“There’s something happening here,
But what it is ain’t exactly clear…”
Those are the opening lyrics to Buffalo Springfield’s song ‘What It’s Worth’ and very fitting for the Panthers’ current play as of late.
While they looked better during their shootout loss to the Rangers last night (especially with a very depleted roster), Florida is going through something right now.
The Cats will get a chance a a quick bounce back tonight when they take on the 36-26-9 Philadelphia Flyers.
Per NHL.com:
“
Neither team held a morning skate after each played Saturday. ... Forsling is expected to play after missing a 4-3 shootout loss to the New York Rangers on Saturday because of an illness. ... Lomberg could replace Okposo, a forward, on the fourth line after being scratched Saturday. ... Kulikov could return after serving a two-game suspension from the NHL Department of Player Safety for an illegal check to the head against the Tampa Bay Lightning on March 16. ... Stolarz is expected to start after Bobrovsky made 34 saves against the Rangers. ... Sandstrom likely will start after Ersson made 18 saves in a 3-2 win against the Boston Bruins on Saturday.”
I don’t know…the post-TDL Panthers have been different. Or maybe “inconsistent” is a better word. Tarasenko kind of reminds me of Mike Hoffman a bit in a sense that he floats around and doesn’t really get his hands dirty. Okoposo is a non-factor at this point, and Bjornfot had his first game last night and will need a few reps to get a better feel for his style.
Those guys aside, it’s been a stretch of injuries/illnesses and bad play. Getting shut out, blowing leads…you name it, the Cats are doing it.
But why be negative? Looking at it glass-half-full, last night’s NYR game is something to build off of heading into tonight.
Here’s what the
Flyers have to sayabout the Cats:
“
Perennial Selke Trophy candidate Aleksander Barkov (18g, 48a, 66 points) has missed each of Florida's last two games with an undisclosed injury sustained on March 16 against Tampa Bay. He is officially day-to-day. The Panthers' top defenseman Aaron Ekblad (lower-body injury) sustained a lower-body injury on March 9 against Calgary. He was slated to miss at least two weeks and then progress to day-to-day status. Ekblad, too, remained unavailable on Saturday against the Rangers.
Two-time Vezina Trophy winning goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky started both Thursday's game against Nashville (a 3-0 loss) and Saturday's match against the Rangers. As such, the Flyers are likely to face a different ex-Flyers netminder on Sunday: Anthony Stolarz (13-5-2, 2.02 GAA, .925 SV%, one shutout). "Stolie the goalie" has established himself in recent years as a solid NHL goalie in his own right.
Even if none among Barkov, Ekblad or Bobrovsky play on Sunday, the Panthers have a formidable and deep lineup, led by Reinhart, Matthew Tkachuk (23g. 55a, 78 points, 76 PIM), Carter Verhaeghe (31g, 37a, 68 points), recent veteran addition Vladimir Tarasenko (19g. 25a, 44 points) and blueline stalwart Gustav Forsling (35 points, plus-46, 21:57 average time).”
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Let’s get the win! Go Panthers!
Florida Panthers Blogger • 
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