Game Day Preview: Panthers vs. Lightning

Mon, Oct 12 7:30 PM EDT

First meeting this season

Florida

@

Tampa Bay

1-1-2

Streak: Won 1

• Preview
• Tickets
• TV: SUN
• NHL GameCenter

Tonight’s game pits our cross state rival the Tampa Bay Lightning and their high powered offense.  I’m not going to spend alot of time on this preview as I am going to keep it simple, just like the Panthers need to keep their game plan simple.

First:  Stay the hell out of the penalty box, especially early.  With players like Vincent Lecavalier, Martin St. Louis, Alex Tanguay, Ryan Malone and Steven Stamkos, this team has the ability and talent to score in bunches.  Therefore a dangerous power play.  Doing this will also allow the Panthers to get a flow, and build some momentum.  They must have a positive opening period.

Second:  Cut down the shots on goal.  They have been outshot 162-95, and with Saturday’s affair of 41-16, it’s not a good representation of their retooled defence!  The loses are not all Tomas Vokoun’s fault.  Yes we need him to make some big saves, but he needs his defense to clear the crease so he can see what’s going on.   Tampa coach Rick Tocchet will have his team playing hard, and will certainly instruct the boys to get to the net, create traffic and take shots, early and often.

Third:  The powerless play must improve.  They are 1-16!  Awful.  The Panthers need to be more creative, get more shots on net, and plant someone in front for tip ins and potential rebounds.

Last:  Spend more time in the offensive zone to create more scoring chances.  Cycling the puck would be a good place to start, instead of passing cross ice or back to the blue line.  Keep the puck deep and force the Tampa defence to play the puck.

Keep it simple boys.  You don’t have to show off what limited skill you have.  I’ll take an ugly boring victory at this point.  No excuses tonight.  Other than this, which I’m sure the media will pounce on:  Tampa is 10-5-2 against Florida at home since February 2004.

Go Panthers!

Cheers.