Welcome to the 22nd edition of The Panther Prowler.

A long losing streak made the past week not a good one.

RECAPS

PANTHERS CAN’T SCORE IN OTTAWA (SATURDAY DECEMBER 3, 2016)

FLORIDA 0      OTTAWA 2

A 19 second meltdown allowed Ottawa to score two quick goals and that was all that the Senators needed. Former Montreal goalie known infamously for filling in for Price last year Mike Condon filled in for Craig Anderson because Anderson had to be with his wife who got cancer. Condon shut out the Panthers who had 24 shots on net.

GOALS: Karlsson (5); Brassard (4)

MVP: Mike Condon (24/24)

PANTHERS MVP: Jaromir Jagr (3 SOG; +/- E)

PASTRANAK LEADS THE BRUINS PAST THE CATS IN OT (MONDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2016)

FLORIDA 3       BOSTON 4     OT

David Pastranak is laying waste to the NHL this year. The late 1st round pick in 2014 has scored 18 goals already. Crosby leads the league with 20. Anyway, Pastranak had 2 goals including the overtime winner Monday. It was an offensive entertaining game which was a goaltender’s nightmare. The Bruins finally ended the Panthers overtime winning streak though.

GOALS: Schaller (4); Jagr (5); Pastranak (14); Barkov (4); Backes (7); Demers (4); Pastranak 2 (15)

MVP: David Pastranak (2 goals)

PANTHERS MVP: Jason Demers (1 Goal)

 

SIMMONDS; MASON LEAD THE FLYERS PAST THE PANTHERS (TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2016)

FLORIDA 2      PHILADELPHIA 3   OT

The Flyers have been unstoppable recently. They won their 6th game in a row on Tuesday thanks to both Wayne Simmonds and Steve Mason. Simmonds had 2 goals and Mason made 42 saves. The Panthers had a lot of shots but they weren’t quality ones. James Reimer’s struggles continued has he allowed 3 goals on 25 shots. This is concerning with Reimer’s struggles because that puts a bigger workload on Luongo who has been stellar. The Fantastic Finns Barkov and Jokinen both scored for the Cats. Voracek got the OT winner.

GOALS: Barkov (5); Simmonds (14); Simmonds 2 (15); Jokinen (2); Voracek (9)

MVP: Split between Wayne Simmonds (2 goals) and Steve Mason (42/44)

PANTHERS MVP: Aleksander Barkov (1 Goal)

 

CROSBY AND THE PENGUINS RUIN PANTHERS HOMECOMING (THURSDAY DECEMBER 8, 2016)

Pittsburgh 5      Florida 1

The Panthers are finally home and things did not start pretty. The Penguins got 3 goals in the first 7:34 and the home crowd welcomed interim-coach Tom Rowe with a chorus of boos. Luongo made 4 saves on 29 shots and the Panthers just could not do anything in their first game back in nearly 2 weeks. The defending cup champs blew out the Panthers in what will join the Oct 29 loss to Buffalo (3-0) and the Nov 17 loss to Toronto (6-1) as the worst losses of the season.

GOALS: Crosby (18); Sheary (7); Kuhnhackl (2); Jagr (6); Cullen (7); Hagelin (3)

MVP: Sidney Crosby (1 Goal; 1 Assist)

PANTHERS MVP: Jaromir Jagr (1 Goal)

 

PANTHERS SPOIL GUDBRANSON’S HOMECOMING WITH 1ST REGULATION WIN IN 3 WEEKS (SATURDAY DECEMBER 10, 2016)

Vancouver 2   Florida 4

The Panthers had 42 shots on former goalie Jacob Markstrom. They got 4 goals. The offense was overwhelming and Trocheck finally got an Empty netter. Luongo bounced back from a terrible game against the Penguins and made 37 saves, as the Panthers came out and won. Gudbranson had his first game back in Florida and they gave him a video tribute.

GOALS: Barkov (6); Mackenzie (3); Ekblad (7); Skille (3); D Sedin (9); Trocheck (7)

MVP: Aleksander Barkov (1 Goal; 1 Assist)

Canucks MVP: Daniel Sedin (1 Goal)

 

Injury Report

 

Jonathan Marchessault (Lower-Body): Marchessault skated at the Panthers morning-skate Saturday and Friday’s practice in a non-contact jersey. Rowe expects that Marchessault will rejoin the team on Tuesday in Minnesota.

Last Game Played: December 3, 2016

Record Without: 1-1-2 (4 Games Missed)

Position: LW           My Guess for Projected Return Date:   Dec 15      @ Winnipeg

 

Alexander Petrovic (Broken Ankle): Petrovic is projected to be out until sometime in January. He was listed as 6-8 weeks.

Last Game Played: November 15, 2016

Record Without: 5-5-3 (13 Games Missed)

Position: D            MGF Projected Return Date: Jan 18    @ Edmonton

 

Jonathan Huberdeau (Severed Achilles): Cats on the Prowl reported that they saw Huberdeau in a walking boot last night but still a while to go before he returns.

Last Game: October 8, 2016

Record Without: 13-12-4 (29 Games Missed)

Position: LW   MGFD Return Date: Feb 10 @ Nashville

 

Jagr Watch

Jagr is 4 points away from tying Mark Messier for 2nd All time in points. Jagr has 1,883 while Messier had 1,887. (Dec 11, 2016)

 

PREVIEWS

PANTHERS HEAD TO THE STATE OF HOCKEY TO DO BATTLE

FLORIDA (13-12-4)           @  MINNESOTA (14-8-4)

TUESDAY  @ 8:00pm

The Panthers take their first tour of the west and they will first stop in Minnesota. The Wild are historically a bubble team. However, a new coach in Bruce Boudreau and a top line center in Eric Staal has them in third place.

Panthers All Time against Minnesota: 19 GP; 5-11-1-2  .342 PPCT (29th out of 29 teams)

At Minnesota Record: 1-6-1-1 .222 PPCT

Last 5 Years: 2-4-2  (Home 2-1-1 Away 0-3-1)

 

LAINE AND THE JETS HOST THE PANTHERS

FLORIDA (13-12-4)   @ WINNIPEG (13-15-3)

THURSDAY  @ 8:00pm

Patrik Laine and Mark Schefiele have been dominant. The Jets not so much. In what will probably turn out to be a great game, both teams closing in on playoff spots will be playing as if it is the last game of the Cup Finals. The young guns will shine in this one.

Panthers All Time against Winnipeg/Atlanta: 35-33-5-12 .512 PPCT (8th out of 29)

At Jets: 14-18-4-6 .452 PPCT

Last 5 Years: 11-3-2 .750 PPCT

 

PANTHERS FINISH ROAD STRETCH IN COLORADO

FLORIDA (13-12-4)   @  COLORADO (10-15-1)

FRIDAY @ 9PM 

The Panthers will finish a stretch of 13 road games out of 17 in Colorado as they take on Seymon Varlamov and Nathan MacKinnon just to name a few.