By Bill Whitehead

I couldn’t cover the Florida Panthers’ Sunday matinee contest against Carolina, but it didn’t really matter. I saw the same game when Calgary visited BankAtlantic Center two nights earlier. Though the Cats put together a better overall effort against the Flames, the game played out the same way. Florida led early, lost the lead, watched a key player get injured, rallied late and won in extra time — all while getting strong goaltending from Jose Theodore.

With Calgary rookie Leland Irving in goal making his NHL debut Friday, Florida did whatever it wanted to offensively — everything except score enough goals to win in regulation. Sean Bergenheim, who suffered a groin injury Sunday, scored the second of his two goals much like the first one, cleaning up a loose puck in front of Irving. In fairness, Irving was impressive, turning aside 39 of 41 shots, including four with the game on the line in overtime. That is until unlikely hero Dmitry Kulikov bailed out Florida near the end of the shootout, then Stephen Weiss sealed it. The result was two more points.

The big difference between the two games was in the intensity and attack zone time for the Panthers against Carolina. After the first 10 minutes or so Sunday, Carolina proceeded to dominate puck possession time by not allowing Florida to chip off the boards and start breakouts, and the Canes’ forecheck was thwarting the Cats, who looked like they were on a penalty kill and simply iced the puck often. The most telling sign was shots in the second period, with Carolina winning that battle 16-4.

Once the game became more wide open in the third, Florida had better opportunities, including a power play that led to Jason Garrison’s 10th goal, tops among NHL defensemen, and Kris Versteeg’s near game-winner in the closing seconds that rang off the post. The pace continued in Florida’s favor in overtime. Shawn Matthias nearly won it on a breakaway attempt but was stuffed by Cam Ward, while Versteeg, whose giveaway led to Carolina’s go-ahead goal, redeemed himself with the winner by sending a shot into an open net after Brian Campbell broke down Carolina’s defense in front of Ward. Again, the result was two more points.

“Probably my biggest challenge as a coach so far is to find that formula that gives us a lot of energy,” said Florida coach Kevin Dineen. “But I’ve got a bunch of guys who are finding ways. Sometimes it’s not a thing of beauty, but we’re finding a way to get our two points.”

Dineen even jokingly referred to Versteeg’s regulation play against Carolina as “stinky,” though he was a “difference-maker” at the end. And there was some stinky play Friday night, too, in that Florida couldn’t run a rookie goalie playing his first minutes in the league right out of BAC. In fact, the Panthers haven’t played exceptional, out-of-this-world hockey in their last nine home games, but have turned in an impressive 7-0-2 record.

Cats fans aren’t like Bill Murray in Groundhog Day, but the last nine home games they’ve watched have generally been the same — good not spectacular overall play, grinding not flashy offense, in-your-face checking, steady defensively in front of sturdy Theodore, in-it-to-win-it at the end. These home games since beating Pittsburgh 4-2 on Nov. 19 have pretty much all been the same.

Usually ending with the same two points earned, too.

By Bill Whitehead
NHLHS Florida Panthers Credentialed Correspondent
Twitter: @BillWhiteheadFL
Email: BillWhiteheadFL@hotmail.com

With the departure of Olli Jokinen for essentially spare parts, Flames fans believe another deal will be made.  After all, GM Darryl Sutter did effectively clear 500K off his cap after the supposed salary dump.  So is Sutter now looking to Atlanta and and acquiring Ilya Kovalchuk?

Just a few days ago, TSN’s Darren Dreger listed the supposed asking price for Kovalchuk as four or five assets, a young roster player plus a combination of draft picks and prospects.  If Sutter were to shoot for Kovalchuck, GM Don Waddell must not have liked prospect Keith Aulie.

Do the Flames now carry the assets to move for the superstar Russian.

They recently recalled their top rated forward prospect, Mikael Backlund, as the team needed secondary scoring.  It could be more of a showcase rather than a need with the acquisition of Matt Stajan.

Dustin Boyd could be showcased as well as he finds himself playing alongside Jarome Iginla regularly.  At 23-years-old he may fit the bill of a valuable young roster player.

Could Niklas Hagman be on the move again?  Sutter plays him on the third line while he projected for thirty goals.  At 30-years-old he carries a reasonable 3 million dollar cap hit while scoring at least 20 goals for three years now.

The Thrashers apparently asked the Bruins for Tuukka Rask, so one would assume prospect Leland Irving also should be in the mix.

Would a package of Hagman, Backlund, Irving, Boyd and a first round pick, Greg Nemisz or Tim Erixon entice Waddell enough to make a move? Certainly would be a healthy package.  but would other teams offer more?  One would imagine the Chicago Blackhawks or Los Angeles Kings could put together something stronger.

Note that the acquisition of Ales Kotalik and Christopher Higgins would maintain reasonable depth at the wings should a trade of this nature occur.

Alexander Monaghan
NHLHS Editor
amonaghan@nhlhotstove.com
Twitter: @NHLHotStove