Gameday 27: Time Stands Still This Time of Year in Florida

PITTSBURGH (16-7-3) VS FLORIDA (12-11-3)

BB&T CENTER, SUNSHINE, FL.

7:30 PM EST ROOT Sports

The Penguins start a small Florida swing tonight when they take on the Panthers followed by a game in Tampa on Saturday. The Florida Panthers have made a smooth transition from advanced stats darlings last season to complete shit this year. A week ago they fired head coach Gerard Gallant after a game in Carolina (the first game of a multiple game road trip) because firing him before the trip started would’ve made too much sense. Now the Panthers are coached by their GM Tim Rowe, because Florida. Should’ve just made Jagr a player-coach, but whatever. Many of the Panthers players were upset about the Gallant firing since he is known as a “players coach,” and in my opinion it is always best to piss off your players when the team is struggling; nothing makes a team want to try harder than knowing the owners don’t care about their preferences. Another news flash for you, the Panthers still can’t fill their arena.

Florida has dropped their last three and overall are 1-5 in the last 6 games, and let’s be honest they aren’t very good right now. The Panthers have 8 players with double digits in points, lead by Matchessault with 10 G and 9 A, which is 2 points more than Patric Hornqvist. They also employ Shawn fucking Thornton, who I thought was dead before pulling up the lineups. The 39-year-old Thornton is on the last year of his 600k per year deal. If you want to know how the NHL has changed look at Thornton, this was the prototype player that teams had on their 4^th line, hell some had them on their 3^rd line, and now they don’t have a place for a fourth liner that has 2 goals and 9 assists in 103 games. Though the Panthers have extended their “core” during the offseason for 6+ years, they still rely heavily on Jagr and Luongo, two players with a combined age of over 80, and I have no clue how they think that is a sustainable plan.

Projected Starting Lineups:

The first line is most likely set, after Bryan Rust showed up again (even though nobody knows his name) I would love to see him back with Malkin, where the two click. A Kessel-Malkin-Rust line is a pretty damn good second line, and maybe it’s time we all admit the Carl Hagelin is fast, but not a top 6 guy. There is a reason he was noticeable in New York and sucked in Anaheim, because he went from third line to top 6. A Kunitz-Bonino-Hagelin third line would still be a headache for many teams. Current coach/GM Tim Rowe most likely signed Malgin due to a poor phone connection and said “yes” hoping they said Malkin. Steigy’s head might explode if Malkin and Malgin are paired up together. While we are talking about ROOT, take a shot every time Errey mentions Jagr’s “big backside,” you will be drunk, because he likes big butt’s and he cannot lie.

WHO TO WATCH:

FOR FLORIDA:          JAROMIR JAGR

I know I know, booooooooooo. Fuck off.

Jagr is coming to the end of his playing days eventually, and when it is all said and done not one yinzer that watched him play for the Pens will talk shit about him once he is in the Hall. The Pens play Florida one more time this season, so this could be one of the last times we get to see 68 on the ice. Put your misplaced anger (or whatever it is) away, and just watch and enjoy what the man has given since 1990.

FOR PITTSBURGH:          JUSTIN SCHULTZ

Last season when the Pens traded for Schultz we all laughed and assumed Rutherford was off his rocker. It is amazing what defensive coaching, proper usage, and confidence can do for a guy. Credit all around to the Penguins defensive development team, the coaches and their deployment choices, and most of all Rutherford, for believing. Without Schultz, the Pens either resign Lovejoy or put all their eggs into Pouliot. Right now Schultz is playing with more confidence than he ever has in the NHL, and it is just fun to watch.

FINAL WORDS:

The Penguins have an excellent chance to jump all over a Panthers team that is stumbling more than Bill Cosby’s date. This is also a good chance to mix up lines and experiment with different combinations, so if that happens tonight maybe Twitter won’t go in full meltdown mode. Also look out for Crosby tonight, every game Jagr tries to get under his skin and it results in Sid doing something only Sid can, so don’t be surprised if there is another panty wetting moment tonight.

LET’S GO PENS

Be sure to check out the latest PAL podcast here, where they talk about the current Pens, Fleury, the offseason, and playing school. Also don’t forget to head to artofstephens.com to place your order for the 2016 Stanley Cup Champions print, preorder is still open for 2 more days!