Daily Archives: March 16, 2013

NEW YORK ISLANDERS: 12-12-3 (27 PTS.) vs. FLORIDA PANTHERS: 7-15-6 (20 PTS.)

TSN GAMEDAY

GAME DAY SONG:  SWEATER WEATHER BY THE NEIGHBOURHOOD

Wash, rinse, repeat.  We’ve seen the same thing over and over in recent games for the Florida Panthers, and at the beginning of each game we continue to hope the trend stops.  This trend I’m referring to is giving up the first goal of the game, which has happened in the last nine of the last 11.  Adding insult to injury, in the past five consecutive games  it’s happened within the first three minutes.  A very dubious statistic that brings no fame and only shame.  Starting out in the hole this much can make a team fragile and nervous.  Which can really be two very similar states of mind.  Again, something else we’ve said about this team recently as well.  Coach Kevin Dineen feels that the team is pushing hard, but just not getting the results they want:

“We’ve got to find a way to get some puck luck and get that first goal,” coach Kevin Dineen told the team’s official website. “Just keep searching for the answers and obviously there’s a lot of try right now. I think these guys are pushing as hard as they can and that’s the answer to our problems right now.”

The Panthers will try to avoid their sixth consecutive loss tonight when they take on the New York Islanders at home here in Sunrise in a building that hasn’t given them any comfort as their 4-7-5 record shows.  During this recent tailspin that the Panthers are in, they’ve gone 1-13-4 when the opponent scores first, and are giving up a league leading 3.7 goals per game.  The Panthers have also been outscored 22-8 during the past five games, with only an 0-4-1 record to show for it as they have maintained sole possession of last place in the NHL.

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