The Boys Are Thirsty In Atlanta: Thrashers @ Florida Panthers ... LIVE! Later ... Same Lineup ... Scoreboard, Standings

Today's post is a little late because I had some errands to run. Then I started watching Superbad. So, there you go.

Nice, easy practice at the Billboard today, and like I've said before, not much going on. Winning means no changes, no controversy, not much news.

Pete DeBoer talked today about how the coaching staff doesn't need to pull out any rah-rah speeches at this time of year, and that the room kind of takes care of itself.

Asked if he's leaning on the veteran guys anymore than usual, and he said not really. He did stress that the ''guys who have been here'' really bring an even keel to the room. Good not to get too high, nor too low.

Someone asked how big the win in Philadelphia was, and well, you can guess what DeBo had to say about that. It may have only saved the season, that's all.

Didn't speak to too many players today because, well, there weren't many of them around. Did talk to Cory Stillman about his favorite Stanley Cup memory, but you'll have to wait until Sunday for that. Was pretty good.

-- Since tonight's game isn't on local tv (on on Center Ice and various streaming internet channels) I'll be going LIVE! from the Billboard tonight.

-- Thursday's Games (and how they affected the Panthers): Florida got a big jolt when Carolina scored twice within 30 seconds to beat the Rangers. Florida got no help from their friends on the Island and Montreal rolled the Isles.

-- Friday's Games (and who the Panthers would be rooting for if they weren't so busy watching last night's ER finale)

Sabres @ Capitals, 7: Buffalo is behind the Panthers, and Florida would like to keep it that way.

-- The Standings (brought to you by The Varsity and courtesy of TSN.ca/nhl)

Eastern
Rank	Team	GP	W	L	OT	PTS	GF	GA	Home	Away	Last 10	Streak
1	y-Boston	77	50	17	10	110	259	181	27-6-6	23-11-4	7-2-1	Won 5
2	x-Washington	77	47	23	7	101	250	225	28-9-2	19-14-5	7-2-1	Won 2
3	x-New Jersey	77	47	26	4	98	229	195	26-11-1	21-15-3	3-6-1	Lost 6
4	Carolina	78	43	28	7	93	224	216	24-13-1	19-15-6	7-1-2	Won 7
5	Philadelphia	76	41	25	10	92	244	220	22-12-4	19-13-6	5-5-0	Lost 2
6	Pittsburgh	77	42	27	8	92	245	226	24-13-3	18-14-5	7-1-2	Won 3
7	Montreal	77	40	27	10	90	235	231	24-8-7	16-19-3	4-3-3	Won 2
8	NY Rangers	78	40	29	9	89	201	212	24-11-4	16-18-5	5-4-1	Lost 1
9	Florida	77	38	28	11	87	218	218	20-11-7	18-17-4	4-4-2	Won 3
10	Buffalo	76	37	30	9	83	228	220	22-13-3	15-17-6	4-4-2	Lost 1
11	Toronto	77	32	32	13	77	233	273	15-14-9	17-18-4	6-4-0	Won 1
12	Ottawa	77	33	34	10	76	203	222	20-12-6	13-22-4	6-4-0	Lost 2
13	Atlanta	77	33	38	6	72	240	264	17-19-2	16-19-4	7-3-0	Won 3
14	Tampa Bay	77	24	36	17	65	197	255	12-16-11	12-20-6	3-4-3	Lost 4
15	NY Islanders	77	25	43	9	59	193	254	16-16-6	9-27-3	3-6-1	Lost 3
Western
Rank	Team	GP	W	L	OT	PTS	GF	GA	Home	Away	Last 10	Streak
1	y-San Jose	77	51	15	11	113	247	189	31-3-4	20-12-7	7-2-1	Won 3
2	y-Detroit	77	49	19	9	107	283	230	26-8-4	23-11-5	5-4-1	Lost 3
3	x-Calgary	77	44	27	6	94	244	233	25-10-4	19-17-2	5-5-0	Won 1
4	x-Vancouver	77	42	25	10	94	236	210	22-11-5	20-14-5	7-2-1	Lost 1
5	Chicago	76	41	24	11	93	246	207	22-9-7	19-15-4	4-4-2	Won 1
6	Columbus	77	40	29	8	88	214	212	25-12-2	15-17-6	6-2-2	Won 1
7	Anaheim	78	40	32	6	86	230	225	19-17-3	21-15-3	8-2-0	Won 3
8	St. Louis	78	38	31	9	85	220	226	22-13-5	16-18-4	7-2-1	Won 1
9	Nashville	77	38	31	8	84	197	211	23-12-4	15-19-4	5-2-3	Lost 1
10	Minnesota	77	36	32	9	81	196	189	20-11-7	16-21-2	4-4-2	Lost 1
11	Edmonton	78	36	33	9	81	222	238	16-16-6	20-17-3	4-6-0	Lost 3
12	Dallas	78	34	34	10	78	218	244	19-16-5	15-18-5	2-6-2	Lost 1
13	Phoenix	78	34	37	7	75	197	236	22-14-3	12-23-4	6-3-1	Won 3
14	Los Angeles	77	31	35	11	73	194	224	16-15-8	15-20-3	2-6-2	Lost 3
15	Colorado	77	31	44	2	64	193	250	18-20-0	13-24-2	2-7-1	Lost 8

Comments

[jimmy]

hey GR funny thing as i was watching superbad today a work. thats a funny movie. great blogs by the way. lets go cats

[Karl]

I just don't understand the programming decision by FS-FL. College baseball? Seriously? A Marlins game in April? I mean I know the Panthers aren't the most popular team down south, but there are 5 games left... playoff push... it's embarassing. No wonder the rest of the hockey world doesn't take us seriously.

The Rangers gave us an in last night. Gotta take advantage.

[McLovin]

Huge game tonight . Come on cats dont take this atlanta team lightly

GO CATS!!!!!!

[Bo]

Was going to go to the game tonight but a bit of a cold will instead have me watching the CenterIce broadcast. Shows it will be in HD.
http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/global/contentPageIF.jsp?assetId=1800012

[AG]

GR, I watched the post practice PD interview and he was high on Boynton almost concilliatory. Do you think he recognizes his error in not only suspending him but then benching him?

Thx !!!

[mclovin]

Thanks for watching... ;)

And it's not just FL that gets no hockey coverage. The Canes are in the same boat. I think anywhere south of the Mason-Dixon line, hockey doesn't matter very much. Between there and the Canadian border, it matters a little bit more. And above the Canadian border, it's all that matters...

I hope Stiller gets back in for another round. He's a good man!!! Good luck, Cats!!!