- NEXT GAME: Thursday, April 6, St. Louis at Florida, tickets available at Panthers.nhl.com
SUNRISE–The last time the Florida Panthers played St. Louis the result was a 2-1 victory in the final five seconds of the game, capping a road trip where the Panthers won all five games and gave hope that the inconsistent team was ready to shed their inconsistent ways and take advantage of a home-friendly schedule and make a playoff push. The Blues come to the BB&T Center tonight for the Panthers second to last home game but the exact opposite has happened since that road trip as the Cats hope to break a five game losing streak.
The most recent setback came Monday night vs. Montreal at BB&T. The sight of a sprawled out Florida Panthers defenseman at the visitor’s blue line in a futile attempt to keep the puck in the attacking zone while two opposing players then raced 120′ uncontested to score a backbreaking goal will be one of the symbolic images of a season of hope that has become a season of despair for South Florida’s hockey team.
The Atlantic Division leading Canadiens missed the first shot off the back boards but blasted the rebound by Florida goalie for a 3-1 lead then added an empty net goal for a 4-1 victory.
Marchessault nets 30th goal of season
Jonathon Marchessault signed a two-year contract with the Panthers last summer at a team-friendly rate and that deal really paid dividends when the left wing put on nice nice moves to score his 30th goal of the season to tie the game. That was the first bit of good news of the day for the Panthers. Then there was this…
Jagr enjoys Panthers, will discuss future with team after season ends
Rather than create a circus for every game this week the veteran right wing legend Jaromir Jagr postponed discussion about his pending free agency by saying he would discuss the matter about continuing his career with the Panthers after the season ends, possibly as soon as next week.
Since returning from the KHL before the start of the 2011-12 season, Jagr has signed a series of one year deals and has spent a full season with Philadelphia, part of a lockout shortened season with Dallas which ended with him being traded to Boston for a run to the Stanley Cup finals, 1-3/4 seasons with the New Jerseys Devils before being traded to the Florida Panthers, and now 2.25 seasons with the Panthers.
Montreal breaks away late, highlights of Panthers loss from nhl.com
https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/mtl-vs-fla/2017/04/03/2016021178#game=2016021178,game_state=final
Jagr talks to ESPN.com about keeping up with the game in 2017
Updated Jagr-O-Meter
The five game losing streak has taken a beating on the team’s goal differential and everyone’s =/- rating, including Jagr’s, as a few shorthanded and empty net goals has melted Jagr’s rating from +11 last week to +3 now. Jagr and injured Aleksander Barkov are the only Panthers players with a plus rating. Barkov’s +13 is safe because he has been parked for the season due to his injury.
Sign of one fan’s unhappiness plane to see above BB&T
Embarrassment for the Panthers started before the game when one wealthy fan paid for a plane to pull a banner above the arena calling for the dismissal of interim coach Tom Rowe. After the game the team announced Rowe would not be coach next season and would be reassigned to a front office role in the offseason. Might there be other moves in the Panthers future?
The cab reference was a call back to the day back back in November when former coach Gerald Gallant was photographed waiting for a taxi outside the arena in Raleigh after the Panthers lost 3-2 to the Hurricanes.
This weekend…
The Panthers wrap up the season hosting Buffalo Saturday night and visiting Washington Sunday evening. Best news of the week is the Legend stating he loves Florida, still hopes to play until he is 50 and will start discussion with the team to discuss the 2017-18 season with them possibly as soon as next week….Stay with jagrometer.com for the latest Jagr news as THE LEGEND CONTINUES!
jagrometer 