I must admit that I almost left the blog at those two lines. They’re the most direct, no-fluff words for the given situation.
The Cats are trying to claw their way out of a 3-1 hole and are currently in Al Pacino ‘Any Given Sunday’ territory.
Even with the cheap shots and missed calls (on both sides), the reality is the Cats should not be facing elimination tonight. They have played well in stretches of these games, but have also been their own worst enemy.
Tampa has taken advantage of the opportunities Florida gives them. Unfortunately, Florida has not been able to capitalize on the weaknesses Tampa has shown as much as they could/should have.
No doubt about it, Tampa is a tough/talented team, but the Cats have exposed their defense a number of times through speed and even grinding it out through the old dump-and-chase game; even getting through to Vasilevskiy and finding the twine.
While it’s easy (but lazy) to blame the goaltending, the Panthers suffer from four diseases that all play off one another and have affected Florida at different parts of the season and with differing levels of severity:
1. Defense
It’s never been a strength, but the defense has been especially brutal this first round. I’ve never seen so many guys out of position, missing assignments, not clearing the front of the net and as eager as these guys are to take off and become forwards. For as good as he’s been all season, Weegar is struggling to be the leader back there.
A hot (and maybe unfair take) but I’m not sure why Montour is a defenseman. Every time I look, he’s either rushing the puck in or below the goal line in the offensive zone.
No one is expecting perfection back there - that’s unrealistic - but I believe even a slight improvement on the blue line would make a huge difference. These guys have to focus on their own zone and know when to activate and when not to.
2. Special Teams
The PK is about as bad as it gets. It’s to the point where anytime TBL gets the man advantage, I just assume they’re going to score - and most of the time they do. On the flip side, it’s a hard pill to swallow when TBL gives you seven PPs and you can only convert on two.
Have to be better in both aspects.
3. Players Disappearing
It’s not a new thing for Florida, but when the big games/moments are upon them, the big names disappear. I don’t know what you do with Barky anymore when it comes to the post-season. He just cannot deliver. Is he battling an injury? Maybe. But this is not the only example of him seemingly “not out there” in big games and big spots. I think it’s reasonable to expect more from him - after all, he’s billed as Florida’s superstar.
But it’s not just Barky. What happened to guys like Acciari, Wennberg, Hornqvist, Duclair, etc., etc…where’s the playmakers and scorers?
Last night Kevin Weekes talked about Colorado’s sweep of STL and he went into detail about how Avs’ big guns carry themselves and are fired up to play and beat their opponent every night. They are foaming at the mouth for success and that trickles down throughout the entire roster.
Do the Cats have the same kind of leadership?
4. Inability to Finish
Hey, putting on 40-plus shots a night is cool, but means nothing if you can’t finish the job and have more than two find the back of the net.
Where are the Panthers goal-scorers at? What can’t they finish opportunities? Sure, Vasi made some great saves in Game 4, but the Panthers should have absolutely had more - especially when presented with the gift of seven Power Plays.
- End rant -
Phew…my frustration comes from the fact to that they could be leading this series, but are dying by their own hand (err…paw). Don’t get me wrong, Tampa has done their part to be where they’re at, but the Panthers have controlled a number of these games at different points, but can’t get the job done.
Well, this is it, boys…do or die. Don’t think about the cup. Don’t think about the second round. Don’t think about a Game 6. Don’t even think about the next period. Take it a shift at a time. Win each shift and win the game.
Pedal to the metal. Turn it up to 11. Whatever gets the message across, it’s time to play a full-60 of high octane, leave-it-all-on-the-ice hockey. Use your speed to drive the pace and keep Tampa on their heels.
Don’t get pulled into the nonsense, focus on the task at hand, win the game and turn this thing around!
Florida Panthers Blogger • 
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