SB Nation - Gregory Campbell

Weiss, Vokoun lead Panthers to physical victory on road, smack Flyers 4-1

Whale4ever — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 03:41:33 -0000

1 day ago: Philadelphia Flyers' Daniel Carcillo (13) is sent flying after being checked by Florida Panthers' Jason Garrison (52) and Mike Duco (68) during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Monday, Dec. 21, 2009, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

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Points aplenty by the end of this one: Stephen Weiss (career-high 4 points), Michael Frolik (3), and Nathan Horton (2 goals) led the Florida offense over a confused and mentally battered Flyers club which displayed neither a semblance of confidence nor a peek at the realistic talent which is being paid top dollar.

Yes, the game got physical, as ~~hoped for~~ expected: Gregory Campbell and Ian Laperriere with fighting majors just 1:48 in, captains Bryan McCabe and Mike Richards at 3:42, and Mike Duco taking on a rather spry Laperriere at 13:26. Of the first period.

It settled down, however, as both teams gained - or lost - their legs in front of 19,323 paying patrons: a two-goal Florida lead going into the third frame was expanded upon (rather quickly) as the Cats banged in another duo within the opening six minutes.

Bottom Line: Panthers kept cool, resilient, and open to adjustment (rumors say that's what winning teams do) on a strange, bizarre evening. So much was expected: defending the honor of ~~Charlestown~~ Sunrise is never a short order, but this bunch made it look good (Laperriere's 30 minutes in penalties didn't hurt, yet keep in mind Dennis Seidenberg burned 17 of his own on a terrific night with 22:08, 1 assist, and a +1). Coach Pete DeBoer - again - kept his troops on-topic during what might have degenerated into bedlam with the entire league watching. Left Wachovia with the win, a healthy roster, and heretofore unbeknownst confidence...a combination hardly believable just days ago.

For the curious: Steve MacIntyre, understandably expected to log a healthy block of time, clocked 2 minutes on the ice (1 shot). Mike Duco got the lion's share of attention, logging 6:29 (5 pim) while garnering a boatload of money shots via Fox Sports Florida. Bryan Allen was a sparkplug as well (4 pim, 3 shots, 20:12 TOI).

Notes: Florida scored three power play goals. Philadelphia netminder Brian Boucher (hand injury) was yanked after allowing two goals on 13 shots; recent Carolina castoff Michael Leighton replaced him, stopping 15 of 17. Final SOG: PHI over FLA 31-30. McCabe, Allen, Seidenberg, and Duco all had at least 4 pim for the Cats, while Laperierre, Mike Richards ('member him?), and Danny Briere did the same for the Flyers.

Next up: Rangers on Wednesday.

Panthers in Christmas video?

Whale4ever — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 19:10:36 -0000

See if you can spot Rhino and Soup (it's rather easy) among a plethora of other high profile NHLers in this new video from Diana and Alyonka Larionov (daughters of former Red Wing Igor) benefitting Hockey Fights Cancer.

Thanks, Puck Daddy.

Panthers forwards: is this it?

Whale4ever — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 16:16:29 -0000

A quick peek at the NHL Stats Page is all a Cats fan requires to sink into a further funk, even on the heels of a well-executed game in Pittsburgh Saturday night. Of course, the result was all too familiar...

Individually, some Panthers are finally producing what's been expected of them for some time: as has been widely reported, forwards Stephen Weiss and Nathan Horton - whipping boys of the highest order in Sunrise - have 20 and 19 points in the same number of games played, respectively. Who among the faithful are anything less than giddy over what these two have done to reverse their sagging fortunes? There are a lot of beaming Fantasy Hockey owners who gambled in their drafts...and won big.

Beyond those two, the year has been an offensive washout: Michael Frolik's two goals on Friday (his first since November 30th) give him nine on the season. Much-heralded "second-line center" (the organization's words) Steven Reinprecht has scored once in twelve games. Radek Dvorak (who has indeed wratcheted up the intensity this season) hasn't seen the back of a net in nine.

Who else among the forwards have any true offensive expectations on the shoulders? Rostislav Olesz and his 14 points? Teased year after year, we know better. Gregory Campbell or Kamil Kreps, who are a combined -13? "Suitcase" Shawn Matthias? Or perhaps faceoff whizz Dominic Moore, who - by no fault of his own - has an unfortunate habit of getting hurt. A lot.

"But Whale! But Whale! What of David Booth and Cory Stillman? Where would the Cats be with them in the lineup?"

Undoubtedly leading the Eastern Conference in every major category.

What's it matter? They're not here now and probably won't be for some time. Based upon the little we've heard through the Panthers grapevine, it's entirely conceivable Booth won't return at all this season. Concussions tend to be nasty and unpredictable, and this one - his first - is no different. At least we know whom to hate when the postseason fires up.

Stillman is shooting for a late-December rollout, but realistically let's guess mid-January. I love and miss Stiller's hustle, leadership, and contributions as much as the next fan, but if you're hanging Florida's playoff fortunes on the return of a winger who celebrates his 36th birthday in a week, I've got some ProSet hockey cards from 1992 up for sale that are due to explode in value soon. Soon.

What to do, what to do?

Talk about a tough week for the Panthers

James Mirtle — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 19:50:15 -0000

Bryan Allen smacks teammate Gregory Campbell into next week after Robert Nilsson deftly avoids the hit. I haven't seen an update on Campbell's condition that describes the injury, but hopefully he's okay.

Thrashers tease Panthers, get it done with seconds left; 4-3 in regulation

Whale4ever — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 02:56:52 -0000

More photos » by John Bazemore - AP

22 days ago: Atlanta Thrashers' Ilya Kovalchuk, right, gets up after scoring a goal on Florida Panthers goalie Tomas Vokoun (25) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Monday, Nov. 30, 2009. Vokoun was taken off the ice on a stretcher after he was accidentally hit in the head by the stick of teammate Keith Ballard, rear. Ballard swung his stick at the net, inadvertantly striking Vokoun on the head. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

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The effort was there on this night, in stark contrast to what played out Saturday in Nashville, but the result remained depressing.

Atlanta's Maxim Afinogenov - left for dead by Buffalo last season (and who could blame them?) - scored at 19:54 of the third period at Philips Arena to seal it for the home boys. Florida showed heart by erasing three deficits to keep it close throughout the evening, with goals by Michael Frolik, Stephen Weiss, and Rostislav Olesz. Wasn't enough.

The Big Story was obviously Keith Ballard's inadvertent hit on Tomas Vokoun. "Tvo" is being described as "alert and responsive" while receiving treatment at an Atlanta hospital. Godspeed, Tomas.

It was a stick swung out of frustration, and a complete accident. The story here is that there really isn't one; a freakish incident.

Notes: The Thrashers led in SOG 35-28. Nathan Horton (1a) paced the Panthers in TOI with 22:54, which was second among both clubs (ATL defenseman Zach Bogosian had a scant three additional seconds). Where's Stevie Mac? FLA's resident pugilist left the bench for all of 1:33. Vokoun left the game after 3 saves on 5 shots. Gregory Campbell did not wind up with PP time. Every Panther was either "even" or minus-1. Frolik led his club with six SOG. Scott Clemmensen finished with 28 saves on 30 shots, while Johan Hedberg stopped 25 of 28. Ilya Kovalchuk scored his 15th goal of the season.

Our best to Tvo for a quick recovery.

Panthers injury links for Sunday

Whale4ever — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 17:30:09 -0000

Florida Panthers Injuries

Questionable

Player	Injury Type	Injury Date
Dominic Moore	other-excused	11/08/2009
Gregory Campbell	head	11/08/2009
Kamil Kreps	foot	11/08/2009

Out (IR / Out / Suspended / Physically unvailable)

Player	Injury Type	Injury Date
Nick Tarnasky	other-excused	09/26/2009
David Booth	concussion	10/25/2009
Radek Dvorak	knee	10/25/2009

Just a quick link-check from the infirmary...

The newest of member of the Cats' wounded list is gritty Gregory Campbell, who received a puck to the face courtesy of Brian Pothier in last night's loss to Washington. Coach Pete DeBoer referred to the injury as a "significant cut" and held a stitched Soup from the third period (which no doubt benefitted Campbell's plus-minus for the evening). Given the Panthers don't play again until Thursday it would seem doubtful he'll miss any time, barring further undisclosed damage.

As of Friday, winger David Booth remained planted on an exercise bike, though for no more than 10 minute stretches. Sayeth The Dood: "This is the longest I've ever gone without doing anything. I don't like it, but it is part of the process and you have to stick with the program." Various reports have his concussion-related symptoms retreating, but the Cats are taking absolutely no chances with their star forward.

Did you know Dominic Moore's brother is an author? No, not that brother. Meanwhile, nothing new from Dom, who still wasn't skating through Thursday following nasal surgery.

Penalty-killing-guru Radek Dvorak found his way to the ice on Friday - and skated on it. Great news for a guy who just two weeks ago suffered an MCL tear. Shoot for a potential return to the lineup Thursday, says the Sun-Sentinel. Pointless trivia: Booth, Moore, and Dvorak all sustained their issues in the infamous Philadelphia fiasco.

Forward Kamil Kreps skipped the Washington trip altogether with a "bruised foot" (is that better or worse than a "lower body injury"?) but also hopes for a Thursday return.

Remember Nick Tarnasky? Neither do we, but the left wing remains out with a busted orbital bone sustained in a preseason fight with Ottawa's Chris Neil. Looks to be quite a while longer, according to DeBoer several weeks ago.

Florida Panthers : Shot differential balloons to seven

Whale4ever — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 15:53:32 -0000

More photos » by Nick Wass - AP

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Back-to-back losses to the Capitals - by a combined score of 11-5 - undoubtedly has the Panthers, if not their fans - reeling and looking for answers.

The old Shots For/Shots Against demon is certainly one area to focus on, though it is far from surprising: after 15 games, the Cats are averaging a 24th "best" 28.1 Shots-For while allowing an average of 35.1 Shots-Against, good for worst in the NHL. Again, nothing new here, but a seven-shot differential is scary, and not an efficient way to win games, much less remain competitive.

Obviously their goals-per-game numbers suffer as (one) direct result: on average, Florida is scoring 2.53 goals while allowing 3.60 (21st and tied for 29th with Toronto for last in the league, respectively).

While we're at it, lets look at some individual stats, in relation to the above numbers. Among those who have played at least thirteen games, here is your All-Bust plus-minus lineup:

Frightening. Yes, arguments could - and will - be made demanding exceptions for a few of these: Allen is returning from a year away, Uberkinder Kulikov is playing his first season out of juniors, etc. But wins typically come on the efforts of The Collective, and collectively they've sucked.

By the way, your current plus-minus "Kings" are Kamil Kreps, Dennis Seidenberg, and Steven Reinprecht: congrats on the plus-2, boys!

What about goaltending? In a word: brutal. Fairly omitting Alexander Salak's 18-minute relief effort in the first week, Tomas Vokoun and Scott Clemmensen are carrying numbers far more at home in the high-scoring 1980s:

	GP	MIN	W	L	T	EGA	GA	GAA	SA	SV	SV%	SO
2009 - Tomas Vokoun	12	703	3	8			35	2.99	419	384	.916	2

	GP	MIN	W	L	T	EGA	GA	GAA	SA	SV	SV%	SO
2009 - Scott Clemmensen	4	187	2	1			16	5.13	99	83	.838	0

Not cool. Not entirely their faults, of course, but neither has managed to make the Big Saves or carry the club to victory. And forget doing either of those on a consistent basis...it ain't happening at all.

Injuries have been sustained, lines were shuffled, call-ups made from Rochester (who's been killing the AHL for weeks), and it's the same old tired result. Has Pete DeBoer his a brick wall, or is this simply part of the learning curve for a young coach? Does Randy Sexton actually have any authority to spend money as he (responsibly) pleases? And where are the veterans, supposedly employed to lead the way for da youts? How about Captain Bryan McCabe and alternates Cory Stillman and Weiss?

Suggestions?

The DeBoer Scramble: New lines highlight Booth-less Panthers

Whale4ever — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 00:40:53 -0000

More photos » by Steve Mitchell - AP

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As would be expected following the loss of two crucial contributors (David Booth's 31 goals last season and Radek Dvorak's two shorties so far in the current year), coach Pete DeBoer has no choice but to rock his listing boat.

Forwards Kenndal McArdle and Michal Repik join the club from Rochester, making the act of following tomorrow night's action an exercise in confusion, at least initially.

From the Official Site, Dave Joseph provides us with what may be ancient history after the first period against Ottawa:

Steve Reinprecht, Cory Stillman, Nathan Horton
Steven Weiss, Michael Frolik, Rostislav Olesz
Dominic Moore, Gregory Campbell, Repik
Kamil Kreps, McArdle, Ville Koistinen

I'm completely intrigued by the last line: Kreps-McArdle-Koistinen certainly represents three different hockey philosophies which should be a blast to watch. Moore centering Campbell and Repik could be a lot of fun as well. Rhino sandwiched between Stiller and Horts could go in any direction - hopefully up - but I'm saving the uber-stokedness reaction for the second trio. Weiss, Frolik, and Rusty hold some potential in my eyes. Neither winger has had a true number-one center for any extended period in their (admittedly short) NHL careers; this may be kewl to watch.

In any case, the Cats are without their number-one LW along with the club's penalty-killing guru. Each and every member of the team is gonna have to dig deep.

See ya here tomorrow at 6:30.

Where was Panthers' on-ice response to Booth hit?

Whale4ever — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 15:14:47 -0000

More photos » by Gene J. Puskar - AP

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Much of the discussion around the Mike Richards / David Booth incident has begun morphing from "Was it dirty?" to "Why did Florida remain passive in the aftermath?". In light of the event, it seems a fair question. The league will do what it sees fit ~~by burying its head in the sand~~, no doubt sticking close to the rule book and judging Richards on his history of gentlemanly play. No argument there.

But indeed, where was the expected emotion by the Cats after the hit? When the stretcher was removed, the players reassembled on the ice, awaiting the imminent next dropping of the puck...we got blank stares. Obviously, the Panthers were first and foremost concerned about the fallen camrade, as we all were.

But then? What about that which inevitably follows an incident such as this? Typically, it's a foregone conclusion that most clubs on the losing end of a check of that magnitude are going to "respond", whether right or wrong. This is hockey after all. Call it a barbaric (wink, wink) line of thought with no place in today's game, but the spectre looms overhead, as it has for decades: an eye for an eye, and all that.

We've obviously evolved much of that out of the "modern" version of the NHL, but c'mon: there was nothing from the Florida Panthers once Booth was removed.

Of course, Dominic Moore (busy stuffing his nose with enough tissue to entice day-traders into Kleenex territory), Radek Dvorak (gone after being helped off the ice following the losing side of a knee-on-knee), and Dmitry Kulikov (still seeing blue diamonds after a faceplant into the glass) were all exempted from any retaliatory action. But where was Gregory Campbell? Where was anyone? Not a soul was willing to mix it up with the Flyers in defense of their own honor?

No doubt following the orders handed down by coach Peter DeBoer, the players probably subscribed to a collective thought that the game was not out of hand, still within reach, blah, blah. At 3-1, it wasn't unrealistic, and the Cats were matching the intensity of their hosts.

This wasn't a late-round playoff game, however. Some on-ice anything would have been preferable to sitting back on their paws, awaiting a predetermined fate.

Shoulda mixed it up. In addition to a nasty record of 2-6-1, Florida now faces the ugly labels of "passive", "weak", and "uninspired".

All the best to Booth, of course, but what's left of this club if they won't make the effort of standing up for each other?

Poll

The lack of a "response" by Florida displayed a lack of courage by:

The players...whether scared or indifferent, they turtled

140 votes

The Coach...Pistol Pete has a responsibility to his men and the logo on their chests

42 votes

No one...a frightening incident clouded the rest of the evening

36 votes

218 votes | Poll has closed

Despite Vokoun Show, Penguins wake in third; drop Panthers in SO 3-2

Whale4ever — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 03:05:34 -0000

More photos » by Gene J. Puskar - AP

2 months ago: Florida Panthers goalie Tomas Vokoun, of the Czech Republic, makes a first-period save during an NHL hockey game against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Pittsburgh, Friday, Oct. 23, 2009. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

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Final - 10.23.2009	1	2	3	OT	SO	Total
Florida Panthers	2	0	0	0	0	2
Pittsburgh Penguins	0	0	2	0	1	3

Complete Coverage >

Panthers vs Penguins coverage PensBurgh Panthers vs Penguins boxscore

Whatever your opinion may be of Florida netminder Tomas Vokoun (and understandably, it could well be harsh) the man stood on his head, carrying the Panthers on his back, securing a point for the visiting team against the best squad in the National Hockey League.

"A point"? One blasted point? Yep. And there was no shame in it. Two goals in regulation and one in the shootout, but what a ride. We all know about his consistency issues, but with apologies to Steven Reinprecht (2g), he salvaged that fifth point on the season.

Anyway, here's the deal: Cats come out firing in the first, dining on the Pens and goaltender Brent Johnson's rust. Reinprecht puts away two within 3 minutes. Suddenly Cory Stillman looks relevant with an assist on each. Pittsburgh looks awfully lethargic; their registered 8 shots seem higher than reality as Cats throw 12. Got it licked.

The second beheld a change of sorts in the pace, though not to the extent of panic: when David Booth goes to the penalty box, one knows there's something in the air. Other than a staged "fight" between Keith Ballard and Chris Kunitz, nothing more of substance to add. Shots flipflopped, this time favoring the home squad, 14-10. And keep that Booth reference close at hand.

Into the third, and what may only be described as the most bizarre period of hockey yet for the Cats this season. Gregory Campbell and Rostislav Olesz both go off for holding in the first minute of play, and the onslaught begins. Vokoun was an absolute rock throughout, despite (and perhaps because of) the two goals, one on the PP, the other SH, and both by Sidney Crosby. But it was Booth's Twilight Zone style "closing hand on puck" penalty - which was in reality a case of picking up the puck and throwing it out of his own defensive zone - which had observers in broadcast cubicles and live blogs alike going "What did we just witness?" Is Booth - a genuine Good Guy - feeling the heat of a slow start following his signing of a healthy contract and the hopes of fans getting under his skin? He deserved a moment to let it out. He didn't lose the game for Florida. It was entirely the wrong action to take, but there is little fear that he'll travel that road again. Still, when a guy like Booth cracks, what does it say for the rest of his cadre? Are they coming apart? Is captain Bryan McCabe on top of it? Is coach Peter DeBoer? Is it time to throw out "it's early" again?

Overtime held the usual chessmatch. The shootout held it's typical drama, but here's the breakdown from a Florida angle: Reinprecht, Ville Koistinen, and Nathan Horton (who had a strong game) all failed to convert. That Crosby guy scored the winner, as a storybook demands, giving him a shorthanded, powerplay, and shootout goal on the evening. I'll take that over the Gordie Howe trick any day.

Vokoun was all over it tonight. Collectively, the Panthers collectively played as a team the best they had in any of the previous seven games (and that includes the victory over Philadelphia last Friday). Short of inspired, but a glimmer of hope found residence in the effort. BTW: Vokoun finished with 41 saves.

Onto Philadelphia tomorrow. Live Blog at 6pm.