Dan Spiegel: Goc-cha, Toronto

Apart from that disgusting opening 3 minutes, the Leafs outplayed the Panthers by a reasonable margin.

"Subjectively, it is quite rewarding to beat Toronto in their own building. When Toronto, or any other Canadian team, visits South Florida this time of year the obnoxious meter goes off the charts regarding visiting fans. It is as if they feel they deserve a win because they are from Canada. Considering Ottawa is the only Canadian team that gives the Panthers fits, it surely looks like misguided arrogance. Certainly the Panthers have been so bad over the last ten years many fans from Canada took games in Sunrise for granted. Those days are over."

You're the only one that sounds obnoxious, and as a Panthers fan you need to relax Fans are fans, of course they think their team deserves to win, that's the whole point of cheering for your team. You seem to think the Panthers can roll with the big boys because they can beat pathetic Canadian teams like the Leafs

The key to this team since the all-star break?

If you ask me: Sean Bergenheim.

Bill Lindsey called him a Tasmanian Devil to play against last night. The name fits. Under the definition of "aggressive" they should have his picture. He's always coming with speed and size and he never stops doing it. Love watching him play.

Panthers look forward to Canadian visits, it's the only time they come close to a sell out

Goc was the one play that left the Preds last off season that I wish we had been able to keep. Glad to hear he is doing well in Florida and being recognized.

Obnoxious fans>empty seats

Panthers look forward to Canadian visits, it's the only time they come close to a sell out
- Old Pappy

lol and having a full crowd still wasnt enough reason for the leafs to play well what was that 9 of last 10 in the L column?

Apart from that disgusting opening 3 minutes, the Leafs outplayed the Panthers by a reasonable margin.

"Subjectively, it is quite rewarding to beat Toronto in their own building. When Toronto, or any other Canadian team, visits South Florida this time of year the obnoxious meter goes off the charts regarding visiting fans. It is as if they feel they deserve a win because they are from Canada. Considering Ottawa is the only Canadian team that gives the Panthers fits, it surely looks like misguided arrogance. Certainly the Panthers have been so bad over the last ten years many fans from Canada took games in Sunrise for granted. Those days are over."

You're the only one that sounds obnoxious, and as a Panthers fan you need to relax Fans are fans, of course they think their team deserves to win, that's the whole point of cheering for your team. You seem to think the Panthers can roll with the big boys because they can beat pathetic Canadian teams like the Leafs
- Conquest

Thanks for the input, but surely you are not educated on the plight of the fans in South Florida. One of the biggest complaints among Panther fans is number of Canadian fans in the building during the winter. While there is nothing wrong with those fans coming to see a game, it is disheartening nonetheless. Surely the product in Florida over the last several years has not garnered much local support, but it is still embarrasssing.

Don't read too much into it. I was not being obnoxious, but more stating the obvious that all Panther fans know. If being a fan of a team means they feel they "deserve" to win is exactly the problem. That is obnoxious. I NEVER feel my team deserves to win. I just hope they do. That is the difference, and one that is worthy to note.

Thanks for your input, as always.

Panthers look forward to Canadian visits, it's the only time they come close to a sell out
- Old Pappy

Not true, but I expected such a comment, which validates the post.

Panthers look forward to Canadian visits, it's the only time they come close to a sell out
- Old Pappy

Ya look froward to it when we kick their ass and send them crying home

Not true, but I expected such a comment, which validates the post.
- spiegs13

How is that not true? Are you actually that blind? Unreal.

Thanks for the input, but surely you are not educated on the plight of the fans in South Florida. One of the biggest complaints among Panther fans is number of Canadian fans in the building during the winter. While there is nothing wrong with those fans coming to see a game, it is disheartening nonetheless. Surely the product in Florida over the last several years has not garnered much local support, but it is still embarrasssing.

Don't read too much into it. I was not being obnoxious, but more stating the obvious that all Panther fans know. If being a fan of a team means they feel they "deserve" to win is exactly the problem. That is obnoxious. I NEVER feel my team deserves to win. I just hope they do. That is the difference, and one that is worthy to note.

Thanks for your input, as always.
- spiegs13

You're welcome, someone has to open your sun-baked eyes. That is not the fault of Toronto fans; you're telling me you'd rather they all stay away? Florida would probably not have a team if it wasn't for the support of other teams filling your stands, disheartening or not. In Ottawa, there are more Leafs fans; hell, Alfredsson gets boo'd in his own building. It's the Leafs, it happens everywhere.

Of course on certain nights, you can feel like your team deserves to lose. But it's laughable that you generalize Canadians like that, "It is as if they feel they deserve a win because they are from Canada." The fans are in Florida expecting a good game where they are expecting their team to produce a good win; you're basically suggesting they all sit there like dolls and say nothing. ANY fan would be rowdy and want their team to win on the road, you honestly just sound whiny.

You're welcome, someone has to open your sun-baked eyes. That is not the fault of Toronto fans; you're telling me you'd rather they all stay away? Florida would probably not have a team if it wasn't for the support of other teams filling your stands, disheartening or not. In Ottawa, there are more Leafs fans; hell, Alfredsson gets boo'd in his own building. It's the Leafs, it happens everywhere.

Of course on certain nights, you can feel like your team deserves to lose. But it's laughable that you generalize Canadians like that, "It is as if they feel they deserve a win because they are from Canada." The fans are in Florida expecting a good game where they are expecting their team to produce a good win; you're basically suggesting they all sit there like dolls and say nothing. ANY fan would be rowdy and want their team to win on the road, you honestly just sound whiny.
- Conquest

Exactly, the only people that piss me off at Leafs-Sens games in Ottawa are the Sens fans who are too mild mannered to out-cheer the Leafs fans in our building.

Anyway it's nice to see the Panthers playing meaningful hockey. You guys are going to be a damn scary team in a few years with those prospects...

You're welcome, someone has to open your sun-baked eyes. That is not the fault of Toronto fans; you're telling me you'd rather they all stay away? Florida would probably not have a team if it wasn't for the support of other teams filling your stands, disheartening or not. In Ottawa, there are more Leafs fans; hell, Alfredsson gets boo'd in his own building. It's the Leafs, it happens everywhere.

Of course on certain nights, you can feel like your team deserves to lose. But it's laughable that you generalize Canadians like that, "It is as if they feel they deserve a win because they are from Canada." The fans are in Florida expecting a good game where they are expecting their team to produce a good win; you're basically suggesting they all sit there like dolls and say nothing. ANY fan would be rowdy and want their team to win on the road, you honestly just sound whiny.
- Conquest

You're entitled to your opinion, and I respect it.

Not suggesting or generalizing anything. This is the feeling of the fans in South Florida. I've heard it hundreds of times. Fans are fans, and I certainly understand that. I have been to many an away game as a fan and never was rude or obnoxious to the natives, yet I've seen it in South Florida MANY times with visiting Canadians. Of course not all fans are like that, but Panther fans know it happens a lot. Would I rather the arena be full of just Panther fans? Of course! Who wouldn't?

Attendance in Sunrise is much better than people think, Canadian team or not. Obviously others draw big as well such as the Flyers, Rangers, and Capitals. But with a successful team for a change attendance will be great regardless of who the visiting team is. It looks like Panther fans are in store for many good years to come where this will be much less of a problem, because tickets will be much harder to come by.

Apart from that disgusting opening 3 minutes, the Leafs outplayed the Panthers by a reasonable margin.

"Subjectively, it is quite rewarding to beat Toronto in their own building. When Toronto, or any other Canadian team, visits South Florida this time of year the obnoxious meter goes off the charts regarding visiting fans. It is as if they feel they deserve a win because they are from Canada. Considering Ottawa is the only Canadian team that gives the Panthers fits, it surely looks like misguided arrogance. Certainly the Panthers have been so bad over the last ten years many fans from Canada took games in Sunrise for granted. Those days are over."

You're the only one that sounds obnoxious, and as a Panthers fan you need to relax Fans are fans, of course they think their team deserves to win, that's the whole point of cheering for your team. You seem to think the Panthers can roll with the big boys because they can beat pathetic Canadian teams like the Leafs
- Conquest

Apart from that disgusting opening 3 minutes, the Leafs outplayed the Panthers by a reasonable margin

What game were you watching??

The basic gist here is that watching an opponent win in your own building, while painful in it's own right, is made more infuriating when a third or more of the opposing teams fans are present. Am I thankful that other teams fans plan their winter vacations around when Toronto or Montreal come to South Florida? Sure. A full barn is great. Of course I would much rather it be full of Panthers fans which obviously leads to the fact that the Panthers haven't given the fan base much to cheer for in quite some time. Factor in the marketing ploys perpetrated by the business side that drives real fans insane and you have a volatile core group of fans.

The second is the elitist mentality that unfortunately many opposing teams fans like to rain down on the Panthers. Yes, we know don't have cups. Yes, we know we have only made the playoffs 4 times the last of which was over a decade ago. Yes, we know in the past we have made poor draft selections and poor trades. Yes, we know we are not in a traditional hockey hotbed. Yes, the relocation joke again. We do have rats though so that counts for something. According to "intelligent" sources every time we win a game it is because the other team played horribly. We have to earn our respect having been a doormat for so long.

Toronto. Great franchise going through a recent tough stretch. Bottom line though, thru 3 games the Panthers are 3-0 scoring 5 goals a game. Much the same way Ottawa has owned us so far this year we can say the same against Toronto. Losing to the Panthers isn't the same now as in the past.

Panthers look forward to Canadian visits, it's the only time they come close to a sell out
- Old Pappy

Sad but true. The only reason they were going to be put into the new division with canadian teams was for the "Snow Bird Effect"

lol and having a full crowd still wasnt enough reason for the leafs to play well what was that 9 of last 10 in the L column?
- Havic03

I'm refering to games in Florida

Not true, but I expected such a comment, which validates the post.
- spiegs13

If not true, please elaborate, because that's what we've been told up here in Blue Neck country

Apart from that disgusting opening 3 minutes, the Leafs outplayed the Panthers by a reasonable margin

What game were you watching??
- PanthersGoal

Uh, the same game where the Leafs outshot the Panthers 31-23 and had possession of the puck for long stretches of each period are you blind or did you miss the game?

That's disappointing to hear that some Canadian fans aren't being respectful down there. When I was in Florida I was very struck by how friendly everyone was. Also there were pancake and waffle houses all over the place, it was awesome. Pancakes and grits? Love it. Respect, Florida.

Uh, the same game where the Leafs outshot the Panthers 31-23 and had possession of the puck for long stretches of each period are you blind or did you miss the game?
- Conquest

Hey just because the panthers beat the leafs all the time is no reason to short change us the score was what it was for a reason your defence is bad compared to our defence is pretty good our problem is we don't have enough shooters they like to pass to much and also are goalie has been fantastic this year which was a big surpise that does help a lot I would say one thing the panthers have always had is good goaltenders

I'm refering to games in Florida
- Old Pappy

i know what your getting at... what im saying tho whats the point of a full barn if your team is going to go 1-9 in a 10 game stretch?

Thing is Florida is a seasonal population state... and the population that migrates there is usually 65+ and from a different state here in the US or from Canada and will only go to a cats game if that team is playing i did when Buffalo came down when i was living in Sebring fl for a year... cant expect them to chalk the seats full when most of southern Florida didnt know that Tampa had won the cup few years back... poor market for sure but not much the fans of it can do about it

Dan, don't entertain Leaf fans. All they need to hear is the following: 1951.

And Sens fans who feel they can chime in, 1927. Hell, Hitler has made headline more recently than you guys. Sad but true.

Oh and at least our goaltending can make sandwiches without ending up on the IR.

Dan, don't entertain Leaf fans. All they need to hear is the following: 1951.

And Sens fans who feel they can chime in, 1927. Hell, Hitler has made headline more recently than you guys. Sad but true.

Oh and at least our goaltending can make sandwiches without ending up on the IR.
- Panthers88

For a second there I thought you said hail hitler