Greetings and salutations from the Big Billboard in Sunrise where the Panthers are playing a rare Saturday afternoon home game against the Thrashers from ATL.
First off, same lineup as the past two games; Tomas Vokoun in net, Nasty Nick and Noah Welch both healthy scratches.
Panthers have gone all out with their Kids Day festivities, and there are a lot of kids in the building today.
One of those kids is my niece Annie. Here's what she has to say:
The Panthers are looking very good right now. I like coming to the games and seeing them play. Everything is great up here. It's an amazing view. I like everything they've had. I like the mascots, everything. It was neat seeing Stanley come out of the roof. No one knew he was there. He just floated down out of the sky magically. That was neat. I laughed when Sebastian the Ibis slipped on the ice. That was funny. He's a bird. He shouldn't like ice. That's why he slipped.
Thanks Annie. More from here -- as well as a special Goldie Report from Jake Goldstein later.
Appears we have to amend the 'no cheering in the press box rule.' Kids like to clap.
-- Annie's expert analysis: ''No. 17 [Ilya Kovalchuk] looks like a real ball hog. All that guy wants to do is score.''
-- Annie's take on the first period: ''They scored three goals and I thought they played awesome. I liked the penalty shot. That was amazing. He's really fast. What's his name again? Oh yeah, Frolik. And the kids playing the mascots on the ice was really funny. The kids were good. It was all fun. The mascots tried hard. This is a lot of fun.''
OK, we're back to the second period. Panthers lead 3-1. Goals by Michael Frolik, Jay Bouwmeester and a another shorty by Radek Dvorak.
-- Annie on the second: ''They didn't do so good there. Two goals for the other team. I think they should stick together as a team, keep passing the puck together and be a team. If they can put it together, they can make it. They can win the game if they want to. Just like I said before. You have to work as a team if you want to get it right. Also, thanks to the Panthers for letting me come to the game. I've had a really good time. Thanks for the goodie bag. I got a lot of neat stuff.
Love Annie's commentary! Her soccer team missed her today, but they won the game for her anyway 2-0---
Posted by: Lisa | January 10, 2009 at 02:33 PM
thats rly cute of her..and i rly want a Stanley C Panther puppy too lol i love that mascot!!
and btw GR on ur Booth article u put a picture of Ballard lol
Posted by: Steph | January 10, 2009 at 02:45 PM
Good job, Annie girl. Hey, I heard channel 4 came by and tried to interview you...maybe she is tramatized by the Christmas interview of 2007--Annie, always take the free publicity, you never know when someone from Disney channel is looking for new talent. G, thanks for taking her, I KNOW she had a blast..see ya later at Mom & Dad's
Posted by: Dennis & Lisa | January 10, 2009 at 03:06 PM
Annie the new coach of the panthers?
It could happen...
Posted by: Holy Jokinen | January 10, 2009 at 04:58 PM
This team is for real.Showing better confidence.Play Cullimore more than Skraskins as he is making mistakes around side of net.Vokoun needs to work on aparound sealing of goal.He cheats away from pole and other teams see that in the films.God help us when Bouw leaves but is sure fun to win now.
Posted by: vic b | January 10, 2009 at 06:47 PM