[Rabbethan]

Today the Cats killed off a 5-3 power play and actually got an appreciative standing ovation. It was cool.

[jmenjes]

Don't look now, but the Cats have won three in a row. Down 2-0 going to the third at Minnesota, we score two to tie the game, and Booth scores in the fourth round of the shootout to give us the win.

Looks like the annual "big finish at the end of the season but just miss the playoffs" rally has begun.

[Rabbethan]

jmenjes, on March 9, 2010 - 11:00 PM, said:

Don't look now, but the Cats have won three in a row. Down 2-0 going to the third at Minnesota, we score two to tie the game, and Booth scores in the fourth round of the shootout to give us the win.

Looks like the annual "big finish at the end of the season but just miss the playoffs" rally has begun.

Ah yes, the famous Cats late season push. I wonder if they'll make a guarantee again.

[heat84]

It was Corey Stillman that scored the shootout goal. Was that the Swedish woman's team playing as Minnesota? Only 11 SOG's.

[Dr Beinfest]

Rabbethan, on March 10, 2010 - 01:16 AM, said:

jmenjes, on March 9, 2010 - 11:00 PM, said:

Don't look now, but the Cats have won three in a row. Down 2-0 going to the third at Minnesota, we score two to tie the game, and Booth scores in the fourth round of the shootout to give us the win.

Looks like the annual "big finish at the end of the season but just miss the playoffs" rally has begun.

Ah yes, the famous Cats late season push. I wonder if they'll make a guarantee again.

Lol you wonder... at what cost is it to this franchise? So what if they give you 4 free games, it's not like anyone was sitting in those free seats anyways. Of course they'll make a guarantee.

[Erick]

If you're a Panthers fan, you're a real fan. I can't imagine a more frustrating franchise at the moment. At least the other teams that consistently don't make the playoffs; they consistently suck and get high draft picks. This team continues to enjoy mediocrity. Go to hfboards...I actually predicted this would happen.

[Rabbethan]

Erick, on March 10, 2010 - 05:05 PM, said:

If you're a Panthers fan, you're a real fan. I can't imagine a more frustrating franchise at the moment. At least the other teams that consistently don't make the playoffs; they consistently suck and get high draft picks. This team continues to enjoy mediocrity. Go to hfboards...I actually predicted this would happen.

Yeah, it's getting to the point that I wished they sucked more at time. Though actually watching them gets aggravating enough to feel like a top draft pick team.

[Dr Beinfest]

Think about it... if they were not that stupid Lecavalier could have been a Panther. If they were not that stupid, Rick Nash could be a Panther. If they sucked enough, Ovechkin could be a Panther. If they sucked enough, Patrick Kane could be a Panther. If they sucked enough, Steven Stamkos could be a Panther. If they sucked enough, John Tavares could be a Panther. If only they sucked enough. Instead we are stuck with the boarderline conversion players such as Horton, Weiss, Frolik, Kulikov, Olesz, etc. etc. etc. where the guy you get usually becomes a 2nd line player (okay not in Horton's case, he is a severe disappointment).

[Erick]

Dr Beinfest, on March 11, 2010 - 12:42 AM, said:

Think about it... if they were not that stupid Lecavalier could have been a Panther. If they were not that stupid, Rick Nash could be a Panther. If they sucked enough, Ovechkin could be a Panther. If they sucked enough, Patrick Kane could be a Panther. If they sucked enough, Steven Stamkos could be a Panther. If they sucked enough, John Tavares could be a Panther. If only they sucked enough. Instead we are stuck with the boarderline conversion players such as Horton, Weiss, Frolik, Kulikov, Olesz, etc. etc. etc. where the guy you get usually becomes a 2nd line player (okay not in Horton's case, he is a severe disappointment).

I see your point, and it's the point of my post, too.
But the only disappointment on that list is Olesz. Also, I'm not sure what you mean by the Horton comment, but if you're saying he's not even a 2nd line player, that's wrong...
He's definitely a top 6 forward, and this year he played like a 1st line forward.

[Dr Beinfest]

Erick, on March 11, 2010 - 02:39 AM, said:

Dr Beinfest, on March 11, 2010 - 12:42 AM, said:

Think about it... if they were not that stupid Lecavalier could have been a Panther. If they were not that stupid, Rick Nash could be a Panther. If they sucked enough, Ovechkin could be a Panther. If they sucked enough, Patrick Kane could be a Panther. If they sucked enough, Steven Stamkos could be a Panther. If they sucked enough, John Tavares could be a Panther. If only they sucked enough. Instead we are stuck with the boarderline conversion players such as Horton, Weiss, Frolik, Kulikov, Olesz, etc. etc. etc. where the guy you get usually becomes a 2nd line player (okay not in Horton's case, he is a severe disappointment).

I see your point, and it's the point of my post, too.
But the only disappointment on that list is Olesz. Also, I'm not sure what you mean by the Horton comment, but if you're saying he's not even a 2nd line player, that's wrong...
He's definitely a top 6 forward, and this year he played like a 1st line forward.

Weiss is a disappointment. Horton is a disappointment. Olesz. Shvidki was an upset. Taticek was an upset. All lotto picks. All for their own reason. Horton is a huge upset. Look at his class. We gave up the 1st overall pick with a chance at Staal or Fleury, and ended up with Horton. Obviously hindsight is 20-20, and Im not stating that we should've taken someone else (other than Fleury or Staal with the 1st overall, I dont know what kind of team trades the #1 overall pick away 3 (4?) times) but look at the names in that draft behind Horton. you could've gotten a better pick in Vanek, Michalek, Suter, Phaneuf, Kostitsyn, Carter, Seabrook, Parise, Getzlaf, Burns, Richards, Perry, and maybe even Kesler to this point (although if Horton fully emerges out of his shell that will be refuted). Horton was a huge upset. Horton should be a perrenial all-star considering his class and the names he was drafted around.

Weiss was an upset. Obviously the names were not as big, but do remember Weiss was being compared to Sakic. And yes, I understand that doesnt mean that he will be the next Sakic as Sakic is a legend... but that doesnt mean that he cant be an 80 point player for god sakes.

For Obvious reasons Shvidki and Taticek are upsets... Olesz too though lesser of that...

Hopefully Frolik, Kulikov, and Ellerby will emerge as well.

[Erick]

Dr Beinfest, on March 11, 2010 - 03:56 PM, said:

Erick, on March 11, 2010 - 02:39 AM, said:

Dr Beinfest, on March 11, 2010 - 12:42 AM, said:

Think about it... if they were not that stupid Lecavalier could have been a Panther. If they were not that stupid, Rick Nash could be a Panther. If they sucked enough, Ovechkin could be a Panther. If they sucked enough, Patrick Kane could be a Panther. If they sucked enough, Steven Stamkos could be a Panther. If they sucked enough, John Tavares could be a Panther. If only they sucked enough. Instead we are stuck with the boarderline conversion players such as Horton, Weiss, Frolik, Kulikov, Olesz, etc. etc. etc. where the guy you get usually becomes a 2nd line player (okay not in Horton's case, he is a severe disappointment).

I see your point, and it's the point of my post, too.
But the only disappointment on that list is Olesz. Also, I'm not sure what you mean by the Horton comment, but if you're saying he's not even a 2nd line player, that's wrong...
He's definitely a top 6 forward, and this year he played like a 1st line forward.

Weiss is a disappointment. Horton is a disappointment. Olesz. Shvidki was an upset. Taticek was an upset. All lotto picks. All for their own reason. Horton is a huge upset. Look at his class. We gave up the 1st overall pick with a chance at Staal or Fleury, and ended up with Horton. Obviously hindsight is 20-20, and Im not stating that we should've taken someone else (other than Fleury or Staal with the 1st overall, I dont know what kind of team trades the #1 overall pick away 3 (4?) times) but look at the names in that draft behind Horton. you could've gotten a better pick in Vanek, Michalek, Suter, Phaneuf, Kostitsyn, Carter, Seabrook, Parise, Getzlaf, Burns, Richards, Perry, and maybe even Kesler to this point (although if Horton fully emerges out of his shell that will be refuted). Horton was a huge upset. Horton should be a perrenial all-star considering his class and the names he was drafted around.

Weiss was an upset. Obviously the names were not as big, but do remember Weiss was being compared to Sakic. And yes, I understand that doesnt mean that he will be the next Sakic as Sakic is a legend... but that doesnt mean that he cant be an 80 point player for god sakes.

For Obvious reasons Shvidki and Taticek are upsets... Olesz too though lesser of that...

Hopefully Frolik, Kulikov, and Ellerby will emerge as well.

Well, in that sense, yeah. But I guess I just have low expectations because of the Taticek's, etc. At least Weiss and Horton turned out to be top 6 guys.

Olesz, on the other hand...I absolutely cannot stand him anymore. He is useless, and Kreps is also extremely useless. Those are just 2, of course, on the current team. There are some others.

As for the other guys, Frolik is off to a solid start, Kulikov has been the best 1st round pick we've made in quite awhile. Ellerby, on the other hand, I highly doubt he becomes a stud D man. Maybe he didn't feel like playing in Rochester, but pretty much all the Rochester fans/people covering Rochester have been disappointed with his play this season.
I'd like to see DeBoer play him more now, but he's not being given the ice time, and I have a feeling the organization is going to ruin this perfect opportunity to give him a chance, and send him back to Rochester, once Roy (guy we got from Columbus) comes back from injury.

[Erick]

These a-holes actually beat San Jose today.

[gizmo]

Seriously, come on Panthers. TANK!

[Dr Beinfest]

No point in tanking. They arent gonna get last place, Edmonton and Toronto would have to win like... every game. Might as well try for the playoffs because they are picking 6-12 either way.

[gizmo]

I figured we won't be any worse than Toronto or Edmonton, but if we finish in the bottom 3-4, we AT LEAST have a chance in the lottery to snag the top pick.

[Dr Beinfest]

Not worth it really. We'd waste the pick anyways. The only way we will use our pick to good use is by having the mainstream media pick it for us. AKA Taylor Hall. Having the player pre-scouted.

I'd rather them just take another failed attempt at the playoffs. And who knows... maybe... just maybe... they could squeeze in. 3 games and 3 teams to hop with 15 remaining. It's not impossible.

We can say that every year... and I am by no means saying that this year will be any different... and I do understand that this team is in no way a playoff team... but it could always happen. Might as well just wait and see.

[Dr Beinfest]

Also... the Panthers face the Lightning 3 times and the Bruins/Rangers once a piece. The Bruins play the Lightning, Rangers, and Thrashers all once each, and the Rangers play the Lightning as well. Just some measure on the matter... some losses are guaranteed and if this team can finish... oh... 12-3 it's a possibility.

[Erick]

There is definitely still a chance at the playoffs, simply because we have a goalie of Vokoun's caliber, who should keep us in most games...so you never know. The 8th seed is Boston, and they have injuries right now. Specifically a big one with Savard.

Montreal is the 7th seed. We're 10 points out there...with 3 games in hand, though.

We also play Boston and Montreal one more time each.

It's a possibility. Not that I have high hopes. I've learned never to get excited with this franchise. Not excited for a playoff spot, not excited for a lottery pick. Odds are we'll be the cream of the oreo cookie, again. Right in the middle...

[Dr Beinfest]

Calm down there. Calling them the cream is a good thing. They are more like... the papercut between two fingers. But.. but the middle finger is the playoffs and the index finger is everyone else.

[heat84]

They're just mailing it in now. Only 3 points out of 2nd worst record in the league.

[h2r09]

I have honestly never truly rooted against a team i like to lose to get a better draft spot but i am for this team. This team has just no future. Their best players are getting older, Booth might have a serious career problem, and even the best players i alluded to aren;t even that good. Like I said in the beginning of the year and like i'e been saying for years, you need to have a prolific scorer if you are not going to have an incredible goalie (although Vokoun is above average longterm wise).

I say in the offseason go full out rebuilding mode and try to get as much young talent as possible. It's clear this nucleus is nothing special and its been clear for years.

[Dr Beinfest]

Honestly... great to see them lose some more but can they at least not lose humiliatingly? Like... okay guys a loss is a loss no extra credit offered here

[Rabbethan]

Dr Beinfest, on March 31, 2010 - 08:26 PM, said:

Honestly... great to see them lose some more but can they at least not lose humiliatingly? Like... okay guys a loss is a loss no extra credit offered here

Apparently no. I was at the game last night, maybe 30 feet behind Tomas Vokoun, when Keith Ballard decided that the only thing he hasn't done to hurt Tomas is score a goal on him so he grabbed the puck out of the air and threw it behind him into the net.

I gotta say, I was straight up laughing for what had to be a good... 45 seconds.

[AdrianneLove]

Rabbethan, on April 7, 2010 - 10:18 AM, said:

Dr Beinfest, on March 31, 2010 - 08:26 PM, said:

Honestly... great to see them lose some more but can they at least not lose humiliatingly? Like... okay guys a loss is a loss no extra credit offered here

Apparently no. I was at the game last night, maybe 30 feet behind Tomas Vokoun, when Keith Ballard decided that the only thing he hasn't done to hurt Tomas is score a goal on him so he grabbed the puck out of the air and threw it behind him into the net.

I gotta say, I was straight up laughing for what had to be a good... 45 seconds.

If I hadn't witnessed it, I would not have believed.

And the fact that he got back on the ice and had the balls to stand by Vokoun is beyond me. lol

In the end... the game was great for the free seats. lol

[JetsMania]

I really hope that Tampa sweeps the Panthers this weekend. If the Leafs can win one or two more games, then the panthers can get the 2nd pick in the draft and maybe grab Taylor Hall.