Game Day Preview: Panthers vs. Flyers

                                                              VS.

Tonight in a back to back session the Florida Panthers take on the Philadelphia Flyers in a rematch of last weeks game in which the Panthers ended their 4 game losing streak beating the Flyers 4-2.  They were promptly given the next 2 days off.  They responded with a listless effort against Buffalo at home Wednesday night, and fell apart last night against the Penguins, losing 3-2 in a shootout.

The Flyers are coming off a 4-3 shootout victory against Boston on home ice as Claude Giroux, who could have been a Panther, scored on a nifty move to beat Tukka Rask for the winner.   The Flyers will be out for revenge against a fragile Panthers team, which I expect some lineup changes, as Bryan Allen is rumoured to be sitting this one out.  There could also be some line juggling as well.  Last night Nathan Horton skated on the second line with Steven Reinprecht and Cory Stillman, as Michael Frolik was on the top line with David Booth who had 8 shots but no goals and little Stevie who mustered 2 shots, one of which sailed past an open net.

Not sure who is in the nets for the kitties tonight.  I would like to say that it will be Vokoun who was solid last night.  No way you blame the game on him as he stopped 41 shots.  However, because of that, Clemmensen may get the action since he was the winner last week.  Who, knows?   It doesn’t matter if we don’t start scoring.  Ray Emery probably gets the nod tonight, as the Flyers play tomorrow against the Sharks and apparently Brian Boucher will get the call for that one.

Penalties are still a problem with the Panthers taking 8 last night including a very stupid one by David Booth midway through the third, when he lost his stick in the defensive zone and grabbed the puck and literally threw it out of the zone, down the ice.  Talk about sitting in the box and feeling shame!

One last item.  Recognize this man?

Yea, that’s Flyers defenseman Chris Pronger.  Why am I showing his photo?  Take a good look at him.  When he was still in Edmonton trying to get out, former Panther GM Mike Keenan had a deal worked out to get Pronger for Jay Bouwmeester.  Panther’s brass couldn’t pull the trigger. 

So for those of you who think Keenan is such a jerk piss off.

 I hope you’re happy with what Jacques Martin and Randy Sexton have done!

Keenan’s about winning, and winning now!  This organEYEzation doesn’t care.  They just care about advertisements and blasting that old music during the stoppage of play and the friggin Ice Dancers.

We are going to sit through another 5 year plan (sponsored by saveology) and suffer the consequences of that.  Aren’t you people fed up yet?  I am.

Thanks for reading.

Cheers.