Despite the disappointment of losing Game 1, Panthers fans should be encouraged by their play on Monday night. It felt like it was going to be a squash match heading into Boston, but Florida showed they may have the ability to hang with these guys.
The Cats had solid first and second periods but with two costly mistakes:
1. Giving the Bruins back-to-back Power Plays early on. You knew they were going to score on the second one after being held off the scoresheet on the first. I love the aggressiveness of Smith, but that was a bad penalty to take and it resulted in the game’s first goal.
2. Lyon’s glove side blunder on Marchand’s wrist shot just over the blue line was a real stinger. For a guy thrust into the limelight with zero playoff (or significant regular season resume), I thought Lyon played fantastic. He made some massive stops on some seriously dangerous chances. It stinks a weak one like that squeaked in but I’m going to give the guy a pass on it. He just has to make sure that type of demoralizer doesn’t happen again…
The Good
- 99% of Lyon’s performance. In my opinion, you go back to him tomorrow. He’s had the most action since Bob went out and is in the zone. I think it would be a tough go for Bob to come back in right now — though he is a professional and is paid to be able to do just that. What I’m concerned about is that this is going to turn into a goalie turn style similar to the year they went back and forth between Bob, Driedger and Knight.
- Panthers aggressively getting to the front of the net. We haven’t seen a lot of this from these guys; however, they were finding ways to get to the net and stay there - rather than doing their standard flybys.
- This was a physical affair and the Cats kept pace with throwing the body. When it was all said and done, Florida had 44 hits to Boston’s 43.
- Florida did an excellent job utilizing their points
The Bad
- While Tkachuk did what he’s done all year and found the back of the net, Florida’s big guns did not. This is nothing new for Panthers fans. When the big stage is set and the game is on the line, the guys you need to be the difference makers and take over, seem to disappear. Hopefully Barkov, Reinhart, etc., can find a way to assert themselves going forward.
- I have seen some chatter about “solving Ullmark.” His 40-6-1 record is an incredible feat and will have him in Vezina position, but do you feel the Panthers tested him enough Monday? While they had some good looks, it didn’t seem he had to make some of the saves Lyon did. And that’s not knocking Ullmark, it’s a credit to the guys in front of him and then him doing his job when called on. I would like to see the Cats get some really dangerous opportunities on him tonight.
- It sounds as though the flu bug has been working it’s way through the Boston lineup for a couple weeks now. The Panthers had an opportunity to pounce on a lineup that has some guys not currently 100% healthy — with a major piece in Bergeron being out completely — and couldn’t convert the W.
- Florida dictated play for good portions of this game, but the inability to score allowed Boston to weather the storms and capitalize on their opportunities, effectively zapping Florida’s momentum.
The Ugly
Although already mentioned, it’s worth putting these here:
- Giving a team like the Bruins any chance on the man advantage is a big problem. Now, things are going to happen and mistakes that result in Power Plays will happen. But taking stupid penalties (like the one Smith did) is a big no-no. The Panthers must do their best to avoid the box. The B’s are simply too big, too strong, too fast, and too skilled to give a man advantage to.
- With play tightening up in the postseason, soft goals just can’t happen. They put you behind (obviously) and break your team’s back. Lyon knows that Marchand goal cannot happen again.
Looking forward to tonight…
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Let’s get Game 2! Go Panthers!
Florida Panthers Blogger • 
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