Got to give credit to the Panther organization they did a fine job on the cardboard cut outs to make the arena look full. Its a shame that the feed was the Florida panther feed with the Idiot Bill Lindsay and his partner because it made me watch about 4 minutes total of the game.
- Leafsfan9329

What time does your team play?

The double minor call is one of those instances I wish the NHL would have a coaches challenge. It can be argued from the perspective of either team if it really factored into the game, the PP cost the Panthers but at the same time, they need to take responsibility for being scored on but the reality is, there wasn't a penalty on the play and it changed the entire game plan of the Panthers. I'm still happy that Parise and the Devils won the game, but its just one of those things I wish the NHL would fix because it does cost teams wins when some of these calls are made... and made incorrectly, like it or not.

I wish somebody had the stat for how many Hockeybuzz post-game blogs after a team loses references bad officiating. I am guessing the number would be very high.

Got to give credit to the Panther organization they did a fine job on the cardboard cut outs to make the arena look full. Its a shame that the feed was the Florida panther feed with the Idiot Bill Lindsay and his partner because it made me watch about 4 minutes total of the game.
- Leafsfan9329

Also give them credit for being in the playoffs. It gives Leafs fans something to comment about after the regular season ends.

You were there? You got stuck in the traffic getting into the building through metal detectors? Yes, lots of folks were late, but I was there and while not a sellout (its a big building by the way) it was crowded and loud. Far more crowded than all those empty lower bowl seats in Toronto every game.
- clarkey

Place was a mad house, and although there were seats empty (saw it on the replay on tv), it pains me to say most of those are "corporate seats" and when those are given out to clients, or uninterested employees..and they become "no shows" it makes an upper level guy SICK! I have vitually no qualms about crowd, noise,building, etc. Just in the performance of the team. Turnout with the Heat and Marlins each in town with a home game was quite fine. It's all good.

Place was a mad house, and although there were seats empty (saw it on the replay on tv), it pains me to say most of those are "corporate seats" and when those are given out to clients, or uninterested employees..and they become "no shows" it makes an upper level guy SICK! I have vitually no qualms about crowd, noise,building, etc. Just in the performance of the team. Turnout with the Heat and Marlins each in town with a home game was quite fine. It's all good.
- PanthersGoal

19,119 was the actual capicity, don't know what a sell-out is but that's a solid turn out. I know the Devils capacity is only 17,625....

Place was a mad house, and although there were seats empty (saw it on the replay on tv), it pains me to say most of those are "corporate seats" and when those are given out to clients, or uninterested employees..and they become "no shows" it makes an upper level guy SICK! I have vitually no qualms about crowd, noise,building, etc. Just in the performance of the team. Turnout with the Heat and Marlins each in town with a home game was quite fine. It's all good.
- PanthersGoal

Don't worry about loser comments like that. When you're a Leaf fan all you can really try to pick on is crowd size etc. That's really all they have to work with.

Place was a mad house, and although there were seats empty (saw it on the replay on tv), it pains me to say most of those are "corporate seats" and when those are given out to clients, or uninterested employees..and they become "no shows" it makes an upper level guy SICK! I have vitually no qualms about crowd, noise,building, etc. Just in the performance of the team. Turnout with the Heat and Marlins each in town with a home game was quite fine. It's all good.
- PanthersGoal

Very true, the corporate seats (same problem that Toronto has by the way) are owned by companies that also own seats to the Heat in most cases and the Heat are the hot ticket in town the last two years and played last night as well (as did the Marlins in their new stadium, only their 2nd home game in it). Its unfortunate but true.

As stated before, the place was rocking. There were a lot of late comers for several reasons: the 7:00 start (rather than 7:30) makes it a difficult commute for folks in Palm Beach and Dade counties (our stadium is in the western reaches of Broward county), they charged for parking for the first time in years which backed things up in the lots, and then the afore-mentioned metal detectors created large and slow moving lines for entrance. Lines were very long inside for beer and food. The good news is that it was well attended and with parking and food prices what they were, the team made good money. Also, division champs t-shirts and paraphernalia were mostly sold out (they had hats left), more money. If we can get this thing to 7 games the team could really rake in some cash and the town could catch even more Panther fever. Unfortunately, the Devils were as good as expected. Pre-game warmups were as crowded as I have ever seen them and it was really a charged up atmosphere. I did not notice any problems with the Devils fans in attendance either.

A lot of fun, can't wait for Sunday!

.."and officiating."

Worst excuse.

Got to give credit to the Panther organization they did a fine job on the cardboard cut outs to make the arena look full. Its a shame that the feed was the Florida panther feed with the Idiot Bill Lindsay and his partner because it made me watch about 4 minutes total of the game.
- Leafsfan9329

Shut up. I'll never understand this backlash against the sport growing in other areas of NA. Here's a clue; like any market in the US, including Pittsburgh and Chicago, when the team sucks, the fans disappear. I know the Lightning sold out every game this year, I bet the Cats did too, or very close too it.
Small-market teams need success to build.

Also, the Lightning announcers do a very good, non-biased job. Can't say much about the FLA guys, as I never hear them, but I bet your statement is coming mostly from an ignorant stance on hockey in Southern markets, as opposed to an actual critique of their announcing crew.

The officiating... Like the gionta "trip". ThAt call was literAlly comical. ..and if u watched the replAy and didnt laugh then there's no hope for u.

In all honesty, the panthers were on the wrong end of many calls, and the 4 minute penalty which resulted in the Zubrus goal was complete garbage....having said that, they cannot expect to win playoff games surrenduring 26 shots in the opening period! Fix that problem and then turn to the officiating
- panthers92

This is the truth

Did you even watch the game?
- Crazycaboose

yes, I did

Shut up. I'll never understand this backlash against the sport growing in other areas of NA. Here's a clue; like any market in the US, including Pittsburgh and Chicago, when the team sucks, the fans disappear. I know the Lightning sold out every game this year, I bet the Cats did too, or very close too it.
Small-market teams need success to build.

Also, the Lightning announcers do a very good, non-biased job. Can't say much about the FLA guys, as I never hear them, but I bet your statement is coming mostly from an ignorant stance on hockey in Southern markets, as opposed to an actual critique of their announcing crew.
- Blackstrom2

Well said. I'm sick of hearing about these so called bad markets. Teams need to win some playoff rounds to juice up the fanbase. Almost any team in any league that misses the playoffs ten years in a row is going to have attendance issues. It's amzing that florida draws as well as it does. I couldn't imagine being without playoff hockey for ten years.

Really? The Refs? The 4 minute powerplay was garbage, I agree. But you got 2 complete garbage calls go your way in the 2nd period, 1 of which led to a goal.

The Stephen Gionta "tripping" penalty was just silly. He gets a stick between his legs and his spun down to the ice by a panther. He spins his stick around as he's turning to get up, makes light contact with a Panther's skates, and gets a tripping penalty.

And then the.. Volchenkov? I think it was.. "interference" at the blue line? It was as much Anton interfering as it was the Panthers' player interfering/tripping.

But I'm sure that you thought both of these were good calls.
- Ravidel11

dont point out things that dont help the titles cause, it was def the officiating that screwed the panthers

Devil fans need to shut up. This is a bunch of classless fans that call for opposing goalies to get injured. I've been out to Newark, you guys are morons and fit in well with the surrounding area. Classless scum.

Devil fans need to shut up. This is a bunch of classless fans that call for opposing goalies to get injured. I've been out to Newark, you guys are morons and fit in well with the surrounding area. Classless scum.
- Gudbranson2012

just for clarification, when have devils fans called for a goalie to be injured?

Devil fans need to shut up. This is a bunch of classless fans that call for opposing goalies to get injured. I've been out to Newark, you guys are morons and fit in well with the surrounding area. Classless scum.
- Gudbranson2012

Wait, correct me if I am wrong.

You are judging the entire Devils fan base because when you went to the game, a bunch of drunken idiots, that every team has, said that they want the opposing goalie to be injured. I'm sure if I went to Sunrise there would be some drunk idiots saying negative stuff about the Devils too....

Also give them credit for being in the playoffs. It gives Leafs fans something to comment about after the regular season ends.
- maaddmike

the panthers have lost 9 consecutive playoff games dating back to 1997, their last win was game 1 vs the rangers

and lost 13 of last 14

Devil fans need to shut up. This is a bunch of classless fans that call for opposing goalies to get injured. I've been out to Newark, you guys are morons and fit in well with the surrounding area. Classless scum.
- Gudbranson2012

Go get em pal.

I wish somebody had the stat for how many Hockeybuzz post-game blogs after a team loses references bad officiating. I am guessing the number would be very high.
- maaddmike

First time the officiating was a focus of mine all year. I try to avoid such nonsense, unless it directly affects the result of the game. In this instance it did. The end.

First time the officiating was a focus of mine all year. I try to avoid such nonsense, unless it directly affects the result of the game. In this instance it did. The end.
- spiegs13

so it would have been 2-1 instead of.3-2

Devil fans need to shut up. This is a bunch of classless fans that call for opposing goalies to get injured. I've been out to Newark, you guys are morons and fit in well with the surrounding area. Classless scum.
- Gudbranson2012

who the hell are u talking about?

Go get em pal.
- rmdevil313

kids a winner!

Devil fans need to shut up. This is a bunch of classless fans that call for opposing goalies to get injured. I've been out to Newark, you guys are morons and fit in well with the surrounding area. Classless scum.
- Gudbranson2012

Take a walk jerk-ball, you're the embarrassment. A flip-flopping clown with the attitude of the A-typical cyber-tough guy. Do these threads a huge favor, and flip flop yourself to following another team.