On Frozen Pond

Playoff Preview: Florida Panthers v New Jersey Devils

FRIDAY'S EASTERN CONFERENCE PLAYOFFS

FIRST ROUND

(3) FLORIDA PANTHERS V (6) NEW JERSEY DEVILS

The season series: Split the four games; Florida got the extra point.

Last year: Both teams missed the playoffs; Florida is back for the first time since 2000.

Playoff history: Devils swept Florida in 2000.

Friday: Devils at Panthers, 7 p.m.; BankAtlantic Center, Sunrise (WQAM-560; FS Florida, NHL Net)

What to watch:

Believe it or not, but the Panthers have plenty of playoff experience although this is a new experience for a good many.

Going against former coach Pete DeBoer is fun, but shutting down the Devils' top two lines won't be.

The Panthers are gritty and the pressure is on the Devils to make some postseason noise for the first time in years.

Who is in net for the Panthers? It looks like Jose Theodore makes his return after a tough couple of outings. Will the extra days off do him some good. The thought here is yes.

Florida's power play has been good at times this season. Florida's entire special teams need to be extremely strong for the Panthers to win this series? 

Will they? It'll be close. 

The prediction: Devils in 7.

 

Where Are They Now? Florida Panthers Last Playoff Team Before 2012

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

YOUR 2000 FLORIDA PANTHERS PLAYOFF TEAM

No. 2 Lance Pitlick retired from the NHL after spending three seasons with the Panthers from 1999-2002. Pitlick currently runs a stick-handling training facility in Minnesota.

No. 3 Paul Laus spent his entire career with the Panthers, playing from the inaugural season through 2001-02. One of the most popular players in franchise history, Laus is currently living near Toronto.

No. 4 Bret Hedican spent parts of two more seasons with the Panthers before being traded to Carolina where he won the Cup in 2006. Hedican, married to figure-skater Kristi Yamaguchi, works San Jose Sharks broadcasts. 

No. 7 Mike Wilson spent parts of three seasons with the Panthers before knocking around both North American and European professional leagues until retiring in 2009.

No. 7 Trevor Kidd got hurt during the 1999-2000 season forcing Florida to trade Radek Dvorak for Mike Vernon. Kidd left the Panthers in 2002 and retired four years later. Kidd is a businessman living in Winnipeg.

No. 8 Peter Worrell retired from hockey in 2006 but has stayed in the game – and stayed local. Worrell is currently the head coach at North Broward Prep and Florida Atlantic University. 

No. 9 Len Barrie got into real estate after his playing days and ended up being a co-owner of the Lightning (it didn't end well). Barrie is currently the president of the Victoria Grizzlies of the British Columbia junior Hockey League. 

No. 10 Pavel Bure, known as the Russian Rocket, had his career cut short because of knee problems. Bure,  who could be elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame this year, splits his time between Miami Beach and Moscow.

No. 12 Alex Hicks left the NHL after this playoff series and didn't return. Hicks spent the following six seasons playing professionally in Europe. He currently is a junior coach in Tempe, Arizona.

No. 13 Oleg Kvasha spent parts of two seasons with Florida before going to the Islanders in the Jokinen/Luongo trade. Kvasha has spent the past six seasons playing for various Russian teams. 

No. 14 Ray Whitney is still proving to be 'the Wizard' as he had 77 points for Phoenix – tied for 12th most in the entire league this season. Whitney helped Carolina win the Cup in 2006.

No. 16 Mike Sillinger retired in 2009 after playing for an NHL record 12 teams and being involved in a record nine trades. Sillinger is the Director of Player Development for the Edmonton Oilers.

No. 21 Mark Parrish left the Panthers after this
series, going to the Islanders as part of the Roberto Luongo/Olli Jokinen deal. He spent this past season in the AHL after playing for six more teams post-Panthers.

No. 22 Todd Simpson spent the entire playoff year with the Panthers but was traded to Phoenix the next season. Simpson, whose career ended in 2007, is now a real estate agent in West Kelowna, British Columbia.

No. 24 Robert Svehla spent eight of his nine NHL seasons with the Panthers, retiring in 2003 after a season in Toronto. Svehla is currently the director of a junior team in Trencin, Slovakia. 

No. 25 Viktor Kozlov kept a home in South Florida after leaving the Panthers in 2004; after playing for the Devils, Capitals and Islanders, Kozlov has spent the past three seasons playing in Russia.

No. 27 Scott Mellanby, the Panthers captain at the time, was traded to St. Louis in 2001 and he retired as the  captain in 2007. After a few years in the Vancouver front office, Mellanby is now an assistant coach for the Blues.

No. 28 Jaroslav Spacek spent parts of three seasons with the Panthers before he was traded to Chicago 12 games
into the 2000-01 season. Spacek ended this season with the Carolina Hurricanes. 

No. 29 Mike Vernon came to the Panthers after Kidd was hurt and was claimed by the Wild in the expansion draft. Vernon finished his career with Calgary – where his number was retired in 2007. He's currently involved in real estate. 

No. 30 Mikhail Shtalenkov spent parts of seven seasons in the NHL but his short stint as the Panthers backup goalie was his last NHL action. Shtalenkov currently lives in Moscow.

No. 44 Rob Niedermayer was traded to Calgary in the Val Bure deal but ended up winning the Stanley Cup with the Ducks in 2007. Niedermayer spent this season playing in Switzerland.

GM Bryan Murray was fired early the next season but has landed on his feet serving as GM in Anaheim. Murray is currently the GM of the eighth-seeded Ottawa Senators

Coach Terry Murray was fired along with his brother early in 2000-01. Murray spent parts of the past four seasons as coach of the L.A. Kings; he was fired in December.

 

Florida Panthers Postseason Experience ... NOW! With Panthers Playoff Records

FLORIDA PANTHERS IN THE PLAYOFFS

Stanley Cup champion

John Madden (New Jersey 2, Chicago)

Tomas Kopecky (Detroit, Chicago)

Brian Campbell (Chicago)

Mikael Samuelsson (Detroit)

Kris Versteeg (Chicago)

Asst. coach Craig Ramsay (Tampa Bay)

Postseason games played (goals-asst; TEAM)

134 – John Madden (21-22; NJD, CHI)

92 – Mikael Samuelsson (22-31; DET, VAN)

90 – Brian Campbell (8-30; BUF, SJ, CHI)

69 – Ed Jovanovski (11-19; FLA, VAN, PHX)

61 – Marco Sturm (9-13; SJ, BOS, LAK)

51 – Jose Theodore (19-28, 2.82 GAA; MON, COL, WSH)

50 – Kris Versteeg (11-21; PHL, CHI)

43 – Marcel Goc (3-6; SJ, NSH)

31 – Jerred Smithson (2-1; NSH)

30 – Tomas Kopecky (4-3; DET, CHI)

27 – Wotjek Wolski (8-9; COL, PHX, NYR)

22 – Tomas Fleischmann (2-3; WSH)

19 – Scottie Upshall (3-4; PHL, NSH)

16 – Sean Bergenheim (9-2; TB)

4 – Mike Weaver (0-0; STL)

3 – Krys Barch (0-0; DAL)

1 – Scott Clemmensen (0-0, 0.00; NJD)

Coaching Staff

89 – Asst. coach Craig Ramsay (17-31; BUF)

59 – Head coach Kevin Dineen (23-18; HRT, PHL, CAR)

53 – Asst. coach Gord Murphy (3-16; PHL, FLA)

Postseason debut (games played, franchise)

Stephen Weiss (637, FLA)

Shawn Matthias (205, FLA)

Dmitry Kulikov (198, FLA)

Jason Garrison (190, FLA)

Mike Santorelli (174, NSH, FLA)

Keaton Ellerby (116, FLA)

Erik Gudbranson (72, FLA)

FRANCHISE

Appearances: 4 (1996, 97, 2000, 2012)

Series Won: 3 (BOS, PHL, PIT in 1996)

Last appearence: 2000 (swept by New Jersey)

Franchise playoff highs

--Games played: Scott Mellanby, Robert Svehla (31); Paul Laus (30).

--Goals: Dave Lowry, Ray Sheppard (10); Rob Niedermayer (8); Stu Barnes (6); Bill Lindsay (5).

--Assists: Svehla (11); Barnes (10); Mellanby, Gord Murphy (9); Sheppard, Ed Jovanovski (8).

--Games by goalies: John Vanbiesbrouck (27); Mike Vernon (4); Mark Fitzpatrick (2).

 

Florida Panthers, Believe it or Not, Have Plenty of Postseason Experience ... John Madden to Play in 135th Playoff Game

BY GEORGE RICHARDS grichards@MiamiHerald.com

TWITTER: @OnFrozenPond

By just looking at the team logo, it would appear the Florida Panthers are inexperienced newbies going into their first round playoff matchup against the Devils.

After all, goalie Martin Brodeur has helped lead New Jersey to three Stanley Cup championships since 1995. The Devils are definitely more experienced in the postseason than the Panthers – who haven't been to the playoffs since 2000 – right?

Actually, it's a lot closer than one may think.
Although the Panthers organization hasn't been around playoff hockey in over a decade, the players wearing their uniforms have more than a passing acquaintance with the process.

Of Florida's 20 regulars likely to suit up for Friday's opener, 15 have participated in the Stanley Cup playoffs. Eight have participated in more than 30 postseason games. 

Five players have won the Stanley Cup – two more than once. 

“We're trying to make new history here in Florida,'' said Brian Campbell, who helped Chicago win the Cup in 2010. “We have plenty of playoff experience here and we've been able to share those experiences and talk to guys if they have any questions. We're all going to be ready to go.''

Center John Madden is Florida's most experienced playoff veteran as Friday will be his 135th postseason game. Madden, who hoisted the Cup twice with the Devils, said he felt the nerves when he made his postseason debut on April 13, 2000 – 12 years ago Friday – in East Rutherford, N.J. 

“It feels a lot longer than that,'' Madden said. “But I remember it like it was yesterday. It was like my first game.''

Madden didn't seem overwhelmed in his second game as he picked up a pair of assists in the Devils' 2-1 victory over – ahem -- the Panthers.

New Jersey swept Florida in that opening round series and the Panthers haven't been back since. Until now.

“It's a good feeling walking around this room and knowing how much the guys in here have won over the years,'' Madden said. “We have guys who have won big games. But we also have some youth, guys chomping at the bit. Everyone here is going to play a role in our success. You believe in everyone you put on the ice, and you respect everyone they put on the ice. It's a hockey game.''

Coach Kevin Dineen, himself a veteran of 59 playoff games with Hartford, Philadelphia and Carolina, said he is glad to be able to lean on so many players who have “been there, done that,'' as playoff rookie Stephen Weiss said. 

“I've had them share those experiences,'' Dineen said. “It is a different style of hockey. Watch the games [Wednesday]; the play is just ramped up. It is like a whole different world out there. And there were some good lessons out there, Pittsburgh came out gangbusters and Philadelphia found a way to come back. Every game has meaning, every play has meaning. Veteran leaders who have been through this is meaningful for the whole group.''

Weiss will be making his long-awaited postseason debut on Friday after playing in 637 regular season games – all with the Panthers. 

Although Weiss hasn't been in the postseason since his junior days, Dineen said he “is the least of my worries. .-.-. He's old enough where this isn't overwhelming to him. This is something he's looking at as a fabulous opportunity.'' Dineen admits some younger players such as Shawn Matthias, Dmitry Kulikov and Erik Gudbranson could be overwhelmed a bit by the pace and style of play in their first playoff season. 

If they are, they will have plenty of support. 

“Look how long it took to get into the playoffs,'' Weiss said. “I'm not just happy to be here, I want to keep playing. Once you're in, you have a chance to win the Stanley Cup. With that in the back of your mind, you want to keep going. Every team pushes to make a run. We're no different.''

“We have guys who have been there, done that. Guys have won the Cup. New Jersey has those guys as well. At the end of the day, it's a hockey game. I know how to play hockey. I'm just going out to do my thing. You know it's going to be a little tighter, you have to earn your ice. That's fun, what playoff hockey is all about.''

 

Florida Panthers Notebook: Jason Garrison Bloodied, OK ... Marco Sturm Returns, Matt Bradley Skates ... Can Cats Contain Devils Kovalchuk?

BY GEORGE RICHARDS grichards@MiamiHerald.com

TWITTER: @OnFrozenPond

Jason Garrison left practice after working in front of the net and being struck on the nose by a deflected puck. There was a lot of blood left on the ice and Garrison received stitches on the fluke play. 

“He caught a puck,'' coach Kevin Dineen said. “He'll be fine.''

--Marco Sturm (lower body) was back on the ice for the first time since leaving Saturday's game against Carolina after two periods of play.

Sturm, whom Dineen calls questionable for Friday, was working with likely scratched forwards Mike Santorelli and Jerred Smithson.

Krys Barch is expected to take Sturm's spot on the fourth line. 

--Forward Matt Bradley worked out for the third time after suffering a concussion on Feb. 19. Bradley hasn't been medically cleared for practice.

“A strong right winger would be good for us to have with Jack Skille out for the season,'' Dineen said. “But there's been no [medical] indication he's close to returning.''

--Dineen doesn't think the Panthers can isolate Devils' star Ilya Kovalchuk because he spends “he's on the ice too much, is too dynamic.''

(PS: What is Keith Ballard doing there in the photo? Is he swinging his stick like a baseball bat? Better watch out; there's a goalie there!)

Kovalchuk has teed off on the Panthers since his days with the Thrashers, scoring 35 goals with 68 points in 57 games.

Kovalchuk has four goals and nine points in eight games against Florida since joining the Devils. 

“I always use the term 'blowing smoke' when it sounds like I'm complimenting someone [too much],'' Dineen said, “but he deserves every penny he gets. Pete DeBoer has done a great job diversifying him as a player.

"I don't know if we can stop him, we just hope to contain him.''

Florida Panthers Top Line Gets off to Hot Start, Good Finish Heading into Playoffs ... Devils will Watch Weiss, Fleischmann, Versteeg Closely

BY GEORGE RICHARDS grichards@MiamiHerald.com

TWITTER: @OnFrozenPond

For one reason or another, the Panthers top line didn't play together all that much during the preseason.

Whether it was Stephen Weiss given time off for nagging injuries or coach Kevin Dineen mixing and matching, the trio of Weiss, Tomas Fleischmann and Kris Versteeg didn't get much work going into the season opener. 

Yet on Oct. 8 when the new-look Panthers opened up on Long Island, the chemistry between the three forwards was evident. Weiss scored Florida's first goal of the season off a secondary assist from Fleischmann. The run was on as the Panthers top line was the most productive in the league in the first quarter of the season. 

“It's fun when the puck is going in the net,'' Weiss said. “We were scoring, contributing, winning games. You can't ask for more than that. Then there were times when it wasn't so much fun. It went the opposite ways. It's not easy all the time. The team kept our heads above water and we moved through it.''

Through the opening 20 games, Florida had 59 goals. Weiss, Fleischmann or Versteeg accounted for  28 of them. All three were ranked in the league's top 20 as Florida was one of just three teams with three players among the top 30 scorers. 

“It was a lot of fun all season,'' Versteeg said. “We had a bunch of great games. But it was a roller-coaster of a season for us.''

That kind of crazy production, as expected, didn't last.

“Well, it would have been nice if it did,'' Weiss said. “We wanted it to continue but when you have the injuries we have and the opposition keys in on our line, not to use an excuse, but we struggled with that. We had the checking lines and the D being constantly in our face, that's a reason we went into a standstill for a bit.''

As the season wore on, both Weiss and Versteeg battled injuries and both went through long stretches where points were hard to come by.

Fleischmann had a career year with 27 goals and 34 assists as he played in all 82 games for the first time. But he had a stretch of 10 games in which he failed to score.

Weiss went 15 games without a goal from Dec. 8-Jan. 16. 

By mid-January, Dineen sat Versteeg during the third period of a loss to the Penguins. Through their first 25 games together, the three averaged 1.32 goals and almost two assists per game. After that 4-1 loss to Pittsburgh, their production over a 17 game span had shrunk to less than a goal and an assist.

“It was a funny midseason for all three of us,'' Versteeg said. “I think we got back at it.''

Versteeg, who missed nine games with a hip injury, is still fighting things a bit as his goal on April 3 was his first in 16 games. Versteeg, who had a career-high 23 goals with a career-tying 31 assists, is creating offense.

After breaking the trio up for a bit, they're back together. Not surprisingly, they look comfortable together.

Although they aren't putting up the flashy numbers they did early on, they are definitely producing and will have the Devils' full attention come Friday. 

In the final four games of the regular season, Weiss has a goal and an assist; Fleischmann has two goals with an an assist and Versteeg had a goal with three assists. This would be the perfect time for the first line to revert back to their early season ways.

“When they put us back together, it was almost instant, us playing together again,'' Versteeg said.

“We meshed again, played great and created chances.

"I definitely feel strong about what we can do together. Confidence isn't an issue. And the time off helped everyone. It'll be nice to get things going again. We're antsy and excited to get things going.''