Dan you are nuts if you think that is why we lost the series. The isles were better than us. They scored 3 goals in ot and we didn't. Grie ss outplayed Luongo. Like it or not, these are the reasons.
Luongo has and still does stink in the playoffs.
Jagr hasn't scored a playoff goal in 4 years.
Our defense is too young and can't hit the net if they tried.
Our pp sucks.
Bjugstad is injury prone.
We are undisciplined and take stupid penalties.

One the other hand the future is bright with Barkov, Mathison, Ekblad, Trocheck, Huberdeau and others.

GREAT regular season, we accomplished our goal of making the playoffs. Now DT needs to find us a goalie of the future, a veteran dman or two, a replacement for Jagr. And a much better assistant coach than John Madden.
- harveykline

Campbell still can't hit the net with a shot. Luongo has done ok but they do need to address that position rather quickly. Jagr needs to stay, I don't care what anyone thinks. The guy scored 27 goals during the season, the D has to change somewhat due to Mitchell etc, but I think Dale did fine with Kamphert. Tallon finds guys somehow. Bjugstad as you know isn't going anywhere and Madden shouldn't either.

Great write-up Dan. Watched the entire series and agree that the officials were the deciding factor... the fact that they didn't call a clear trip, with less than a minute to go in a 1-0, right in front of the ref, was more than bizarre.

Reffing based on 'situational calls' is beyond ridiculous... if its a penalty in the 1st or 2nd period, its a penalty with the game on the line. Blown calls are one thing, this felt like a 'put the whistles away' moment. Consistency should be the aim, not 'keeping the game close'

The nhl likes the islanders? Didn't get that memo.
- Cptmjl

It isn't about a bias towards one team or the other, its about not calling a penalty because of the situation (less than a minute in regulation, because its in OT, because its already a 5 on 4, or a make-up call because you got the last one wrong)... don't focus on the situation, focus on keeping the calls consistent

That was the problem here, and it happened to favour the Islanders. Maybe next series it won't and you'll be saying the exact same thing.

I think this quote is my favorite:




- Isles_since_6

So you don't think Martin tripped Trocheck with less than a minute to go in a 1-0 hockey game?

What's your definition of grown?
- Cptmjl

I'd guess 3.5 inches

So you don't think Martin tripped Trocheck with less than a minute to go in a 1-0 hockey game?
- KarlKarlsson

All of my previous posts in this thread make my position of this whole situation quite clear. I don't believe you're special enough that I should repeat myself when it's already there for you to read.

Yup. Spot on. Officiating is horrible, period! And, these challenges suck too. Coach Gallant who can be very emotional but he seemed pretty calm and didn't blame officiating that it was one sided..it just sucks! In his press conference last night he said that you have to lose once to get experience and learn from the exhaustion and hurt. I believe that, and it seems to hold position with recent great teams that started out as good ones. However, let's see how these NY fans feel about officiating in about a week or so.
- PanthersGoal

We feel the same way about it as you do. It (frank)ing sucks but if you think we had the upper hand in calls and that's why you lost this series you may want to take up watching something else for entertainment.

In two weeks it won't matter anyway. Tampa is by far the best playoff team in this bracket and will give the winner of the Pens/Caps series serious difficulty. The most surprising thing about the Tampa/Detroit series was that Detroit actually won a game (I thought Tampa would sweep). A Panthers/Lightning series would have been interesting but oh well, maybe another year.
- PghPens668771

It won't matter for you that's for sure unless you put your Caps sweater on.

This series was the worst officiated hockey I have ever witness. The whole hockey world saw Trocheck getting tripped. No call made! I believe the incompetence of this crew should be reviewed by the officiating director and not be allowed to work any further playoff games.
I would like to see the on ice officials of that game to render an apology to the Florida
Panthers for there horrible work.

Will some one explain to me how you miss that call !!!


- akwa1

That same "hockey world" saw Jokinen with his arm wrapped around Hamonic as he literally dragged him from the hash marks to the blue line right in front of the ref. No call. Tavares get his stick broken in half in the paint practically by Grubandson right in front of a ref while he watched. No call. Martin tripped with an open lane to the net in front of a ref. No call. Countless other non calls. Officiating is terrible but it was for both teams not just your Florida Panthers. Your teams lost THREE times in OT.

Your team was given a penalty shot in OT and Barkov of all people couldn't beat our back up goaltender. What the (frank) else do you want from the referees? It's hysterical how any of you could say the refs were out to get you. Give me a (frank)ing break what else more did you want them to give you is the real question? Your team just isn't good enough yet they had countless opportunities given by the refs of all people the very people you claim were out to get you. Get over it. They will be that's for sure but they're not there yet.

So you don't think Martin tripped Trocheck with less than a minute to go in a 1-0 hockey game?
- KarlKarlsson

OK, so in an alternate universe they call a trip there and all is right with the world. Does that mean the Panthers win the series? Their PP hadn't really been getting the job done and the Isles were pushing the play in both overtimes. For all you know, it would have just delayed the same outcome by another period.

Heck, for all you know, if they called Jokinen in the first period for getting a free ride from the Isles' zone to the neutral zone by comically hanging on to Hamonic's stick, the Isles may have scored a PP goal and changed the whole tone of the game. Maybe there would be no OT.

That's the problem with going from saying, "Officiating was bad," which no one disagrees with, to "officiating is the reason we lost." You have no idea what the outcome may have been. And if you're going to speculate for one side based on one call, you have to speculate based on every missed call for both teams, from period 1 of game 1 right through to the end.

It isn't about a bias towards one team or the other, its about not calling a penalty because of the situation (less than a minute in regulation, because its in OT, because its already a 5 on 4, or a make-up call because you got the last one wrong)... don't focus on the situation, focus on keeping the calls consistent

That was the problem here, and it happened to favour the Islanders. Maybe next series it won't and you'll be saying the exact same thing.
- KarlKarlsson

I (frank)ing hate the officiating in the NHL more than anyone but you didn't lose that series because of officiating. You lost it because you couldn't finish a game. 3 overtimes you lost. Penalty shot by your young star in OT couldn't finish. There were countless non calls that worked heavily in your favor. It went both ways man.

You are such a tool that they should revoke your blog card. Did you even watch the games or was it to late for you to stay up. I mean really.

It isn't about a bias towards one team or the other, its about not calling a penalty because of the situation (less than a minute in regulation, because its in OT, because its already a 5 on 4, or a make-up call because you got the last one wrong)... don't focus on the situation, focus on keeping the calls consistent

That was the problem here, and it happened to favour the Islanders. Maybe next series it won't and you'll be saying the exact same thing.
- KarlKarlsson

Did you watching the open minutes when the Panther forward was holding on to Hamonic Stick to the point that Hamonic was dragging the down the ice just to catch up to the play?

We feel the same way about it as you do. It (frank)ing sucks but if you think we had the upper hand in calls and that's why you lost this series you may want to take up watching something else for entertainment.
- Cptmjl

Where did I say you had an upper hand? What I DID say was we'll soon see how many in your camp byytch when you guys do down, because as I AGAIN said officiating sucks...whether that will include you personally we'll see.

im frim leesburg florida and from what i saw,panther fans are a bunch of whiny babies, all along they were hoping for the Islanders, sincce they were missing their #1 goaltender, well they got what they wanted and still couldnt score.

were there bad calls yes, but they went both ways. Barkov was gifted an OT penalty shot and couldnt score. the team went 3 lines and were gassed when it counted, they got fancy and didnt shoot at an empty net.

whiny fans and a whiny blogger.....there was no injustice they merely lost to a 2nd string goalie and couldnt score....in each overtime the team was out of gas period......the team that won deserved to period. maybe next time they will play harder and stop with the excuses

This is the biggest bottle of sour grape whine I have read.

Did the refs score 3 OT goals? Did the refs make Barkov miss his penalty shot (after awarding him the 3rd OT penalty shot in 20 years, btw)? Did the refs cause Luongo to be outplayed by Greiss? Did the refs keep Jagr off the scoresheet or cause the Isles' 1st line to outplay the Panther top line?

The fact is this was the first go'round for the Panthers and it showed. They outplayed the Isles for much the series but, outside of game 4, the Isles were the better team by the end of each game. The Isles were on the other end of a series like this against the Pens in 2013 where they outplayed the Pens for most of the series but couldn't close out games.

Blaming the refs is just weak. Your team got beat fair and square by a team that learned the ropes from 2 previous disappointments.

In the end the Panthers sat on a 1-0 lead. The reason they lost wasn't officiating, it was a dead offense. When the road to victory involves your goalie gets a shutout that isn't a great plan. In the end the Islanders scored when they needed to and that's why they move on this time.

A learning experience for a good young team.

im frim leesburg florida and from what i saw,panther fans are a bunch of whiny babies, all along they were hoping for the Islanders, sincce they were missing their #1 goaltender, well they got what they wanted and still couldnt score.

were there bad calls yes, but they went both ways. Barkov was gifted an OT penalty shot and couldnt score. the team went 3 lines and were gassed when it counted, they got fancy and didnt shoot at an empty net.

whiny fans and a whiny blogger.....there was no injustice they merely lost to a 2nd string goalie and couldnt score....in each overtime the team was out of gas period......the team that won deserved to period. maybe next time they will play harder and stop with the excuses
- randi

For the record, the penalty shot was a legit call and I have seen very few Panthers fans complaining (on here, anyway). Regarding this site...it's mainly just this blogger that has a saggy diaper.

i hope dan didnt forget his diaper, his whining take on things shows how immature he must be.....

the team couldnt beat a second string goalie thats the reason the Panthers lost, even when they had a penalty shot they couldnt score

how many did they need to actually score?

typical whiny fairweather panther fans

the lightning are missing 2 key players and they didnt whine...they just took care of business.....thats why down here in florida, real Hockey fans follow the Lightning,

not the Diaper Cats..... they're more Kitty Kat Than Panther.....Dan is a prime example

Where did I say you had an upper hand? What I DID say was we'll soon see how many in your camp byytch when you guys do down, because as I AGAIN said officiating sucks...whether that will include you personally we'll see.
- PanthersGoal

Yeah OK. So now we're not allowed to b!tch about officiating for fear that panther fans may hold us accountable for some unknown thing? The officiating sucked. Go on our thread and read away but no where in those threads did anyone say if we lose its the refs fault. Your team lost all on its own. Couldn't close the deal. Get over it along with your joke of a blogger. If I don't like a call I'll say whatever the (frank) I want. Getting mad over a tripping call when there were blatant calls not made and your team lost thee over times. Give me a break you guys areally ridiculous

Great write-up Dan. Watched the entire series and agree that the officials were the deciding factor... the fact that they didn't call a clear trip, with less than a minute to go in a 1-0, right in front of the ref, was more than bizarre.

Reffing based on 'situational calls' is beyond ridiculous... if its a penalty in the 1st or 2nd period, its a penalty with the game on the line. Blown calls are one thing, this felt like a 'put the whistles away' moment. Consistency should be the aim, not 'keeping the game close'
- KarlKarlsson

Panthers couldn't score in the back half of the series, plain and simple. The missed call on the Trocheck trip was bad, but then what's the excuse for the Panthers not being able to put the puck in the net for the other 99.8% of the nearly two minutes that there was no goaltender in it?

Their PP went 1-for-8 over the last 3 games, in which they averaged 1.33 G/GP. You want your excuse, there it is. Not one blown call in the third period of one game.

For the record, the penalty shot was a legit call and I have seen very few Panthers fans complaining (on here, anyway). Regarding this site...it's mainly just this blogger that has a saggy diaper.
- eichiefs9

no, its all over sports radio down here, caller after caller whining about how the Islanders were gifted the series, this after saying the Panthers would easily sweep them and ride into Tampa and show Florida that they are the rightful "best team in the Sunshine state...... 90% were laughing saying Barkov would teach Tavares what real hockey is

they got what they asked for....

Yeah OK. So now we're not allowed to b!tch about officiating for fear that panther fans may hold us accountable for some unknown thing? The officiating sucked. Go on our thread and read away but no where in those threads did anyone say if we lose its the refs fault. Your team lost all on its own. Couldn't close the deal. Get over it along with your joke of a blogger. If I don't like a call I'll say whatever the (frank) I want. Getting mad over a tripping call when there were blatant calls not made and your team lost thee over times. Give me a break you guys areally ridiculous
- Cptmjl

What you have, and will soon be proven is that you'll soon bytch "youse was robbed"..

What you have, and will soon be proven is that you'll soon bytch "youse was robbed"..
- PanthersGoal

the biggest "bytch" is a fan of a team that loses a series 4-2 then claims the refs handed the series to the other team and that the panthers would have won every game if not for the officials. When we lost in game 7 last year we were pissed that our team didn't play hard enough in game 7, not that we were screwed out of a win by the officials.

When we lost to the pens we complained about our goaltending, not the officials.

This has to be the single most "bytch" blog post ever on this site, and as a panther fan, you should be ashamed that this lack of class is available for all to read.

We've got a new series to focus on, I'm done with this garbage.

Islanders are a good team.

Tavares is leading his team right now.