Florida Panthers hang on to position shutting out Carolina Hurricanes 2-0 -NHL Update
Florida managed to hang on to their third number spot in the Eastern Conference above a heated up Washington Capitals team as Panthers shutout Carolina Hurricanes, 2-0, Sunday night, March 11, 2012, at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise, Florida.
Panthers are in a vulnerable position at the moment as they are now only a single point away from giving up their hard earned third number spot in the East. It has been over a decade since Florida last enjoyed one of the top spots and giving it up now would
just be a shame.
"The last 25 games, that's what you play for," goalie, Jose Theodore said. "It's the most fun of the year and you want to make the best of it. Right now as a team, we're responding well."
Tomas Fleischmann scored the opening goal of the match 3:22 into the second period after a scoreless first for his 22nd of the 2011-2012 National Hockey League (NHL) regular season.
Marcel Goc added the second and last of the night with less than two minutes remaining in the final period of regulation. Florida’s defence worked well for them in the match as they killed of both power play opportunities given in the final two periods.
Blocking all 34 attempts on the net was no easy task but Jose Theodore still managed to do it in order to keep his team alive at such a crucial moment.
"When you look at the scoreboard and you're up by one goal, you know every save is big," Theodore added. "I was just seeing the puck well. The guys were playing well in front of me. At this time of year, it's all about competing and playing playoff hockey,
and that's what we did tonight."
Cam Ward was also playing well in the Carolina Hurricanes net as he blocked 31 of 32, but ejected out of the game during the final moments allowed for Florida’s empty netter from Marcel Goc.
Florida has to keep playing and winning and Panthers truly do look committed. They have the next at home against a struggling Toronto Maple Leafs team on Tuesday.
Carolina Hurricanes have one more on the road against New York Rangers the same day before returning home.
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