Florida Panthers (7-12-5) Vs.

Your Winnipeg Jets (11-11-1)

 

Last Meeting:

March 5th, Jets 1 – Florida 4

 

Broadcast

TV: TSN Jets

Puck Drop: 6:30 (CT)

 

Redemption time. After what could easily be considered the worst/most pathetic/most disappointing Jets outing all season a mere three days ago, the boys have a chance tonight to show not only the Panthers, but themselves that the debacle Tuesday night was nothing more than a fluke.

Both teams are on the back end of back-to-backs, which saw two very different results. The Jets managed to play a tough Tampa team, and behind some great goaltending from Al Montoya, shut down the powerhouse power play of the Lightning for a 2-1 win. Meanwhile, the Panthers played close to what they have all season, and were blown out by a suddenly streaking Washington team by a final score of 7-1.

Wellwood has looked strong since being plucked back out of the press box, and had what I, along with many on twitter, believed to be an assist on Tangradi’s first goal of the season taken away from him. Kane also seemed to respond well after a less than impressive performance on Tuesday, although he did have a brief blow up on the bench with Coach Noel in the second period. Nothing else seemed to come of it though, so hopefully he can continue what has been a solid season thus far.

Let’s face it. The Panthers are a beaten, battered, and just bad team. Missing upwards of 9 regulars from their line up, for the second straight game the Jets are basically playing an AHL team. They need to come out with a better effort and SHOULD win this game quite easily to get this road trip back on the right track.

The Jets lineup should set up as follows:

                    Ladd – Little – Wheeler

                Kane – Burmistrov – Jokinen

               Tangradi – Wellwood – Slater

               Miettinen – Wright – Antropov

 

                      Clitsome – Byfuglien

                      Hainsey – Bogosian

                         Postma – Stuart

 

                               Pavelec

                               Montoya

 

And the Panthers:

 

                  Fleischmann – Goc – Kopecky

                  Mueller – Huberdeau – Shore

                    Rheault – Matthias – Skille

                  Smithson – Santorelli – Parros

 

                       Kuba – Gudbranson

                      Strachan – Campbell

                         Yonkman – Robak

 

                               Markstrom

                            Clemmensen

              (started yet to be announced)

 

Personally, I am shocked that Pavelec is getting the start tonight. Although he has been better as of late, the last game he played (against Florida) he did let in some weaker goals, and was exposed three times high glove side. Montoya had a fabulous game last night and is 3-0-0 on the season. He has better stats than Pav in every category and in my opinion earned the start tonight. Coach Noel may be trying to quiet down any talks of a goalie controversy, but a weak game tonight would really get the rumor mill turning.

There is no denying that the Jets are a much better team when they score fist. When they do, they have posted a 7-4-1 record, and when they don’t they are 4-7-0. To further add to that point, the Panthers are 1-10-3 when they give up the first goal.

Should Markstrom start again against the Jets, it is vital they jump on him early and often. The Jets did not generate enough offense against the young, inexperienced goaltender on Tuesday night and coming off of getting pulled, he may be open for exploitation.

The Panthers were straight out embarrassed last night. The looked like the type of team they are expected to be right now, and need to get back to the kind of game they put forward Tuesday.

It’s not easy getting the hook. Wether it is Markstrom who makes his return between the pipes, or Clemmensen getting the start, they simply cannot leave their goalie out to dry for a second game in a row. The Jets can play with the best of them and at this point the Panthers need a win to keep their season alive. Giving up another 7 wouldn’t only kill their chances, but would demoralize this team to no end.