Matt Ross: Quick Hit: Cats and Hawks

I absolutely went insane towards the tv when there was less than a minute and they are passing the puck around with 0 urgency. Everything must go at the net at that point!!!

I think Tampa learned to take the Panthers seriously and they played hard the full game. I didn't see it as a Bob loss or ref loss. Just another one of those games where the opportunities were there but we didn't seal the deal. Hopefully, at some point, the puck bounces will favor the Panthers.

I agree with Shynes that the Panthers don't play with enough urgency on powerplays or end of game/empty net situations. I see/hear/feel the clock ticking down, but it doesn't seem to translate to the ice. I'm inclined to see this as a Yandle issue, but it could be structural/schematic as the coaching staff seems to tolerate it. But I don't see it when the second powerplay unit is on the ice and Forsling is driving the bus; he has hustle and fires passes forward.

It's tough to beat an opponent 5 times in a row, but we could use the win tonight. Let's hope somebody sticks with Kane and Bob sees the puck well. I have a feeling Huby and Forsling are going to make statements tonight.

Go Panthers!

Driedger going tonight.
Q says he wants to keep both goalies rolling.
Panthers are starting to attract some attention,
NBCSN adding two FL games to their schedule next month, vs TB and Hawks.
Let’s go Panthers!

I dont blame bob for that last game either. The one rebound he left was a baddie but we could have had their guys covered. I was beating on poor ekblad last game thought he had a brutal game. Im betting bounceback tonight though. Ive got him slotted in my tim hortons app to bulge the twine tonight

Sadly this is another game i will miss a decent chunk of with my own game. Early game tonight combined with later start for the cats i might just make it home to see the end

I dont blame bob for that last game either. The one rebound he left was a baddie but we could have had their guys covered. I was beating on poor ekblad last game thought he had a brutal game. Im betting bounceback tonight though. Ive got him slotted in my tim hortons app to bulge the twine tonight
- Shynes57

Ekblad had an usual, poor game for him. Poor penalties, ricochet off him to an open Lightning player for a goal. It wasn't his night. Unless he's injured and we don't know it, I suspect he'll come back strong tonight.

Ekblad is never fast, but he's not a dawdler either. I think he does play with urgency and is usually more careful with the puck and the passing.

Driedger going tonight.
Q says he wants to keep both goalies rolling.
Panthers are starting to attract some attention,
NBCSN adding two FL games to their schedule next month, vs TB and Hawks.
Let’s go Panthers!
- Ratsreign

I guess the TV exposure is good. No more sneaking up on the Central Division teams. They all have awareness now.

Go Panthers!

Very cool ceremony for Kane right now.

I agree with you guys on the lack of urgency from the Cats - that’s always a sore spot for me. But the over-passing/cute passing is one of my bigger complaints - especially when on the PP and they’re just wasting minutes of their own man advantage.

Should be a good game. Expecting the Hawks to be fired up for a number of reasons: back home, don’t want to keep losing and Kane’s 1,000th ceremony.

Expecting a good one here!

Hawks getting behind the Cats’ defense a number of times so far already.

Need to stay back a bit.

Ekblad had an usual, poor game for him. Poor penalties, ricochet off him to an open Lightning player for a goal. It wasn't his night. Unless he's injured and we don't know it, I suspect he'll come back strong tonight.

Ekblad is never fast, but he's not a dawdler either. I think he does play with urgency and is usually more careful with the puck and the passing.
- JimboCoppertone

He can’t skate for poop

Im back for the 3rd i see i didnt miss much

Oh no. No barkov?!?!?!?!?!

So why cant quenneville get this team to start on time? Always with the waiting until its too late

So why cant quenneville get this team to start on time? Always with the waiting until its too late
- Shynes57

Barkov not being scratched until pregame warmup probably had something to do with it last night. They looked a little lost without him early in game. Only saying he’s day-to-day, hopefully he isn’t out for long.
I think that was (by far) the best Hinistroza has looked in any of the games he has played. Props to him for jumping in and playing well, he only found out he was playing when Barky left the ice during the warm up.

New Panthers drinking game:

Take a shot every time Goldie says "Yandle lost it" and another shot every time a Panther SOG hits the goalie in the chest logo. You'll be blottoed by the end of the second period.

Seriously, are they coaching this? Hitting the goalie in the chest can't score unless you put a hole in him. There are far fewer rebounds. If you're looking for rebounds, aim for the pads or the mask, otherwise anywhere but the chest logo.

The whole team was disjointed last night and looked bad. I thought Driedger should have stopped the first 2 goals. I can blame most of it on Barkov's late scratch and inability to plan around it. But the effort really wasn't there for most of the game. A lot of going through the motions