« March 2014 | Main | May 2014 »

27 posts from April 2014

April 07, 2014

GOALS NEEDED: Florida Panthers Near Bottom of League in Scoring Again; Scottie Upshall Having Good Year, Leads Team in Scoring

TWITTER: @GeorgeRichards

When the Dallas Stars took a 2-0 lead on the Panthers early in Sunday's game, they did so with a pair of players -- Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin -- who have combined for 69 goals this season.

The Panthers don't have anything close to that kind of firepower.

Florida turned things around and scored three unanswered goals to put a dent in Dallas' playoff hopes with a surprising 3-2 win.

The Panthers' first goal came from Scottie Upshall, who took the dubious honor of being the the team's leading scorer.

Upshall leads the Panthers with 15 goals and 36 points -- which has him tied for 171st in individual scoring as of Monday morning.

With three games to go, the Panthers are flirting with history.

In 2001, Minnesota's Scott Pellerin became the player with the fewest points to lead an NHL team in scoring over the course of an 82 game season.

Pellerin did so on an expansion team (one he didn't even end the season with) by scoring 39 points -- currently three more than Upshall currently has.

Florida's previous low for leading scorer in a full season was 49 by Stephen Weiss in 2010-11. Pavel Bure also led the team with 49 points in 2001-02 despite being traded to New York that March.

Tomas Fleischmann had 35 to lead the team in last year's 48-game season but has 27 points in 77 games this year.

"It's kind of embarrassing that we don't even have a guy with 40 points,'' Upshall said Sunday night. "There's no leading scorers on this team. We all have to realize we need to be better. You chip away, learn to bury your chances.''

Upshall's 36 points are most in his NHL career eclipsing his previous high of 34.

"Scottie shouldn't be our leading scorer. But he is,'' coach Peter Horachek said. "It's a tribute to him for working hard and doing what he's had to do, but we know where we need to improve. When your first-year players are creating a lot of your offense, there's a problem there too.''

Florida's scoring problems aren't something new as the team has struggled to put pucks in the net for years.

This year, the Panthers are second only to Buffalo for fewest goals scored with 180 (2.3 per game).

The Panthers have ranked in the bottom five of the league in goals scored for five straight seasons. Florida ranked 17th with 231 goals scored in 2008-09.

Horachek knows scoring is a constant challenge.

"I've told our guys we can't give up more than two goals,'' he said Sunday. "That's the max.''

Getting some scoring help over the summer is definitely Florida's biggest priority.

This offseason, general manager Dale Tallon says he has the money to try and help rectify Florida's scoring deficiencies. But will he completely be able to?

There aren't that many top-end scorers expected to be on the free agency market, although one could be procured in a trade as how Dallas scored Seguin last summer.

Florida seemingly has a pretty good core of young players who can help create offense with big physical centers like Aleksander Barkov (who was among team leaders in scoring before being hurt in the Olympics) and Nick Bjugstad (second on the team with 35 points).

The Panthers also have a few players who have shown they can score at lower levels such as Jonathan Huberdeau, Brandon Pirri and Vincent Trocheck.

Adding a few veteran scorers around the young players they have -- and hope for bounce-back years from the likes of Fleischmann and Tomas Kopecky -- could get the Panthers at least closer to the middle of the pack in league scoring.

With the goaltending Florida has, that could be enough to have this team in playoff contention come this time next year.

"If we get a guy who can score 60, 70 points, we'e going to be a much better team,'' Upshall said. "It could be a guy in this room or it could be a guy we go out and get. We need someone to really step up and score the big goals and carry the team offensively. It's an area we need. Some of the young guys have been doing it.''

SHORE RETURNS

The Panthers brought back center Drew Shore, sending Bobby Butler to AHL San Antonio after two games played.

Shore has played in 64 games for the Panthers over the past two seasons.

Since his 43 games played over last year's shortened season were prorated, Shore only has four games left before he becomes waiver-eligible. That means if the Panthers want to send him back to the minors after he crosses that threshold, they could lose him to another team for nothing.

With three games left in this season, Shore would not have to clear waivers if Florida wanted to send him back to San Antonio after training camp next October.

 

Tuesday: Flyers at Panthers

When, Where: 7:30 p.m.; BB&T Center, Sunrise

TV/Radio: No local TV (NHL Game Center); WQAM 560

The series: Philadelphia leads 45-30-7

Scouting report: The two have split the season series with Florida winning the past meeting back in November. The Flyers, who hold down the third spot in the Metropolitan Division, had lost four straight before dropping the Sabres on Sunday night.

 

April 06, 2014

SPOILER ALERT: Panthers Help Coyotes by Stunning Stars 3-2

TWITTER: @GeorgeRichards

For weeks, the Panthers talked about wanting to spoil another team's run to the playoffs.

Sunday they may have just done so.

The Dallas Stars still hold the final wild card spot in the Western Conference although Sunday's 3-2 loss to the Panthers at BB&T Center is one they may really regret -- especially if they are sitting outside the Stanley Cup playoffs this time next week.

"We knew it wasn't going to be easy,'' said Dallas' Jamie Benn, who made it 1-0 just 45 seconds into the game.

"We have to put this one behind us. It was a terrible outcome. We don't want to remember this one.''

On Sunday, Florida's biggest fans were the Phoenix Coyotes who remain a point back of the Stars.

Florida definitely helped that cause as the Panthers won both meetings with the Stars this season. Of four points Dallas could have against Florida, it took home none. Phoenix, meanwhile, got all four of its points against the Panthers.

"This time of year is fun if you're in the race,'' said Scottie Upshall, who scored Florida's first goal and became the team's leading scorer in the process.

"The games are hyped up, everyone is watching because there is a lot on the line. There's nothing better than playoff hockey. Right now is as good of a taste of it that will get. This is a learning curve for our younger players. Dallas was fighting for their lives.''

Everything was going Dallas' way after winning in Tampa on Saturday night.

The Stars had a 2-0 lead early in the second period and the Panthers -- who had lost five straight -- didn't seem all that interested in playing.

Coach Peter Horachek wasn't very happy as Dallas scored in the opening minute of the first and second periods and let his team know it during a timeout after an Upshall penalty 3:48 into the second.

"They were playing with a purpose and a resolve,'' Horachek said, "and I don't think we were. We were just playing and there wasn't enough emotion. I wanted them to care more about the end result.''

The Panthers most definitely responded as the plane shifted.

Florida began dictating play and finally gave its fans something to cheer about.

Upshall cut Dallas' lead in half by getting a piece of a big shot from Erik Gudbranson at the 8:20 mark of the second. In the final minute of the period, Brandon Pirri slid into the slot and one-timed a slick feed from Jimmy Hayes and put it past Kari Lehtonen to tie the score.

"We showed a lot of resiliency, battled back and dominated the second half of the game,'' said Pirri, who has six goals since joining the Panthers just before the March 5 trade deadline.

"We're trying to build off that the last three games.''

The two teams played even hockey in the third with the Stars understandably not wanting to make a mistake and give up the go-ahead goal.

Florida, with nothing to lose, seemed to play the same way.

"I wanted us to be smart and keep doing the right things,'' Horachek said. "This was a huge win for us emotionally. We responded after a lethargic first period.''

The Panthers did get that go-ahead goal, however, with 4:31 remaining as Sean Bergenheim scored off a pass from Colby Robak.

Bergenheim admitted he didn't know who the Panthers were helping in the playoff race initially, but asked and found out the answer.

"This is probably a big blow for Dallas,'' Bergenheim said. "For me personally, I don't care who is fighting for what. You have to play the best you can every game. Whetever happens to the other teams in the standings, I don't really care.''

THOMAS SITS

The Stars, as has been the case for the past nine games, went with Lehtonen in goal over Tim Thomas.

Thomas was Florida's goalie when the Panthers won their season-opener at Dallas in October, although much more than that has changed since.

The Panthers were missing 13 of the 20 players who were part of Florida's 4-2 win in Dallas. Florida also replaced most of its coaching staff since then.

Of Florida's four goals scored in Dallas, only one -- the initial goal by Scott Gomez -- came from a player still on the roster.

Roberto Luongo, who replaced Thomas as Florida's starting goalie, made 35 saves in the win.

 

April 04, 2014

FIGHTING BACK: Ed Jovanovski named Masterton Nominee; Plans to Continue Playing After Long Road to Recovery

TWITTER: @GeorgeRichards

When it came time to nominate a player from the Florida Panthers for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, there was only one player who it could have been.

On Friday morning, Ed Jovanovski was officially announced as the Panthers' candidate for the annual award by the Florida chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers Association.

Jovanovski, 37, spent countless hours rehabilitating his surgically-repaired hip to return to the ice. The Panthers' captain, Jovanovski had radical hip resurfacing surgery -- one step away from hip replacement -- last spring. He worked his way back by training camp, although he didn't play in his first game until Jan. 3.

Jovanovski is believed to be the first professional athlete to return from the procedure.

"I take every day as a win,'' Jovanovski said after he scored his lone goal of the season in Buffalo on Jan. 9. "I'm very fortunate.''

On Friday, Jovanovski spoke about his comeback and what it means to continue playing a game he truly loves -- and "this game has been really good to me and has given me everything I've ever needed in my life and my family's life.''

Jovanovski, who has played in 32 games this season, has one year left on the contract he signed when he returned to the Panthers in 2011 and says he plans on honoring it. When asked if it was up to him, he said he would he be at training camp come September.

Here's what he had to say this morning after Florida's morning skate:

On the nomination:

"I appreciate that, it's definitely an honor. For me, anytime you are nominated for something, it's a great honor. This has been a tough road, no question. When I came back and went through the rehab, there was that doubt of the chances of never playing again. Having the passion to come back and get in there and do my work, 35 games or so into it and not missing many practices, it's definitely a treat to be here.''

Were there times during rehab in which you doubted the process?:

"For the most part I tried to remain as upbeat as I could. There were days in which I said 'what am I doing. It's an uphill battle.' There was no data on this, no one had done this before. When you look at the whole procedure, it's pretty wild what I have in my body to be doing what I'm doing. It's great being able to play the game I love.''

Were there family members who said 'what are you doing?'

"Not so much by my wife. A lot of that came from my mom and dad. There were 18. 19 years of grinding. When I got back from my surgery and they saw what I went through that first week ... It wasn't fun. It was miserable. As the days move on, your attitude is, well the sun comes up kind of thing. Everything is moving forward. With the rehab regimen these days, you're right back at it and you start feeling better. That's kind of what happened to me. You have to start somewhere.''

Where do you rank coming back on your list of accomplishments?

"It's got to be up there. We all enjoy the great seasons, the teams. But this one really hits home.''

You're not done yet, right?

"I think working out off the ice, then on the ice and getting into game action for me, it's going to be a really important summer to concentrate on an 82 game schedule. Really work at playing and having success. There is no other way to put it. I have to work hard. When you put your mind to it, anything is a possibility.''

Have you talked to Dale about your future?

"No. I have a year on my contract and I plan on fulfilling it.''

So if it's up to you, you'll be here for training camp?

"Yeah.''

Feel how you've shown the kids how it's done?

"It's not so much showing it. You don't wish anyone to go through what I went to. There are a lot of prevention things today like what [Huberdeau] went through like scoping. This was kind of a last resort kind of thing to first and foremost improve my quality of life, be able to play with my kids, bend over and put my socks on and tie my shoes. I was lost at one point. It was a daily struggle to do a lot of things. But if they can see anything, it's anything is possible. This game has been really good to me and has given me everything I've ever needed in my life and my family's life. The opportunity is through the roof for these guys financially and being able to do what they want to do.''

How much did you miss the game, being around the team?

"It killed me. And it's one of those things I worry about when I am done. The dressing room is a great spot, having the opportunity to come in and shoot the breeze with the guys, hearing the young guys stories, going on the road and having the opportunity to be as a team. At the end of the day, do what you love to do. We play a game. It's hard, a lot of the things that go unnoticed. The travel; yes we do fly on charters, but it's a grind getting in at 2, 3 in the morning and have to get ready in the morning. It tests you that much more. But it killed me not being around the guys and that's something that bothers me when it's all going to be over.''

What to stick around the game?

"Yeah, that's something that is definitely a possibility. I love the game that much. I will do whatever takes off the ice to help a team win. It's something I love to do. I've been in this community so long, I'd love to see this franchise do well. I think the chips are falling in with the new owners. It's going to be an interesting summer. We'll see where that unfolds.''

ERIK GUDBRANSON

"It was a serious injury to come back from as a hockey player and at his age as well, the passion he's shown and character he's shown to come back, it was for the love of the game. That's really impressive.

"Having him in the dressing room is a huge piece. It's noticeable when he's not here. That battle he's shown, the determination, is something we all need to learn from. Hockey isn't forever and to show that passion is an amazing thing to see. His return has been seamless. He basically took a year off and it's a tough thing to do and come back and play. It's quite the invasive surgery. It's a big deal. For him to come back is amazing to see. I don't think a lot of guys could have done what he's overcome. That's a true testament to what he's all about.

"He's here for the love of the game. That's a passionate man right there. That's something we should all learn from and everyone in this locker room should take note of it.''

PETER HORACHEK

"The perseverance of that is incredible. Where you are in your career and going through a surgery, as we've talked before, no one has ever returned from. I think it's the same surgery Bo Jackson had.

"Playing later in your career is tough, the day-to-day and the travel and the recovery. To come back and work hard enough and have the doctors clear him, give him credit for that.

"They are big kids at heart. He may be late 30s, but they love the game. That's what they love, they are their happiest on the ice. The young guys see that, see that fight through and injury and spend months and months of recovery time. He went through training camp and had the disappointment of the doctor saying it's not healed. He continued to push until he got back in. It's a great story.

 

 

 

April 03, 2014

ON THE MEND: Luongo, Huberdeau Practice; Both Could Play by end of the Weekend

TWITTER: @GeorgeRichards

The Panthers currently have three players on the shelf due to concussion issues. Two of them could be back in the lineup by the end of the weekend.

Goalie Roberto Luongo and winger Jonathan Huberdeau joined their teammates for practice Thursday with Luongo potentially starting Friday's game against the visiting Flames. Huberdeau could return Sunday against Dallas.

Tomas Kopecky, who suffered his concussion playing in the Olympics, was expected to practice Thursday but did not. His status for the rest of the season is unclear. Florida has five games before the 2013-14 campaign concludes.

"I feel good,'' said Luongo, who was diagnosed with a mild concussion after being run into by former Panthers forward Radek Dvorak last week.

"I've been skating on my own the past three days, ramping things up each day. This was a good progression.''

Luongo went down when Dvorak came racing toward the net with his head down, apparently not realizing how quickly he had come up on Luongo. The two collided with Luongo getting hit in the head by Dvorak as well as banging his head against the goal cage.

"I wasn't sure what was going on, just felt a little weird,'' Luongo said. "They didn't want to take any chances. I could have kept playing if I really wanted to and the stakes were a little bit higher. In a situation like this we thought it would be better to err on the side of caution.''

Dvorak was ejected from the game, one in which Luongo finished the first period but didn't return for the second. Luongo said Dvorak came by the Panthers locker room to apologize for the hit. Dvorak still has a home in South Florida and trains with Luongo in Coral Springs occasionally during the offseason.

"Obviously he didn't slow down but it was an accident,'' said Luongo, who has missed the past three games -- all losses. "He's not the type of player to do that. He was going to the net and once he put his head up, he was in the crease already. There was no intention.''

Huberdeau was hurt March 16 against Vancouver when he was ran up into the boards. He began skating for the first time last week and had been working out with the Panthers away on a two-game road trip.

Thursday's practice was Huberdeau's first with the team since the Vancouver game and he says all his concussion-like symptoms are gone and he hopes to play Friday. Coach Peter Horachek isn't ruling that out completely, but said Sunday is probably a more realistic option.

"It was good to see him out there,'' Horachek said. "There was no contact today, so I'll discuss it with the trainers and go from there. My best guess is Sunday, but I won't know that until talking to the trainers. I would like to see him out there, but you don't want to put him in before he's ready.''

Huberdeau has had a rough season, one in which the reigning rookie of the year has just eight goals -- and only one in his past 36 games.

"It's been a while, but it was nice. It was a good skate and I feel great,'' Huberdeau said. "This hasn't been a good season for me so to finish positively going into the summer is important. It would be good to get some wins, feel like a winner going into the summer.''

As far as Kopecky goes, not practicing Thursday could be viewed as a setback and may indicate that he may not play this season.

Kopecky hasn't practiced with the team since before the Olympic break and hasn't been in a game situation since Slovenia forward Sabahudin Kovacevic hit him in the head with an elbow.

Kovacevic was suspended one game for his hit on Kopecky.

"There are little setbacks with what he's been through,'' Horachek said. "There are steps forward and steps back. We don't need to rush him.''

BOYES OUT

Brad Boyes, Florida's leading goal scorer, missed Thursday's practice with a sore back and isn't expected to play Friday. Boyes has been getting treatment for some time and was a game-time decision Tuesday.

Boyes played, but only lasted five shifts before leaving the game in the first period. Bobby Butler, called up from the minors on Tuesday, replaced Boyes on a line with Scott Gomez and Sean Bergenheim.

-- Three of Florida's final five home games will not be broadcast on local television starting with Friday's game against Calgary.

For those local viewers who have the NHL's Center Ice package, the three games will not be blacked out and will use the visiting team's feed.

 

Friday: Flames at Panthers

When, Where: 7:30 p.m.; BB&T Center, Sunrise

TV/Radio: No local TV (NHL Center Ice); WQAM 560

The series: Calgary leads 12-9-3

Scouting report: This is the first game between the two since host Calgary won 4-3 in a shootout in November. The first 7,500 fans get a Brian Skrudland bobblehead. Skrudland, Florida's first captain, is currently an assistant coach for the Panthers.

 

 

 

 

 

PANTHERS TALK WITH COUNTY: Vote for Tourism Money May Not Come for a Bit

The Panthers were part of a workshop in Fort Lauderdale as the debate continues whether the county will give the team more tourism money. Here's the link to the story:

http://miamiherald.typepad.com/nakedpolitics/2014/04/broward-debates-bed-tax-dollars-for-panthers-vs-beaches.html

April 01, 2014

SCOTT CLEMMENSEN: Playing in the NHL and for the Panthers was a 'Privilege'

TWITTER: @GeorgeRichards

UNIONDALE, N.Y. -- Scott Clemmensen likely made his final appearance with the Panthers in Tuesday's 4-2 loss to the Islanders.

Clemmensen played well at times and didn't get much help.

Florida was being outshot 28-13 by the end of the second period and ended up at a 40-22 disadvantage.

"Playing in the NHL is a privilege and playing for the Panthers was just that,'' said Clemmensen, who could return to Florida's minor league team in San Antonio in the coming days.

"I played with a tremendous amount of guys over my five years and I don't know what's going to happen in the future. I'm taking it one day at a time and appreciating everything. I'm taking it all in. Regardless of what happens, I'll look back and know I laid it all on the line. I'll have no regrets.''

 

END OF THE ROAD: Panthers Lose Final Road Game of 2013-14 to Islanders ... Upshall Leaves and Returns

TWITTER: @GeorgeRichards

UNIONDALE, N.Y. -- Peter Horachek was thinking he may have to start Tuesday's game down a forward. Turns out he was without Brad Boyes for much of Florida's 4-2 loss to the host Islanders.

Scottie Upshall and Brad Boyes were both game time decisions because of various injuries. Both played in Florida's final road game of the season, although both left in the first period -- with Upshall returning in the second.

Boyes' sore back tightened up forcing him to leave the game for good with 7:55 left in the first period after five shifts.

Upshall was knocked out by a big hit from Matt Carkner late in the period. Upshall got hit in the face while skating up the ice and hit the deck hard. Upshall remained flat on the ice for a few minutes as he was attended to by head athletic trainer Dave Zenobi and would later slowly be helped off the ice by Zenobi.

According to coach Peter Horachek, the initial fear was Upshall broke his jaw. He returned midway through the second period and finished the game.

"Losing guys right off the bat puts you behind from the start because you're mixing and matching,'' Horachek said. "That put us a little bit behind the 8-ball but other guys went out and had opportunities. It's not an easy situation.''

Upshall didn't comment on the incident as he headed to the training room.

"Sorry guys, have to go put ice on my jaw,'' he said.

The nasty hit led Erik Gudbranson to fight Carkner as Zenobi was tending to Upshall a few feet away.

Carkner was given two minutes for high-sticking Upshall, but because it was determined Gudbranson initiated the fight, he was penalized as well and there was no power play chance. Carkner would later fight Krys Barch as well.

Florida got off to a rare good start Tuesday. Defenseman Jonathan Racine made quite an impression in his first NHL start, hammering Cal Clutterbuck with a big hit that was called interference 42 seconds in.

The Panthers, for only the fourth time in their history, got a shorthanded goal for the second straight game as Quinton Howden picked the pocket of Frans Nielsen and raced down the ice, beating Evgeni Nabokov with a wrister.

That was about the it for Florida highlights as the Islanders scored the next four goals before Brandon Pirri scored with 3.9 seconds left.

New York tied it with a Travis Hamonic shot from 50 feet out with seven seconds left on the power play 45 seconds after Howden scored.

After being deadlocked at 1 for some time, the Islanders added a pair of goals in the second and never looked back.

-- The Panthers made two roster moves but only used one. Although Racine made his NHL debut by filling in for Ed Jovanovski, Bobby Butler was scratched.

Racine apparently heard he was joining the Panthers on Sunday so he was able to get some friends and family to the New York area.

"I tried to play hard, play my game and do my best on the ice,'' Racine, 20, said. "I was so happy to get the call. I think I did a very good job for my first game.''

Florida expected either Upshall [lower body] or Boyes [back] to miss Tuesday's game but both decided to play after warmups so Butler watched. He could play Friday if Boyes is out.

-- The Panthers will take Wednesday off as it appears the team will have been stuck in New York on Tuesday night. The team was planning on staying on Long Island because of a problem with its charter plane.

-- Florida ends the 2013-14 season 13-25-3 away from Sunrise.