to correct game mistakes, and fewer games to show it in. There is a reason folks from other teams are chiming in saying they will take him, he is unrealized potential right now. Lets not make another Grabner, or as Panther88 points out: Kostka, etc. mistake here.
- clarkey

KOSTKA!!!!

Great shootout win maybe our curse of sucking in shootouts is over!

Great shootout win maybe our curse of sucking in shootouts is over!
- Crazycaboose

The Flyers had NO chance. Huberdeau and Mueller... holy crap.