The Panthers looked like a different, better team on Sunday when they dominated a good portion of the first period against a very strong Dallas Stars team.
But after Florida surrendered the first goal, it was all downhill from there. Dallas did what good teams do and took over for the remainder of the game until the final horn blew and the scoreboard showed 5-1 in favor of the Stars.
It wasn’t only Dallas stepping up their play, it was also the Cats stepping back. I’m not sure how they devolved from the first 10-15 minutes of the game to the end product we saw, but if you’re looking for any kind of positive at this point, it’s that it looks like they are capable of playing at that high level — they just can’t sustain it or carry it over each night.
From Jameson Olive regarding tonight’s game:
“The Panthers will get their first look at the defending Stanley Cup champions when they visit the Avalanche (20-15-3) at Ball Arena on Tuesday. Breaking out of a five-game skid, Colorado closed out last week with a 3-2 overtime win at Edmonton on Saturday. Still without captain Gabriel Landeskog, who has yet to suit up this season after undergoing knee surgery in October, the Avalanche's offense hasn't packed quite the same punch this season. Ranking 25th in the NHL, they are currently averaging 2.87 goals per game. That being said, they still boast some of the top individual talents in the NHL with players like Mikko Rantanen (48 points), Nathan MacKinnon (38 points) and reigning Conn Smythe Trophy winner Cale Makar (37 points). Starting each of the last 11 games for Colorado, Alexander Georgiev owns a 16-10-3 record with a .916 save percentage this season.…
Olive also tweeted the following:
Seeing some new lines in practice today:
— Jameson Olive (@JamesonCoop) January 9, 2023
Lundell - Barkov - Reinhart
Verhaeghe - Bennett - Tkachuk
Cousins - Staal - Luostarinen
Lomberg - White - Smith
Forsling - Ekblad
Staal - Montour
Mahura - Gudas
Bob/Knight
Maurice said the new lines are about trying to get a more balanced lineup. He expects Lundell and Barkov to lift each other up, and really liked the Verhaeghe/Bennett/Tkachuk line earlier in the season. Staal deserves to be moved up, and Luostarinen is great anywhere he plays.
— Jameson Olive (@JamesonCoop) January 9, 2023
No doubt about it…Barky has to get going both on and off the ice. He’s the leader of the team and has to step up his play and his word.
That fourth line is looking sweet. If you’re juggling things around, why not pair Forsling and Montour back up? Those two played very well together when Ekblad was out.
I don’t know what to think going into this game. Both teams are underperforming. Guess it just depends which Florida team shows up.
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Go Panthers!