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Post by wgray on Apr 17, 2024 18:19:32 GMT
This is absolutely phenomenal news. Welcome back Otto!
I don’t feel like I’m being over the top in saying this but I believe he’s one of the best players in this league. He’s a quality player. Amazing start from the club
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Post by wgray on Apr 17, 2024 14:39:10 GMT
Otto signing would be amazing work from the club, fingers crossed
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Post by wgray on Apr 12, 2024 18:55:11 GMT
I understand the actual fixtures won’t be released until June/July time, but I think there should be an announcement on any intended changes to the format of the challenge cup.
If there are changes, then I believe it will lead to more purchases of the All-In ST in Panthers case
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Post by wgray on Apr 8, 2024 23:27:15 GMT
I’ve been reflecting on how everything unfolded yesterday. Like everybody else, I was gutted that we’d not managed to reach the playoffs. The club, and the players especially, deserved a shot at winning the playoff trophy.
But what a finale to our season. We saw the teams ever present character in coming from behind twice (we never make it easy😂). Henbrant blitzing down the ice and rifling it into the net. Rok coming up big in the 3rd when Manchester were firing back. But the scenes as Lunsjö’s shot hit the back of the net in OT were amazing, the roar of the crowd, the celebrations on the ice and in the stands, the joy and elation that everyone was feeling. What a wonderful moment and a brilliant final game in front of our magnificent supporters.
Everyone at the club should be proud of themselves. I’ve run out of words to describe the team but what a pleasure and an honour it has been supporting them. Thank you. Proud to be a Panther
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Post by wgray on Apr 7, 2024 11:52:33 GMT
I’m glad we’ve got a big attendance today, it’s what the team deserve and I’m sure the fans will do their bit to get behind them. Take care of our own game and then see what happens afterwards. Up the Black and Gold!
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Post by wgray on Apr 6, 2024 22:54:12 GMT
Top performance from the Panthers tonight in a tough rink, we were flying. The fact that the top line didn’t make the scoresheet either says a lot to. It was brilliant to see so many Panthers fans in attendance as well, great atmosphere and support for the team
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Post by wgray on Apr 6, 2024 22:51:02 GMT
Just got back from Altrimcham. Fantastic performance. To get such a convincing win with the top line not needing to trouble is some result. Rok came up big again. So pleased we go in to tomorrow with a chance. Could even finish 7th. 🤣 The biggest shame will be that when our game finishes we'll have no idea if we'll see the team again. That's why the games should start at the same time, doesn't seem right that once our game is over and we've won, that we all just scatter out not knowing. It's a shame we can't stay in the Arena, it just feels right that we find out together Hang around the arena’s local pubs, I’m sure there will be loads of fans doing that
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Post by wgray on Apr 6, 2024 14:12:12 GMT
Good to have Michaud and Neill back, a full lineup!!!!!
The team need to leave it all on the ice, focus on our own performance first. Get the puck on net, get traffic in front, the d men can’t be hesitant in getting shots off, they’ve got to let the puck go
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Post by wgray on Apr 1, 2024 19:41:43 GMT
I agree with you, we’re not the greatest team in the world, but what would you rather the fans chant, We’re poo poo and we know we are? What about booing them off the ice, would that be better? The fans are only trying to support the team and spur them onto achieving something, don’t take it too literally… It's amazing isn't it, when Clan scored their 1st goal and until Panthers scored their 2nd - well earned may I add, the alleged loud block (& Ken) went as good as silent. Surely that would be when the players most need the fans chanting? And thats far from the first time they've gone quiet when Panthers are losing. That'shardly spurring the teM on, supporting them when it's most needed is it? Surely there's other chants that could be thought of/used, rather than proclamating how mighty we are when we arent? No one said we should chant we arw poo poo or boo them off. But its interesting yo see the way your mind works. No wonder aspects of other clubs fans think Panthers fans aren't playing with a full deck. Not that it matters. Anyway. Roll on to the next two games, hopefully we get 4 points, and hope for the best, especially as Storm have little to play for. I agree with you, the building went a bit flat, but that’s due to the disappointment of what we’ve all witnessed, I don’t think the fans did a bad job tonight though, we were behind them for the majority. I think that Block 19 and Ken have improved the atmosphere in the NIC though, it’s certainly better than the morgue like atmosphere we used to have before it was setup. Hopefully we’re still in with a chance on Sunday and the place is rocking
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Post by wgray on Apr 1, 2024 19:27:11 GMT
Frustrating. To concede when less than 3 minutes from winning (and Clan getting nothing) is a kick in the nuts. To lose it (and Clan get 2 points) the way we did even more so. These days OT is all about possession. First, winning it, then keeping it. We're in their zone, deep in OT. Who do we send out to take the draw? 88, who, for all his good points, hasn't won a single face off in his entire time with us. He takes it, loses it (to a chap with 171 wins this season), Clan get good possession and a few seconds later the game is lost. Why isn't Pare taking almost all face offs in OT? He's our best guy in the dot. Get him out there, we have the best chance of winning it, then we set up and swap him out for who we need. We then have good possession and who we need out there. Frustrating. (This happened a few seasons ago in Cardiff too.) Bad coaching decision like you say. Luciani isn’t a face-off winner and I personally don’t see him as a good player to have out there for OT, mainly due to his lack of speed and work rate
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Post by wgray on Apr 1, 2024 18:48:40 GMT
Watching super Panthers....yep okay, Some people are either misguided or easily entertained. Two very ordinary teams. Hasn't been the best of games - Maybe because too much is riding on the outcone Architects of our own downfall with 6 minutes of pp time wasted, then to cough it up in OT. We are the mighty, mighty Panthers... I agree with you, we’re not the greatest team in the world, but what would you rather the fans chant, We’re poo poo and we know we are? What about booing them off the ice, would that be better? The fans are only trying to support the team and spur them onto achieving something, don’t take it too literally…
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Post by wgray on Apr 1, 2024 18:44:44 GMT
That’s a real punch in the gut for us. Really disappointing.
We didn’t capitalise when we needed to on the 3 PP’s in the 3rd and, again, we weren’t good as unit defending Glasgow’s shots from the blue line. The same as when we lost 6-3 to them at home, we don’t stop them working the puck to the point, we don’t do enough to stop the shot from getting through and then we don’t clear the front of the net. Simple stuff really but we struggled with again, probably due to our lack of physicality and size, but our forwards needed to show more desire to stop the puck getting through.
Think we’re down now barring a miracle, will still get behind the team though
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Post by wgray on Mar 31, 2024 21:20:55 GMT
You beat me to it. A nice convenient stat that’s so vague and open to interpretation he can manipulate it when it suits him Sadly, as I've calculated, rather than just parroted the EIHL figures, Panthers "best" D man this season for "+/- per 60 ice time" (if you don't like pure +/- this is surely at least a little better) is... Have a guess... Tetlow?
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Post by wgray on Mar 31, 2024 20:29:30 GMT
That OT point for Blaze tonight is a real blow. Coventry have got to play Manchester and Guildford at home and Cardiff away, all of whom have their POQF ties set. Storm are wanting to play their QF leg first so whether they finish 4th or 5th doesn’t matter, which in turn means no need for Guildford to turn up.
We probably need to hope that Sheffield beat Fife and Cardiff beat Dundee on Wednesday, which would drag them back into it.
We have to turn up tomorrow though, we have to get behind them and push them on
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Post by wgray on Mar 31, 2024 14:21:05 GMT
Exactly. If booing a marginal decision means they think twice on the next one then I'm in. 100% agree with this. If it’s a clean hit, like the one that was laid on Henbrant last night, then I don’t make a murmur. Missed or potential infractions, you have to make the refs think twice, that’s part of being a supporter
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Post by wgray on Mar 31, 2024 0:31:42 GMT
We were terrific tonight, came out the blocks flying and the Blaze couldn’t cope. We seem to have found some settled lines now and the PP units especially are looking a lot crisper and more effective. Hazeldine is right at home playing point on that 1st unit. I know I sound like a broken record, but he’s really impressed me of late.
Pleased that we got passed the Blaze, but I do feel for them with what they’ve also had to go through this season. So sad and it does look like it’s had an impact on them unfortunately.
Another massive game for us now on Monday, despite Clan’s poor form of late it will not be easy. They will come in and play as desperate as us, we have to be ready for that
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Post by wgray on Mar 29, 2024 21:55:52 GMT
Stars 3-1 up in Glasgow, into the third. The thing is now that if we make it in to the play offs we could finish as high as 6th. It's certainly feesable to make the play offs and avoid Steelers in the QFs. Got to turn up for our games, no more flat performances or collapses here on out
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Post by wgray on Mar 29, 2024 8:37:09 GMT
Top result. Did Pare get benched or something else? Only played 6:10? I wouldn’t say 6:10 was right, he featured quite a bit as we ran 4 lines throughout the entirety of the game
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Post by wgray on Mar 28, 2024 22:03:56 GMT
Hopefully the shut out boosts Rok for the remaining games. Huge 2 points tonight. What works best for us tomorrow? Stars win to keep everyone close or let Glasgow pull ahead and concentrate on Blaze. I've just been looking to try work that out. I guess in terms of just scraping in it's a Glasgow win. Making Dundee easier to chase down and 2 others to chase for 8th. If Dundee win it keeps four in the mix for us to chase though. 4 teams will be on 47 points. Fixtures Saturday go our way and it would be incredibly tight. Panthers beat Blaze Dundee lose to Storm Fife lose to Flames Glasgow lose to Belfast. Blaze G50 P47 W10 Stars G51 P47 W14 Fife G51 P47 W12 Clan G51 P47 W10 PTRS G51 P45 W14 Clan only have 10 regulation wins at the minute. That means we probably already have them on that should we get the points needed. Obviously that's all guess work, but it's perhaps a case of just keeping as many teams in the chase as possible. Still not worked out what Id prefer. 😂 The worst situation would be for the Clan v Stars game to go to OT, let’s hope that doesn’t happen😂
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Post by wgray on Mar 28, 2024 22:02:19 GMT
Wow, who would have thought it’d end 1-0 tonight😂So, so pleased it did though. Team showed great resilience and battled all night. Rok solid, Nieminen putting the team on his back again to get us a goal. I was extremely impressed with Hazeldine tonight though, he’s turning into some player for us. On to Saturday, up the Black and Gold Forget Fife they’ll get through,they’ve got 3 more at home plus Dundee away. It’s Clan or Blaze to catch. I agree with you, Fife will most likely make it. I think Clan, Blaze and Stars are catchable
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Post by wgray on Mar 28, 2024 21:54:39 GMT
Wow, who would have thought it’d end 1-0 tonight😂So, so pleased it did though. Team showed great resilience and battled all night. Rok solid, Nieminen putting the team on his back again to get us a goal. I was extremely impressed with Hazeldine tonight though, he’s turning into some player for us.
On to Saturday, up the Black and Gold
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Post by wgray on Mar 28, 2024 21:50:34 GMT
Hopefully the shut out boosts Rok for the remaining games. Huge 2 points tonight. What works best for us tomorrow? Stars win to keep everyone close or let Glasgow pull ahead and concentrate on Blaze. Dundee and Coventry are our targets now. Clan need to win in regulation against Dundee for me
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Post by wgray on Mar 27, 2024 18:07:28 GMT
I might get a bit of stick here, but I haven’t been overly impressed with Kelsall personally. I was hoping that we were going to see major improvements in his overall play this season but I don’t feel he’s been that great.
I’ll give him his credit, he has helped out and filled in on defence to support the team, he’s stood up for teammates and that takes a lot of guts, he’s even scored a few nice goals this season.
Overall though, I think he lacks size and physicality and he’s quite a slow skater. Even if he’s playing 4th line I feel he should be bringing more energy and making more of a nuisance of himself. I notice regularly he’ll lay a hit without any real impact and their defence will break out easily or he’ll often chip a puck in and not pursue it or put the opposition under pressure.
Maybe I’m being harsh, and there’s obviously tactics and instructions we aren’t privy to, but I just feel we need to see more from him. He needs to flourish and develop, in a similar way that Ollie did, if he’s going to be the player we need him to be
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Post by wgray on Mar 25, 2024 18:13:21 GMT
Until it's mathematically impossible, there is still some hope. Million to one shots come in once in a while Not that I'm confident at all that we can actually do it, and it's a hell of a long shot, but as it stands, hope springs eternal. As the great poet L. Kravitz opined, it ain't over 'til... Doesn't make me a happy clapper, but 3.4 seconds was enough time once upon a time. 8 points could be enough. Looking at run in’s it’s certainly possible that Clan and/or Blaze might struggle to get more than 2 more points,which would leave all three teams on 49 points and Panthers squeaking through on regulation wins. I think Dundee, and like you’ve pointed out a few times, Coventry, are the ones to aim for. We have to win our remaining games though, which means pressure, especially when we’re short. The fans will be behind them all the way I’m sure
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Post by wgray on Mar 24, 2024 20:35:01 GMT
We'd have to win 5 on the bounce with half a d-core and a goalie shipping goals. We have to win our remaining 5 and hope results go our way else where. Bearing in mind we’re on a 5 game losing streak now, it’s looking very bleak unfortunately. Really hoped we could pull it out the bag
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