One of my Hockey teammates is worried that pre-season predictions almost universally predict another Playoff-less year for the Panthers. What else is new? And by that I mean both the very oft-spoken words acknowledging that they haven’t been in the playoffs in a few seasons and the psychic Hockey hotline rarely risks its reputation by calling for the Cats to fall short with their annual push for the playoffs. However, I remind fans of that legendary cliché, “that’s why they play the season”. Inevitably in EVERY professional sport the mighty magical forces unite to properly align the planets and at least one team exceeds expectations. This is exactly why every so often Las Vegas is forced to pay off on a huge long shot. So just what factors contribute to such a historic ascension?

One: A Goalie Who Refuses To Loose
Often that elusive “career year” which the majority of players never experience. A good Goalie can go on a magical run and find their name (once) in the record books, like Brian Boucher of Phoenix did a couple seasons back when no puck found the net for what felt like forever, but was actually just long enough to make Phoenix the center of the Hockey highlight universe for a blip. A great Goalie can give their team a chance to win every night and end up with them taking that dream skate with the Stanley Cup. I give you exhibit “A” …..Nikolai Khabibulin leading the Tampa Bay Lightning to a Stanley Cup parade. Is Tomas Vokoun capable of such a season? Yes.

Two: A Breakout Season From Someone Not Expected To Be A Major Contributor
This is when a third or fourth liner suddenly becomes “the man.” Remember Olli Jokinen was just a solid young role player when he suddenly took step with a 36 point increase in ’02-’03 (from 29 to 65 points). Here’s an invitation to Olesz, Kreps, or even Wade Belak (who people forget was once a high draft pick with 2-way potential), feel free to step up.

Third: A Rookie Explodes Out Of The Gate Performing At A Level No One Realistically Anticipated
That’s one thing about missing the playoffs…oh, in like forever. You end up with some great draft picks. No one will mind if Shawn Matthias, Michael Frolik or Michael Repik, take the June flight up north to the NHL awards ceremony as a finalist for the Rookie Of The Year (Calder) trophy.

I don’t know if I’m just an eternal optimist or if being from Chicago (Cubs fan) it’s natural to master rationalizing pre-season prognostications in order to validate your most recent “wait until next year” prophecies. The Hockey News may see the Cats finishing 12th in the Eastern Conference, but last year they said the Canadiens would finish 13th and they had the best record in the Conference. As I said, that’s why the play the games.



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