Daily Pucking Grind. TGIF. January 28

Today’s music selection is It’s Friday, I’m In Love by The Cure.

No games last night with the start of the All-Star break.  What will we do with ourselves?  Get to know our families again for a few days?  Maybe, or just continue analyzing and calculating our teams playoff chances, and deciding who should be traded and who shouldn’t.  Many questions if you’re a Florida Panther fan and some answers will soon be revealed about the direction that the team will be headed.  One thing for sure, and I said this at the beginning of the season, Dale Tallon is the right man to turn this franchise around.  He has the “blueprint” and we just need to watch it unfold.

The Florida Panthers sit eight points out of the 8th playoff spot with a record of 22-22-5 for a total of 51 points.  Atlanta is a team that can be caught, but Carolina is coming on strong and Buffalo is hanging around, so this won’t be easy.  The trade deadline is approaching as well and all sorts of rumors will begin to fly.  Other than Dmitry Kulikov, and one or two others, I’m not sure that anyone is untouchable.  More on that in the coming days.  Or week.  Whenever I get to it.  One thing for sure a call to Rochester will be made and my guess is we’ll see Bill Thomas coming back up to take the place of Shawn Matthias on the roster who is out with an ankle injury.

Some interesting numbers quickly before I get to the links.  Michael Frolik, eight goals in this his third season.  He will struggle to get to 20.  Rostislav Olesz four goals in 32 games.  He will probably not get 10.  That’s an expensive forward with little in return. But we already knew that.  Steve Bernier has no goals in his last 20 games.  Marty Reasoner has been one of the most pleasant surprises of the season and has 10 goals.  Don’t be surprised if teams make a pitch for him.  Mike Santorelli is second in points on the team with 27.  A great acquisition by the Panthers.

I’ll be master of the obvious here for a second; fix the dreaded power play and learn to hold onto leads.  If those two items change, and we learn how to finish, things could be different when April gets here.

Here’s your links for Friday:

T-Shirts that you’d never think are available are right here at Puckinghilarious.

The Checking Line has a Brian Burke Flow Chart to help you understand how he operates.  It will all make sense when you’re done reading it.

Puck Update feels that Jacques Lemaire should have left the New Jersey Devils broken.

Chicago Blackhawks anthem singer Jim Cornelison’s popularity goes through the roof with his Chicago Bears performances. Chicago Sun-Times.

Sam Fels of Second City Hockey has a new gig at Mad House Enforcer.  Read how why he thinks the Hawks are underachieving.

The Ottawa Senators are struggling.  View From My Seats has some advice.

Alexander Semin signed a one year contract extension yesterday.  THN.

Confessions of a former hockey flirt.  Deadspin.

Finally The Onion shows us what we are daydreaming about.

Don’t forget to vote for Panther Ice Dancer Meg in the Ice Dancer Contest.  Hit the like button.  I think she’s leading!

Thanks for reading.  Your comments are always welcomed and appreciated.

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