Matt Ross: Shooting Stars: Cats vs Stars

Gudas by a long shot! Wennberg is coming around i still cant stand that a supposed goal scorer in duclair playing 1st line minutes with barkov has only netted 2! Verhaeghe as slowed a bit too

Gudas by a long shot! Wennberg is coming around i still cant stand that a supposed goal scorer in duclair playing 1st line minutes with barkov has only netted 2! Verhaeghe as slowed a bit too
- Shynes57

Duclair has helped that line go. Just about half of Verhaeghe’s goals were tap ins off a rebound from a chance Duclair created. Duclair’s speed helps open up space for Barky to work. You watch damn near every game, how can you not see this? Sure, we’d all love to see him filling the net more, but he’s still been a valuable part of line 1. That line is dangerous every time they hit the ice.
From an article on 2/18; https://www.nhl.com/panth...istoric-start/c-321531934
“60.50: The percentage of shot attempts that the line of Aleksander Barkov, Anthony Duclair and Carter Verhaeghe currently controls at 5-on-5, according to NaturalSatTrick.com. In addition to combining for 34 points (13 goals, 21 assists), the Panthers' top line has also been dominating the possession game whenever they're on the ice. Over the 149:19 they've been deployed at 5-on-5 together, the team owns gargantuan advantages in shots (96-60), shot attempts (170-111), high-danger shot attempts (37-17), scoring chances (87-48) and expected goals (8.07-4.17).”

Biggest (best) addition to the Panthers, imo, is a toss up between Meeso Horny and Gudas. Does anyone remember any defender last year breaking the other team’s possession cycle in FL zone by stepping in front of someone and separating them from the puck? Last year that cycle would go on and on until all Panthers were scrambling and lost and you just knew a goal was coming. Gudas is the cycle breaker.
Hornqvist stirring things up in front of the opposing goalie is a totally new sight for Panthers fans eyes. Not to mention how the determination and toughness these two play every game with has seemingly spread throughout the roster.

It’s a tough one for me. Lots of cool additions that add a different (and needed) element, but I have to go with Hornqvist.

Gudas is right up there with his much-needed physicality and disruption.

I love Hornqvist’s game so much. The guy never takes a night off and is noticeable pretty much every game. Parks himself in front of the net and makes a living. He doesn’t have the fancy skills and he knows it, so he does what he does best and that’s slam on the brakes (when most guys do a fly-by) and cause chaos out front. He’s always getting into shoving matches and getting on the opponents nerves, too.

And I totally buy into all the reports of him holding guys accountable and demanding the best out of everyone. You can hear it in his interviews and see it in his play/actions on the ice. I think he’s a true leader out there and not sure the Cats would be where they’re currently at without him in the lineup. Maybe a stretch saying that, but I don’t know.

I don’t think the Panthers have had a guy like this in years.

Again, it’s hard for me to go with a forward, because I love the defensive side of the game so much, but Horqvist has just been too good in my eyes.

Ha ya if youve ever trolled the red wings blogs they all call for gudas' head they straight up hate him they also called barkovs hit on larkin dirty i dunno i watched the game that looked all hip to me. They were claiming he submarined larkin

It’s a tough one for me. Lots of cool additions that add a different (and needed) element, but I have to go with Hornqvist.

Gudas is right up there with his much-needed physicality and disruption.

I love Hornqvist’s game so much. The guy never takes a night off and is noticeable pretty much every game. Parks himself in front of the net and makes a living. He doesn’t have the fancy skills and he knows it, so he does what he does best and that’s slam on the brakes (when most guys do a fly-by) and cause chaos out front. He’s always getting into shoving matches and getting on the opponents nerves, too.

And I totally buy into all the reports of him holding guys accountable and demanding the best out of everyone. You can hear it in his interviews and see it in his play/actions on the ice. I think he’s a true leader out there and not sure the Cats would be where they’re currently at without him in the lineup. Maybe a stretch saying that, but I don’t know.

I don’t think the Panthers have had a guy like this in years.

Again, it’s hard for me to go with a forward, because I love the defensive side of the game so much, but Horqvist has just been too good in my eyes.
- Matt Ross

We will see. I have a buddy who is a pens fan so a couple games in i said hey thanks for the trade and he said just you wait... all those years of abuse catch up to him awfully quick

We will see. I have a buddy who is a pens fan so a couple games in i said hey thanks for the trade and he said just you wait... all those years of abuse catch up to him awfully quick
- Shynes57

So far, so good for him (knock on wood).

Let’s hope he keeps it up!

Ha ya if youve ever trolled the red wings blogs they all call for gudas' head they straight up hate him they also called barkovs hit on larkin dirty i dunno i watched the game that looked all hip to me. They were claiming he submarined larkin
- Shynes57

Barkov’s hit was all hip, there was nothing wrong with it. He only started backing towards Larkin down low because Mantha had a hold of his stick over along the boards. Barkov turned his hip into him, it wasn’t low bridge down near his knees. The only penalty on that play would’ve been Mantha for holding the stick.

They sure do hate Gudas, it seems since well before he became a Panther. Some of them wanted him suspended for hitting Glendening (?) as he carried the puck out of his zone.

It’s a tough one for me. Lots of cool additions that add a different (and needed) element, but I have to go with Hornqvist.

Gudas is right up there with his much-needed physicality and disruption.

I love Hornqvist’s game so much. The guy never takes a night off and is noticeable pretty much every game. Parks himself in front of the net and makes a living. He doesn’t have the fancy skills and he knows it, so he does what he does best and that’s slam on the brakes (when most guys do a fly-by) and cause chaos out front. He’s always getting into shoving matches and getting on the opponents nerves, too.

And I totally buy into all the reports of him holding guys accountable and demanding the best out of everyone. You can hear it in his interviews and see it in his play/actions on the ice. I think he’s a true leader out there and not sure the Cats would be where they’re currently at without him in the lineup. Maybe a stretch saying that, but I don’t know.

I don’t think the Panthers have had a guy like this in years.

Again, it’s hard for me to go with a forward, because I love the defensive side of the game so much, but Horqvist has just been too good in my eyes.
- Matt Ross

I don’t know if it’s much of a stretch to say that, at all.

Clearly Gudas for me.
Most improved player is Weeger

Clearly Gudas for me.
Most improved player is Weeger
- GudbransonFan

I’m absolutely with you on Weegar. He took the next step once Q came in. I really like his game.

What is it about florida giving struggling players their first of the year???

We havin a decent game just cant sneak that extra goal through there. Powerplay still in a funk

Really taking control and poured on shots in the second. Like Randy said, only slightly rewarded for it though. Haha.

Still showing yandle goal. I thought they showed a decent view of barkov gettin a stick on it

Thank goodness for the empty netter. My poor nervous system cant take these tight games

Really taking control and poured on shots in the second. Like Randy said, only slightly rewarded for it though. Haha.
- Matt Ross

Shots in the 2nd, FL 29 - Dal 4 or 5
Thought khudobin was gonna steal the game. He was incredible last night.

Shots in the 2nd, FL 29 - Dal 4 or 5
Thought khudobin was gonna steal the game. He was incredible last night.
- Ratsreign

He was unbelievable! I also had a sinking feeling he was going to steal it for the Stars. Haha.

This Panthers team is fun to watch.

Was a good show remaining cautious though as i am aware Dallas as likely rusty and also without seguin and radulov

Was a good show remaining cautious though as i am aware Dallas as likely rusty and also without seguin and radulov
- Shynes57

Stars are going to be more up to speed, and awful ornery tomorrow evening. Panthers better be ready to repeat the effort from last night.
Driedger will go again tomorrow. Q knows to ride the hot streak