Game Day Notes: vs. Florida

Notes on tonight’s game against the Panthers.

… The Panthers are predictably low in the standings, having posted an 8-9-2 record thus far this season. Their 18 points are good for 13th in the East, but are still significantly more respectable than the ‘Canes 13 or the Leafs’ 12.

… They are coming off a 6-2 win over the Sabres Wednesday night. They managed to get four goals on Miller, which is not something that’s easy to do. So, they have it in them to be dangerous.

… The Panthers will be without Nick Tarnasky (broken face) and David Booth (concussion) tonight. It’s the latter that’s most unfortunate: the circumstances of his injury were ridiculous and preventable.

He was the victim of a disgusting, vicious Mike Richards blindside hit last month and has been out ever since. So out, in fact, he’s unable to do any physical activity because he gets a headache at the drop of a hat.

I don’t think I could care less about the Panthers, but just thinking about that hit and the fact that Richards got off without so much as a slap on the wrist really, really pisses me off. Booth is a promising young player in this League and now he’s sidelined because the NHL has failed to protect its players.

… Scott Clemmensen will start tonight rather than Tomas Vokun. I’d laugh at Clemmensen, who used to be Brodeur’s “backup,” but last year, he got the Devils to the playoffs while Martin was out with an injury. And then he got demoted to the AHL, if I recall correctly. He’s got a 5.14 GAA this year, but I’m not writing him off.

… The Wings will look to rebound from a weak effort Wednesday night against Dallas. They’ll need a return to the effort levels that won them six in seven.

… Brad May will exit the lineup for Kirk Maltby tonight.

… Chris Osgood finally returns to the net after battling a bad case of the flu.

… Unfamiliarity with the Panthers together with some possible taking of a win against a 13th-place team could make this one interesting. Play a full 60, guys.