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head coach: Bryan Murray

roster: C - Kirk Muller, Rob Niedermayer, Radek Dvorak, Dave Gagner, Chris Wells, Steve Washburn. LW - Ray Whitney, Johan Garpenlov, Viktor Kozlov, Bill Lindsay, Peter Worrell. RW - Scott Mellanby, Dino Ciccarelli, David Nemirovsky. D - Robert Svehla, Gord Murphy, Ed Jovanovski, Paul Laus, Terry Carkner, Rhett Warrener, Jeff Norton, Dallas Eakins. G - John Vanbiesbrouck, Kirk McLean, Kevin Weekes.

injuries: Rob Niedermayer, c (post-concussion syndrome, out for season); Kevin Weekes, g (sprained MCL, out for season); Chris Wells, c (groin pull, day-to-day); Jeff Norton, d (cracked sternum, out for season); Viktor Kozlov, lw (back spasms, day-to- day).

transactions: Traded Tommy Fitzgerald, c, to Colorado for Mark Parrish, lw, and a third round draft pick. Traded Ray Sheppard, rw, to Carolina for goaltender Kirk McLean, g. Recalled David Nemirovsky, rw; Dallas Eakins, d; and Johan Garpenlov, lw; from Beast of New Haven (AHL). Returned Todd MacDonald, g, and Ryan Johnson, c, to Beast of New Haven (AHL). The Panthers also signed college prospects Nick Smith, f, and Dan Boyle, d, a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award -- neither will play this season.

standings:

Eastern Conference - Atlantic Division   
Team           GP   W   L   T   PTS   GF   GA   
x-New Jersey   76  46  21   9   101  208  149  
x-Philadelphia 75  39  25  11    89  220  177  
Washington     75  36  28  11    83  202  189  
NY Rangers     77  23  36  18    64  186  217  
NY Islanders   74  26  38  10    62  194  209  
Florida        75  23  40  12    58  184  231  
Tampa Bay      75  17  49   9    43  144  241  
x - Clinched playoff spot

game results:

03/23 Carolina        L 5-3  
03/26 Montreal        W 5-4 
03/28 at Boston       W 3-2 OT
03/29 at Chicago      W 4-0 
04/01 Montreal        L 4-3 
04/04 at Philadelphia W 4-1 
04/05 Pittsburgh      W 3-1 

team news:

by Eric Seiden, Florida Correspondent

"It's a hockey night in South Florida, and here come your Panthers," screamed the announcer, with far more enthusiasm than the sparse (but sell-out) crowd felt. His tune would change at the end of the week as the Panthers turned it around. The fans screamed too, but at Bryan Murray who has become one of the least favorite people to ever be in Miami.

While the fans weren't happy to see Sheppard go, it wasn't unexpected. But the trade of beloved Tommy Fitzgerald to the Colorado Avalanche nearly brought the house down with thunderous booing and a blanket of animosity that could have smothered the universe. John Vanbiesbrouck said, "I thought Tommy was a lifer here. His character and the way he carried himself on and off the ice was a big factor to us. He's a guy you can build an organization on."

Tommy himself said through choking words and teary eyes, "I thought I would be a Panther forever...." Also stunned was the guy he refers to as the other half of his professional life: fan favorite Billy Lindsay. "We've been lifemates, roommates, friends. I loved him like a brother. I have a bond with my teammates here over the last four-and-a-half years that I'll probably never have again," Fitzgerald continued.

General Manager and Head Coach Bryan Murray (Mr. Hanky's evil twin brother) seems hell bent on destroying this team often saying hubris such as "whatever it takes to fix this team" failing to realize the two biggest problems are him and defensive coach Joe Cirella. All Murray does is destroy the team more. As all Panther fans know, the heart of the team was cut out when Skrudland was sent to the Rangers. The Miami Herald says Fitzgerald was our soul. I'd like to correct them and say he was only half of it. The other half was our also much loved Billy Lindsay. There are only five original Panthers remaining.

Joining Vanbiesbrouck and Nemirovsky in asking for a trade, Dino Ciccarelli explained his wanting out, "I don't see any commitment from this club." How could he when they trade away Tom Fitzgerald, one of the few guys put out everything he had for the team?

The big news in the injury area was that Rob Niedermayer is out for the season and possibly may be out of a career with post- concussion syndrome. Ironically, this was caused 10-1-97 as the result of a hit from Eric Lindros, whose brother Brett also had his career ended as the result of a concussion. Astute readers will have noticed Niedermayer has missed numerous games with the flu. Doctors repeatedly thought the symptoms were initially those of a flu he could not shake. Once again Lindros and his cheap Hanson Brothers playing earns him no friends. It would satisfy many to see Lindros' career ended with a cheap shot since he's built his career on them.

After another well played game, but still a loss, the Panthers finally broke the terrible streak and beat Montreal in a great game. Billy Lindsay once again proved his worth with a stupendous night, and came through the following game in Boston too. Once again Lindsay came through with a mind-numbing, impossible goal. Not even the goalie believed it went in, but there it was. The space between Tallas' arm and the post would not have allowed a toothpick in, but in a shot that defied the laws of physics, it became the game-winner in overtime. Two games in a row for Lindsay, our hero in waiting.

Against Chicago, Beezer returned to goal after a two-game run by McLean. Beezer used the opportunity to tie Billy Smith's record at 13th for all-time wins. Ironic since Smith is now Vanbiesbrouck's coach. The game was also a shutout, despite a six-on-three power play by the Blackhawks. With two men in the box, Chicago had a five-on-three, and then pulled their goalie making it six-on-three. In a remarkable feat, Viktor Kozlov scored a short-handed goal and the only three-on-six goal the Panthers have ever scored. That was the final goal of the game.

The loss against Montreal was actually a significant boost for the Panthers. The final Panther goal of the game, scored by Lindsay, was the team's 1000th regular season goal. While it was late in coming, it finally arrived at the end of the fifth season. There was some satisfaction as it was scored in the original arena and not the new arena into which the Panthers will move next season.

It was fitting that the Montreal game fell on April Fool's Day as The Florida Panthers, wallowing near the bottom of the National Hockey League less than two years after reaching the Stanley Cup Finals, announced during the game that general manager Bryan Murray will return for the 1998-99 season. Team president Bill Torrey issued a statement during the 4-3 loss to the Montreal Canadiens, acknowledging the Panthers' struggles this season. But Torrey declared that Murray would return as General Manager while the team searches for a new head coach. It is probably significant the Panthers won games before and after this announcement, but not the game in which the announcement was made.

Many people began speculating on the Panthers new enforcing line of Laus, Washburn, and Worrell. Except for Washburn this line is known for fisticuffs and not finesse. Remove Washburn and the line has not scored one goal all season, though not for lack of effort.

Kirk Muller by Meredith Martini

The Penguin game was won by a Kirk Muller goal making it 2-1 late in the third, then Svehla scored an empty-netter to make it 3-1 as the seconds ticked away. I have to say this to settle a bet: I spent the whole game lambasting Muller for just standing there and not doing anything. When the Penguins finally tied it up I said to my friend, Erin, that I'd apologize if Muller scored the next goal. I hereby apologize, making good on my promise to Erin. And to top it all off, the goal was assisted by another famous Panther underachiever, Eddie Jovanovski.

The first two periods the Panthers came out and busted their collective asses. Worrell, while he still can't skate, played some decent hockey with one specific exception. With a clear breakaway for the goal just inside the blue line, he opted for the shoving match with a Penguin and the puck sat there for quite some time until someone came over and took it. Paul Stewart made no call.

Kirk McLean looked decent in goal though he leaves LOTS AND LOTS of open space in the net which makes many people nervous. And like former Panther goalie Mark Fitzpatrick, he'll skate WAY, WAY out leaving the whole back ice unprotected. The luck of the day play was the first shot of the game; the puck hit McLean's glove at the top of the crease and bounced out BEHIND him right towards the empty goal. Fortunately it hit the top of the goal post and bounced over the net to a collective sigh.

The Cats got lucky again with a melee in front of the net. When Pittsburgh scored, the goal was nullified on video review (special thanks to Scott Mellanby for protesting loudly for a review). The puck was put in with a player' hand and not a stick, which is grounds for a recall. Paul Stewart still reffed a horrendous game. Enough said.

What fans really want to know is who the team was that played the Penguins this night? The team out there in the Panthers uniforms would have marched all the way to the Cup with nary a stop. Who were those impostors?

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