Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Panthers @ Lightning | 7:30 PM (No TV!)

Tonight's game is radio only. Even if you have Center Ice, the only way you're watching this game is if you're at the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa. So, hopefully you're a fan of radio, because it's Moller and Lindsay tonight. Tune in or listen online at 790 The Ticket.

Even if you don't like radio, there are few things more entertaining (and random) than Randy Moller.

Stillman's had a recurrence of after-effects from his concussion, so he's not playing tonight. Likely not for the rest of the week, so DeBoer's just saying "indefinitely". Cory suffered the concussion on November 2nd against Atlanta, returned on the 12th and played in two games, though with no offensive production. When the symptoms returned, the organization chose to take the safe -- and smart -- route and give him ample time to make sure everything's going to be 100%.


Kreps might be back tonight. He skated with the team, but if they don't think he's good to go, it's just like with Stillman. Kreps, if you don't know, is recovering from a concussion of his own, so it's the same thing. Just have to be safe.

Brett McLean was, or maybe still is, down here dealing with a family matter, but he'll be with the team in time for the game.

With the injury to Stillman, Michael Frolik gets to move up and take another crack at the top line. So, expect to see (not really, since it's radio only) Frolik - Horton - Olesz up top tonight.

He was quoted on the Cats' site after being asked about his recent struggles and missed chances:
[It's] been hard. I just can’t put it in. I just have to play hard at practice, shoot more at practice and I have to think the right way and think it’s going to come.

He's got the right attitude, but if it doesn't come soon, at what point do the Panthers have to get worried about his confidence taking a major, major hit? Is he already getting down on himself? Maybe he can get that first goal tonight. I've wanted to see Frolik and Olesz on a line (for more than one or two shifts) for quite some time..


With that line and the recent production from the Booth - Weiss - Zednik line, that's likely line two. Noah Welch is the Cats' healthy scratch and Vokoun is in net.

So what else..?

Melrose is out, Tocchet's in for the Lightning, so I don't think we're going to see the same team that the Panthers beat 4-0 on Wednesday.

Steven Stamkos will be on the top line for Tampa with Lecavalier and St. Louis, and former Cats Chris Gratton and Gary Roberts will make up two-thirds of a rough, gritty fourth line. Ryan Craig is a healthy scratch, so no Boynton/Craig rematch, and Ryan Malone is out with a leg injury.

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