Florida Panthers feels the heat as Chicago Blackhawks arrive in Florida – NHL Preview
What Florida feared most is about to come true, as it is going up against one of the best teams in the NHL right now, Chicago Blackhawks, not once but twice this month. The showdown will take place at the Bank Atlantic Center in Sunrise, Florida, on Tuesday
at 7:30 ET.
"We have an expectation to win and get the two points and I think it's showing in the way we're starting games", Chicago’s defenseman, Duncan Keith, said.
Keith went out of the previous game with a finger related injury, but is expected to play against the Panthers.
Chicago Blackhawks
Being the winners of the 2010 Stanley Cup, Chicago is really lagging behind this season until now as a sudden awakening has caused them to really improve its game in a short period.
Now standing at 4th place in the Western Conference with 80 points, Chicago’s future prospects looks good with 16 games remaining in regulation and an 8-game winning streak under its belt, which is the highest in the league at the moment. They
haven’t won as many games in a row since December 2008.
Chicago’s captain, Jonathan Toews, has really stepped up his game and shows signs of being true MVP material along with Patrick Kane who has combined with him for a total of 26 points in the past nine games.
Goalie, Corey Crawford, has made his presence felt to the opponents, as a major factor when it comes to calculating Chicago’s winning streak.
Marian Hossa and Patrick Sharp are also key contributors in each match, especially with their assisting abilities. They have a natural talent designed for opening up chances for other teammates.
If Duncan Keith is able to play come Tuesday, Chicago will have a fully healthy line-up going into the play-offs, something that is crucial at this stage.
Chicago still has a long way to go and proves that it really is capable of defending Blackhawks’ cup. In the coming matches it faces some demanding opponents such as Tampa Bay Lightning, Phoenix Coyotes, and conference rivals, Detroit Red Wings, twice.
Florida Panthers
Last May, Florida hired Dale Tallon, Chicago’s former general after he was demoted to the rank of senior advisor in 2009, to help Panthers reach the play-offs for the first time since 2000, but it doesn’t seem like that will be happening this season as Panthers
currently stand in 13th place in the Eastern Conference with five loses in a row.
"I thought we kind of stayed with (the Capitals) and looked them in the eye and didn't back down", Florida’s center, Marty Reasoner, said about his team’s previous loss to Washington in overtime. "I think we can be proud of that. Obviously, it seems like
we're (seeing) too many times where you try to find the positives in losses”.
Instead of focusing on the current upcoming play-offs, Panthers should realise that starting ahead for the 2011-2012 season would be a much better technique to get that jump start it needs and learning from teams that are participating in the finals would
be a good thing for the young and inexperienced Panthers’ line-up.
Stephen Weiss is Panthers’ hottest player right now, contributing points in various ways in each game.
He will be Florida’s key player in the upcoming matches, including the second contest with Blackhawks.
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