Minutes!
The Panthers actually put 60 solid minutes together against the Avalanche and came out with a solid and thorough 4-1 win in Denver. Having lost another close one 3-2 in Minnesota the day before made this win especially impressive.
Tim Thomas was spectacular in his 200th career win, and the scoring was a group effort between Brad Boyes, Brian Campbell, Tomas Kopecky, and Jonathan Huberdeau. The sticks have been getting squeezed pretty tight from the get go this season for the Panthers, so for Kopecky and Huberdeau to start scoring that bodes well for the immediate future of this team.
There is certainly a different energy and style to this team with new head coach Peter Horachek at the helm. They are playing looser. Looking like they are having more fun. Supporting each other more. It is certainly refreshing, and more apparent every day that the Kevin Dineen style may have lost its luster on the players.
Unlike season's past, the defense really hasn't been chipping in offensively, until now. Tom Gilbert was the first star of the game with 3 assists and Brian Campbell was the second with a goal and an assist. Horachek has been in charge of running defenses for a long time, so he knows exactly what he's looking for from his blue liners. It appears they received the message.
It doesn't get any easier for the Panthers on this road trip as they will be in Vancouver Tuesday night, then back to back in Edmonton and Calgary Thursday and Friday. But efforts like Sunday will bring more wins than losses, and the team still is in the process of implementing Horachek's systems.
Regardless, it is always a nice surprise when the Cats actually win a game without cardiac arrest to the last second. They still don't have a roster to score like that consistently, but each little baby step like this should pay dividends down the road.
Dan Spiegel... Florida Panthers Media Follow me on Twitter Join the Florida Panthers Insiders FB Page Connect with me on Google Plus