On Frozen Pond

GOING BACK TO NEWARK: Florida Panthers Meet Jersey Devils in Game 6 Tuesday

BY GEORGE RICHARDS grichards@MiamiHerald.com

TWITTER: @OnFrozenPond

The Panthers aren't used to being in the situation of closing out a playoff series. After all, it's been 16 years since they've done it last.

Believe it or not, that may be a better historical perspective than the ones the Devils have going into Tuesday's pivotal sixth game of their opening round series.

The Devils have lost their past four games in which they were facing elimination – including three straight at the Prudential Center in Newark.

New Jersey, which has won the Stanley Cup three times since 1995, hasn't escaped the opening round of the playoffs since 2007.

The pressure is on. And it's not just on the Devils.

“There's desperation on both sides,'' Panthers coach Kevin Dineen said. “Our feeling is that we're enjoying this process. It's not easy – there are a lot of ice bags being used – but no one wants this to stop. It's a great feeling.''

The Panthers, in their first postseason dance since 2000, can keep New Jersey's unwanted streak alive with a win Tuesday.

Florida would advance to the Eastern Conference semifinals with a victory in Game 6; If the Devils win, the series returns to South Florida for Game 7 on Thursday.

“We have a lot of confidence in this room,'' Brian Campbell said. “We know what is at stake here but we have to have confidence and be loose. You have to be prepared mentally and be ready to battle. We know it's going to be tough, but it's fun. You want to win those games, take the series, in their building.''

Winning in Newark won't come easy – not when facing a desperate Devils squad. New Jersey has taken control in three of the first five games with either a fast start at the beginning of a game – or a quick start to a period. In Game 1, the Devils held a 3-0 lead in the opening period.

In each of the first five games, one of the two teams has had a 3-0 lead at one point. The Panthers figure if the Devils continue that trend in Game 6, they're in big trouble.

“The tempo has usually been set from the start of the game. I expect nothing less from a team in desperation mode down one,'' Dineen said. “Two clubs will be colliding very early in the game. We all have the thoughts in our head that we want this thing over; they want to keep going.

“One area we've prided ourselves on this season is our road play. We need to go in there and make a statement early. There will be no sitting on anything. I think both teams will leave it all out there.''

The Panthers split the first two games of the series in New Jersey so they know they can win at the Prudential Center.

Truth is, the Panthers didn't always play their best hockey in last week's games held in Newark. In some parts, far from it.

The Devils jumped to a 3-0 lead in the first six-plus minutes of Game 3 only to watch the Panthers storm back and take a 4-3 lead in the second. Florida hung on for that win. On Thursday, New Jersey took a 1-0 lead into the third before getting three in the final period and rolling to a 4-0 win.

Coach Pete DeBoer isn't too frantic about going back to Newark – where the Devils are just 4-8 in postseason games since moving over from the Meadowlands.

“I think our group is mentally tough,'' DeBoer said on a conference call on Sunday. “I expect we’ll be very good. .-.-. Pressure comes with the playoffs. I don’t think you have to say anything about it. I think the guys understand the situation they’re in. They can count. We’ve got to win.”

The Devils know their backs are against the wall. But they also know they can beat the Panthers.

Florida has a little wiggle room remaining in the series. The Devils are down to their last out.

“We’re not done yet. We can win two in a row,” Ilya Kovalchuk told reporters. “We did it a lot of times this year.”

The Panthers, however, are the only team in this series to win two straight games (two and three). Can they do it again and move on to the NHL's Elite Eight for the first time since 1996?

“We know what to expect from them, but we just need to worry about ourselves,'' Stephen Weiss said. “We have to get our starts under control in their building. We do that, we'll be fine.''

TUESDAY'S GAME 6: PANTHERS AT DEVILS

When, Where: 7:30 p.m.; Prudential Center, Newark, N.J.

TV/Radio: NBC Sports Network/WQAM-560

The series: Florida leads 3-2 (Panthers won season series 2-1-1)

Up next: Game 7, if necessary, Thursday at BankAtlantic Center (time, TV TBA)

Florida Panthers Notebook: Brian Campbell a Lady Byng Finalist ... Samuelsson, Sturm Still Going as Canucks Pack Up ... Garrison Going to [Harrison] New Jersey

BY GEORGE RICHARDS grichards@MiamiHerald.com

TWITTER: @OnFrozenPond

No defenseman has won the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy – which honors the NHL players for sportsmanship and gentlemanly play – since the 1950s. 

Brian Campbell is hoping to buck that trend.

Campbell was announced as one of three finalists for the award which is voted on by the Professional Hockey Writers Association on Monday.

Campbell is considered a strong candidate to become the first defenseman – and only the third ever – since Red Kelly in 1954 to win.

Matt Moulson of the Islanders and Edmonton's Jordan Eberle are the other finalists. 

The winner will be announced on June 20 at the NHL awards show held in Las Vegas.

“It's obviously a great honor. Not many defensemen get it and I don't know why,'' Campbell said before the Panthers flew to Newark, N.J., for Game 6 of their best-of-seven series against the Devils.

“You look at some of the things going on in the playoffs. This game can be played hard and played the right way. It's good to see guys play hard and it's starting to clear up in the playoffs.''

Campbell averaged 26:53 per game this season and was one of three (Mike Weaver, Tomas Fleischmann) to appear in all 82 regular season games for the Panthers this season.

Of the 2,354 shifts Campbell skated in during the regular season, he was flagged just three times. Once for delay of game when he shot the puck into the stands.

“I took one dumb one and that's the one I remember,'' he said. 

Of the top 30 defensemen in the league per time on ice, only Campbell logged fewer than 20 penalty minutes. 

“He had a fabulous year,'' Panthers coach Kevin Dineen said. “It's nice to be recognized as one of the elites in the league no matter the category. I don't know if that's the last announcement we hear about Brian Campbell.

"He was such a go-to gut for us. He plays the game with skill and character and a lot of heart. That adds up to someone very worthy of the Lady Byng.''

--Six months ago Sunday, the Panthers traded David Booth to Vancouver in exchange for Mikael Samuelsson and Marco Sturm.

On Sunday night, the Canucks – this year's President Trophy winner and the reigning Western Conference champions – were knocked out of the playoffs as eighth-seeded Los Angeles won the series 4-1. 

Who would have thought Samuelsson and Sturm would be playing longer than Booth and the rest of the 'Florida' Canucks? 

“They were the No. 1 team in the league but it is so close these days,'' Samuelsson said. “It doesn't matter if you are the top seed or the eighth, anyone can beat anyone. That's not the only example but it's a perfect example.

"You thought the Senators would have a chance against the Rangers? It's great competition.''

--Defenseman Jason Garrison missed Monday's practice but Dineen said he would be on the trip to New Jersey and could skate – and possibly play – on Tuesday.

Garrison has missed the past two games with a lower body injury.

Keaton Ellerby, who was knocked out of Game 4, returned to practice.

RATTED OUT: NHL Tells Florida Panthers to Stop Selling Rats at Arena

BY GEORGE RICHARDS grichards@MiamiHerald.com

TWITTER: @OnFrozenPond

Due to pressure from the NHL, the Panthers will no longer sell rubber rats at gift shops inside the BankAtlantic Center.

The issue isn't the few rats that have hit the ice after Florida goals but ones being thrown during play.

In the final minute of Florida's 3-0 win on Saturday a few rubber rodents hit the ice during a face off and again during a rush down the ice.

The Panthers – as the home team – can be hit with a delay of game penalty for the rats leading many to speculate it was fans of the Devils tossing the rats during play to give their team an advantage. 

Coach Kevin Dineen says game officials have not talked to the team about the possibility of a penalty.

"I think a lot of Devils fans have been buying them up,'' he said. "They're trying to get us that penalty. It's unfortunate. It's a part of our identity and something our fans throughly enjoy.

"We don't want to put the team or the league into a situation where they have to make a decision that could affect the actual outcome of the game. We love the enthusiasm. It just has to be directed in the right way.''

Team president Michael Yormark tweeted Tuesday that anyone tossing rats during a home game will be ejected.

Throwing them once a game is over isn't just OK – it's encouraged. The Panthers even dropped some rats from the rafters after Saturday's win via plastic parachutes. 

“During the play, it has to stop,'' Stephen Weiss said. “At the same time, it could be New Jersey fans doing it.

"[After goals] it takes two seconds to clean up. I like it. It's a tradition here and we haven't had it in about 10 years. You want to do it after the game, by all means go ahead. But we have to keep them off the ice during play.

"When you get close to 20,000 people in the arena, it's going to happen. Either you have to take them completely out of the arena and that's the only way you can totally stop it. We like it.''

Said Dineen: “Mr. Bettman may have made a phone call in the past day or two about ways we can make sure the flow of play continues until the final whistle.

"Probably the first step was stopping the selling of rats in our building.''