Quote:
Originally Posted by ComixZone
Bobrovsky, the $10M goalie having the 2nd worst save % in the playoffs (.841), with only Vanecek .750 in 13 minutes of ice-time was a huge, huge part of this as well. Driedger being 3rd worst at .871 is also pretty damning.
The lack of Ekblad contributes to both of those, but ultimately...yikes. You aren't winning a playoff series with goaltending like that. Hard to say they should have started Knight in game 1, but...he's by far their best goalie.
Florida has to get rid of Yandle and Bobrovsky...somehow.
|
I agree.
The series was in favor of Florida 5 on 5. The difference was in special teams and goaltending (which has a lot to do with a penalty kill BTW). goalie-bob has not been the free agent signing they were hoping for. Now to be fair the defense was very leaky in the games he played, but still...Vasilevsky was the difference maker in the series. Especially so in this game., but kudos to the bolts for playing an intense defensive playoff game. Their experience showed tonight. They had a mission and they would not be deterred.
So be it. I hope this is a learning experience for a Panthers team ready to break out and become a perennial playoff threat. I think Knight is the real deal, but yeah, as crazy as it sounds, the Panthers need to dump Bobrovsky and Yandle ASAP.
On a side note, I just want to stop and say thank you to all of your for taking interest in this team. I know that purists would rather not acknowledge hockey in the sunbelt, and yet, all of you decided that the Panthers were worthy of acknowledgement. I know how hard that is as a Canadian. Trust me. I used to be that person that dismissed hockey in the south of the U.S. All I can say is: Did you see that crowd tonight? Tampa had a full stadium during the end of a pandemic. Include the big crowds in southern Florida for the Panthers home games and you can see that if you just have a successful team, the fans will show up here.
It's been a surprisingly successful year for the Panthers. I hope they can build on it for next year and take the next step in their progression under coach Q. Maybe they'll win a round or two next season. One dares to dream.
Cheers everyone. Let's go Panthers! Go Flames Go!