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The game that changed everything and other reasons the Panthers are 4 wins away | Page 5 | HFBoards - NHL Message Board and Forum for National Hockey League
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The game that changed everything and other reasons the Panthers are 4 wins away

Aurinko said:
Fair enough, but the underdog days are gone and even the Canes games were very close games...
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The longer the series the better for us, IMO.

Any team that can beat us 4 times will have earned it, but we have been staring down the barrel of the gun since January, we will not blink now.

There is 100% belief in that room right now, we will leave it all out on the ice, I promise you that.
 
Guffman said:
Lyon stumbles to a 1-2 record against the Bruins, with a 3.26 GAA. He’s done.

Maurice Salvages Bob

Bob starts game 4. He gets clowned for five goals and an .833 save percentage. Panthers drop down 3 games to 1 against the top seed and record shattering Bruins.
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That’s is a very revisionist take on this. Alex Lyon changed the course of what seemed like an inevitable sweep against Boston by doing his part in game 2 and stealing a game in Boston. You say “he was done” like he was playing particularly bad. He dutifully held the line and went above and beyond, but it was a pipe dream to think he was going to suddenly turn into some Conn Smyth candidate. He’s a true hero and saved their season and, by going above and beyond as a 3rd string, is arguably why Boston was able to bend but not break the team. He did not stumble.
 
EichHart said:
They wouldn't even have made it if this goal didn't count, which it shouldnt have. That being said I've been cheering for panthers this entire series and we would have likely lost to Boston.

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No, they would have made it because that play doesn't guarantee a win for Buffalo in it and the tie-breaker for the same number of points would have gone to the Panthers.
 
I followed Lyon for years since he was the Flyers and Phantoms. He is such a good dude. Gives one of the better interviews too. Humble and articulate. Really glad to see that he had the opportunity to shine at the NHL level finally, even he wasn't able to sustain. The Panthers are not in the playoffs let alone the Cup Finals without the run he went on.
 
Zbynek said:
Our bonehead ex-GM sadly gave him a brick-wall NMC, but our fanbase is happy to chip in for flights if a suitor can be found.
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Don’t presume to speak for the Pens fanbase. Down year, sure, but here are his points for the last 4 years. 5 more years at 5.125M.
rust4seasons.png
 
Is the panthers success due to Bob but also top players playing tough and with an edge? Tkachuk, Bennett, Montour, etc.

As opposed to Aho, Marner types which are highly skilled but don’t have that annoying playoff edge?

Didn’t see any Boston series. I was expecting a bruins sweep. Was I wrong.
 
most eastern teams are soft. they were built for the regular season not the playoffs. new jersey and toronto are the extreme examples of this.
 
BB79 said:
Special thanks to the Pittsburgh Penguins for absolutely sucking and losing to 2 of the worst teams in games 81 and 82, making it possible for Florida to even qualify for the playoffs
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That is true, the Pens were their own worst enemy at the end of the year. Who knows, this might have been the last playoff hurrah for Crosby and Malkin. It may not happen again. But Florida was better than their record suggested and they have made the most of their situation. 12-4 playoff record so far and 11-1 in the last two rounds. They have clicked.
 
Should be one of the Panther's Smythe favorites.
floridasmythe.jpg

Great example of clutch (Florida) vs. unclutch (Pittsburgh).

The Penguins/Jackets final game didn't really matter, as the Pens were already eliminated by that time. (Yes, if they beat Chicago they would still need a point against Columbus, which they got, so it really was a wash in the end).
 
Guffman said:
Pittsburgh was already eliminated before game 82 but go ahead and make up more stuff lol.
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Yes, because they lost game 81, as I said if they had won the last 2 they would have made it, but go ahead and keep convincing yourself outwise lol.
 
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AvroArrow said:
It's a team sport, every single player and coach make a difference. They all deserve their props. But to me the Panthers MVPs in order are, Bobrovsky, Tkachuk, Bennett, Montour, Barkov
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I'd give Lyon credit too, early on he was playing like Bob is now. Maurice played his cards perfectly with his goalies
 
With the Florida playoff birth and Chicago winning the Bedard lottery (had they lost this game they would have been the worst team in the league and had different odds) that Chicago-Pittsburgh game is probably the most important regular season game in NHL history.

You can even add Pittsburgh missing the playoffs which caused them to make management changes. Crazy butterfly effect with this game.
 
HofT said:
No, you didn't. You're dismissing it. You're speaking out of your ass pretending to know it all off of tiny snippets of clips online. You have no idea what you're talking about and continue to reach for nothing.

In the end, there was also a "We want Boston" chant.
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Witnessing a Leaf fan unraveling with insecurity truly is one of the great joys in life.
#blessed
 
Guffman said:
March 27, 2023

Bob and the Panthers lost their third game in a row. Florida dropped out of the playoff race and trailed Pittsburgh by 3 points for the last playoff spot with only 8 games to play with Pittsburgh having a game on hand.

The 5-2 drubbing against Ottawa was the last straw for Bob. He wouldn’t see the crease for the rest of the regular season. He finished with 50 games played and a miserable 3.07 GAA and .901 save percentage. He did his best to tank any chance of Florida making the playoffs.

The Rise and Fall of the Lyon

Maurice, desperate to turn his team’s fortunes around after Bob was broken, turned to Alex Lyons, a 30 year old back-up with 31 career NHL starts.

March 29, 2023… Panthers versus Leafs. Panthers fall behind. Paul Maurice steps up…



Panthers rally behind their coach and beat Toronto 3-2 in overtime to keep their slim playoff hopes alive. Panthers go on to rattle off six wins in a row with this decrepit back-up and Maurice wills his team into the playoffs without a legitimate goaltender only to face the historic Boston Bruins with an unprecedented 65 wins.

Lyon stumbles to a 1-2 record against the Bruins, with a 3.26 GAA. He’s done.

Maurice Salvages Bob

Bob starts game 4. He gets clowned for five goals and an .833 save percentage. Panthers drop down 3 games to 1 against the top seed and record shattering Bruins.

Maurice had a tough decision. He could show confidence in Bob, a goalie that has played in nine different playoff years and failed dramatically (only a single playoff year where his GAA was less than 2.70; 7 of his nine playoff years he posted a GAA of 3.07 or worse - a playoff choker and clown) or go with the journeyman.

Maurice went with Bob. Miraculously, the Panthers rallied behind Maurice‘s decision and leadership and played inspired hockey. Bob posts a miserable .891 save percentage against the Bruins but prevail.

Bob, with renewed confidence never shown before in the playoffs but having a coach that had his back, goes on to destroy the Leafs and Canes.

Bob deserves credit for his play in the past two series. He’s been incredible. That said, the Panthers aren’t here without Maurice’s adept moves with his goaltenders and willing his team to win and start that rally back on March 29 against the Leafs. If the Panthers didn’t rally in that game, we’re not even here talking about Bob.
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Probably should’ve started your story in February, when the Panthers really started making up ground on those they were chasing.
As you mention, Bob was struggling, but you omit that he was also battling illness. Lyon came in and played his ass off. The season would certainly have been lost without his stellar play. This also ensured that Mo didn’t have to rush Bob back in before he was fully over whatever ailed him. Mo was smart to ride the hot goalie into the playoffs, there was still some juice left in that wave. Bob came back fully healthy and strong, and we all see how he’s been playing since.
 
EichHart said:
They wouldn't even have made it if this goal didn't count, which it shouldnt have. That being said I've been cheering for panthers this entire series and we would have likely lost to Boston.

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This is a 100% legal goal. It’s been explained many times.
 
TropicOfNoReturn said:
Witnessing a Leaf fan unraveling with insecurity truly is one of the great joys in life.
#blessed
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Was there not a "We want Boston" chant as well? Or are you completely at ease with residing in your fantasy land? Lol
 
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TropicOfNoReturn said:
Witnessing a Leaf fan unraveling with insecurity truly is one of the great joys in life.
#blessed
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True , but somewhere you’ve got to feel for a franchise that hasn’t had a cup in 56 years. That’s about 3X the time Florida, and 10x Vegas Knights have been in existence.
 
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