The Panthers fell yet again to the Hurricanes by a score of 4-2 Thursday night when the two teams clashed at the BB&T Center.
It was another disappointment in a long line of losses to Carolina this season - who now officially own real estate in every Florida Panthers player’s head. The Canes are 6-0-1 against the Cats this season and there doesn’t appear to be any sign of stopping tonight.
These Canes games are great studies in a couple of the major weaknesses/pitfalls of the Panthers - things Florida should be seriously examining in preparation for the post-season.
We know play really starts to tighten up around this time of year in the lead up to the playoffs, and even mor so in them. Two things that are really important:
1. The ability to manufacture goals no matter what (despite tight, hard-nosed play) throughout your lines - not relying on one guy *cough* Barkov *cough*
2. Making the opponent pay when on the man advantage (if awarded the opportunity).
The opposite of both these items always seems to be on full-display against Carolina.
The Panthers out-shot (34-29), out-hit (28-18), won at the dot (54.7%, 45.3%), were given nine Power Plays (NINE!), and somehow lost.
I get that running into a hot goalie happens, but is there a point where saying they just couldn’t “figure him out” is an excuse for they just couldn’t get the job done like they should be?
Don’t get me wrong, Alex Nedeljkovic is the NHL leader in GAA and SV% for a reason. He played great, especially making that ridiculous glove save on Huby in the dying minutes of the third (below), but there were opportunities that the Panthers didn’t capitalize on too. Not only that, but I didn’t think there was many adjustments being made in way of ramping up the disruption in front of Carolina’s net.
As frustrating as it was, in the end, I guess we can use the dreaded “hot goalie” excuse to justify that aspect of the loss (to some degree).
However...what can’t be rationalized is the atrocious special teams play - specifically the PP.
I don’t think I have ever seen a team get nine opportunities on the man advantage in a single game.
Seriously. That is not a joke.
I can’t remember a time I have ever seen a team given that many chances, blow 90% of them, and surrender two goals in the process...
Players, coaches, mascot...everyone get ready for a bag skate after that display!
But in all seriousness, that was brutal. Carolina essentially tried giving Florida that game and the Cats didn’t/couldn’t take it.
On a steady decline for a while now - with only slivers of positives here and there - the Power Play may have met its death on Thursday night. We can point to Yandle as the problem and/or the “push ‘em back” entry, but the reality is that Florida’s man advantage is a one-dimensional, slow-developing, over-passing mess with no fix in sight.
I don’t know what the fix would be at this point (if there even is one), so why not give it the old “screw it” approach and try whatever? Mix up the units, simplify the approach - one or two passes, put it on, repeat. Turn the whole thing on its head.
Why stop there just with the PP? With one game left against Carolina, take off the constraints and mix everything up. Remove some guys while slotting in new faces to give the lines a different, fresh look. Put in Knight and see if that sparks this team. Try anything.
I don’t say that as if this is a “must win” game. I say it because a win against Carolina has been Florida’s “white whale” this season and i think it would be a good deposit in the mental bank to get that monkey off their backs.
Todd Little of
Litter Box Cats brings up a good point when he says:
“
Somehow Detroit has figured out how to beat the Hurricanes four times this season, but the Cats can’t?”
Don’t let these guys win again.
____________________________
How about lifting this Carolina Curse with a nice win tonight, fellas? I have the cold ones on ice, so let’s get them cracking in celebration...Go Panthers!
[Image from Panthers Virtual Vault site]
Florida Panthers Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»