"It's time to trade Barkov."
This comment and many more like it are what I'm seeing in some of the Florida Panthers fan groups I'm in.
Unbelievable stuff when you think about it.
Yes, the Cats are off to a slow start. It's not ideal or what we hoped for, especially since the last couple seasons started out rough, but it's not time to hit the panic button. Totally acceptable to be frustrated, but trading your captain and the guy who has been so reliable for so long? C'mon...
While the islanders were a team they should have beat, they managed to get a point and each game seems to show a little more improvement for this team in transition.
I thought it was a solid first period for Florida on Saturday night. They seemed to control the game well. It was in the second that they took the foot off the gas a bit and let New York back in. The third was back-and-forth and OT saw them hold their own. Then the game was unfortunately decided by a shootout - which is not the Cats strong point; they're currently 0-3 in them.
The trend continues to be that a full 60 minute effort isn't quite there. Also, the PP that was so dominate last year seems to be dormant right now. I'm not sure if that's due to the coaching change or what...
The odd thing is that the Panthers continue to outshoot their opponents in these losses. Saturday night even saw them on the winning end of most of the stats, yet, they failed to get a regulation win. It's a strange.
Couple Quick Keys to This Afternoon
Today's game against the lowly Devils is a must-win in this early season if you ask me. New Jersey had a fantastic offseason and looked poised to do some serious damage, but have fallen short thus far and sit at 0-3-2. Similar to our expectations of the Panthers.
Some key things to do to get that much needed win today (in my opinion):
Get this Offense Going: I think whatever is going on with Barky will get worked out. He had a couple nice chances last game and if he's injured, maybe a rest is needed. Until then, some other guys need to pick up the slack. Dadonov and Malgin (who many seem to not like) can't be relied on to provide all the offense from the forward group. These two guys have looked good the past couple games and I think Malgin deserves to be in over Borgy right now, but Huberdeau, Connolly, Torcheck, etc. really need to start finding the back of the net.
Bob and Monty Stay Up: It's easy for goalies to get discouraged in stretches like this. You're doing everything you can to give your team a chance to win and they just can't seem to score. I think both goaltenders have looked good so far and I hope whoever is in net today can secure a W to bring their/the teams confidence up.
That Fourth Line: By far my favorite line of this team, these guys work hard each shift and though they haven't been rewarded as much as their effort shows, they've done a fantastic job controlling the puck and putting pressure on in the offensive zone. Would love to see them have a big game in NJ today.
Stop the Passing: Few things drive me nuts, but over/cute passing sends me up the wall. I've watched the Cats pass up so many great opportunities to get the puck on net this season, instead, opting to try and force a pass that has no chance of getting through. This is the first time that the meatball yell of "SHOOT IT!" would actually apply. These guys need to take the lanes and opportunities they're given in a game and get the puck on. That's why I love Vatrano so much. He has that "shoot first, ask questions later" mentality. I wish it would wear off on some of guys in the locker room - Huberdeau especially. He seems to have become a setup man lately...
Power Play: I mentioned it a little earlier in the blog, but this PP is flat. Plain and simple. For some reason they don't have that same energy and dominance they had last year. The PP is a huge opportunity and something this team relied on last year to generate a lot of their goals. They have to get this going again and fast.
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In short...the Cats have a good opportunity today to pounce (pun intended) on a team that has been bad thus far and make a statement and end this road trip on a good note. Sometimes all it takes is a win to get on the right track.
Two struggling teams faceoff today and one will leave with the win and a good feeling.
I hope the the Devils are wearing their Christmas tree sweaters. I love those. Some of my all-time favorites.
Hopefully this guy isn't in the crowd giving the Devils energy...
Go Panthers!
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