4 things Florida Panthers need to eliminate New Jersey Devils in Game 6–NHL Playoffs Special
Florida Panthers have come a long way since the now past 2011-2012 National Hockey League (NHL) regular season started. They were ranked as one of the weakest teams in the league along with have basically no future when it came to the postseason.
Now surprisingly, Florida Panthers are close to advancing into the 2012 NHL Stanley Cup Eastern Conference Playoff Semi-Finals as New Jersey Devils are on the verge of elimination come Game 6.
"We're expecting their best hockey, them to be desperate, all those things," veteran centre, Stephen Weiss, said after the Panthers workout in Florida on Monday. "We'll be ready, too."
Panthers made history by breaking the 10-year plus barrier of not being able to make it into the postseason and having been whitewashed by Martin Brodeur and the Devils back then, they are now given the chance by history to play it all over this time and
hopefully, Florida will be moving on.
"It's the same thing every game of this series," Panthers coach, Kevin Dineen, said. "The tempo always seems to be set right at the start of the game. So I would expect nothing less than that desperation mode for a team that's down by one and also wants
to win the series. It's two clubs that will be colliding very early in the game."
If Florida manages to win and eliminate New Jersey Devils in Game 6 on Tuesday, April 24, 2012, at the Prudential Centre in Newark, New Jersey, it will be the first time Panthers win a series since 1996.
Here are 5 things Florida Panthers need to do if they hope of advancing into round-two of the Stanley Cup Playoffs:
Take an Early Lead
There is always superstition when it comes to the playoffs and taking an early lead only to lose later on is one of them. Florida will definitely have to be the first ones to score and maintain their lead later on because once Devils get their engines started,
it is nearly impossible to stop them.
This also means penetrating Martin Brodeur’s defensive mechanisms as early as possible as well since the veteran goalie already managed to register a record number of shutouts in the playoffs and could be bound for another one.
Play Physical
Frankly, New Jersey does not care what they hit, as long as it goes down, and if Florida has hopes for a win and early end to an intense series, they will just have to get going with the hits before Devils can.
Scaring the opposition is the best way to kick off any match and intimidating Devils is never an easy job.
Choose Goaltending Wisely
Jose Theodore and Scott Clemmensen have had nearly the same amount of time on the ice when it comes to taking about this series and both have played amazingly well. If New Jersey starts off by scoring a few goals right in the opening period, switching goals
should be done as soon as possible instead of allowing the opposition to extend the lead even further.
Keep Playing the Power Play
The power play has worked miracles for Florida up until now as they have seven goals from added man advantages while New Jersey only has four. Limiting their opportunities and capitalising on given chances should keep them on top.
The views expressed in this article are the writer's own and in no way represent Bettor.com's official editorial policy.
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