Home sweet home. The Panthers are returning from a very unsuccessful California sweep, which saw the Panthers collect all of one point. Now they return to the only place they have a winning record right now: at home. The Panthers will look to add to that tonight with a visit from the sputtering Calgary Flames.
The Numbers
[table id=TS02G15 /] [table id=IS02G15 /] [table id=GM02G15 /]* – Stats are courtesy of War-on-Ice.com, Puckalytics.com and Hockey-Reference.com
Projected Lineups
[table id=PRPF02G12 /] [table id=PRPD02G06 /] [table id=PRPG02G06 /] [table id=PROF02G15 /] [table id=PROD02G15 /] [table id=PROG02G15 /]The Rundown
I would describe myself as a reasoned optimist. I do my best to balance being fair with the reality of a situation with not becoming a cold cynic who sees only the bad in a situation. A week like this is particularly hard to process because there really is no way to put a smile on this. All one can really do is shake it off, pick yourself up, and keep moving forward. The only comfort I take in the rough patch the Panthers are currently experiencing is two-fold: 1) Its early in the season, and there is plenty of time to make the necessary changes that will get this team to the playoffs, and 2) every team, at one point or another, struggles for a stretch and must find a way to overcome. This is how they prove themselves.
The point is not that losing is okay. The Panthers aren’t playing these games to make friends, and we don’t watch these games without an expectation of excellence. However, teams come back from losing streaks and rough patches all the time. This can still work out, but the Panthers need to make adjustments.
The Panthers started yesterday by sending Connor Brickley to Portland yesterday. It remains to be seen what other changes may or may noy occur.
The Flames for their part have been pretty awful this season. After making the playoffs last season, and adding the likes of Dougie Hamilton and Michael Frolik to their roster, they are helping to bring up the rear of the Pacific Division, sitting 6th place, and their Albertan cousins the Edmonton Oilers a point behind in last place. The Flames were one of these teams that found success in spite of unfavorable metrics, and it appears they are experiencing a fairly extreme regression.
As bad as they may be, anything can happen in one game. The Panthers, losers of five straight, would do well to not take this game lightly.
Closing Thoughts
Don’t forget to donate to #CatsForACause. We’re raising money this season for RAINN. Even if you’re not feeling good about the Panthers, you can feel good about this.
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