Pre-Game Talk: Goalie controversy? Panthers start 9 game homestand with Chris Driedger's 1st nhl start

[geisterpanthers]

I'm cool with starting Driedger. What's the worst that can happen? He lets 4-5 through?

Yea right, he doesn't even need to be good to be an improvement over what we have gotten this season.

 

[ucanthanzalthetruth]

My issues are if he's bad, it's fair to question why he started. Florida needs this W. If he's good, well I guess Bob's confidence can't be much lower... Driedger's numbers were bad until last year, but he may well be playing for a longterm NHL gig, hopefully that's enough motivation.

 

[RogerRoger]

Gotta like we have a coach like Q who isn't afraid (and waiting too long) to bench the highest-paid player on the team.

Well, he tried to bench Bob for Monty but Monty was sucking just as bad as Bob so you can't go with that option. Driedger has been red hot in the AHL so he earned a shot. If he plays well, then we'll see how much cajones Q has.

My issues are if he's bad, it's fair to question why he started. Florida needs this W. If he's good, well I guess Bob's confidence can't be much lower... Driedger's numbers were bad until last year, but he may well be playing for a longterm NHL gig, hopefully that's enough motivation.

He has been red hot in the AHL and Bob is struggling, there are no questions why Driedger is getting a shot even if he let's 15 in like Vokoun did in his first start.

 

[GrumpyKelly]

If he plays well, then we'll see how much cajones Q has.

Let me save you the suspense, they're big.

 

[ucanthanzalthetruth]

Let me save you the suspense, they're big.

 

[RogerRoger]

The face of the guy on the left at the end lmao

 

[Prominence Problem]

Gotta like we have a coach like Q who isn't afraid (and waiting too long) to bench the highest-paid player on the team.

If I was Q I would have benched Bob for the Winnipeg game. Maybe he didn't trust Monty with that start, I'm not sure why he didn't. There's probably a reason, especially since he has 900 + career coaching wins and I have zero.

 

[JP Mick]

Whopper

Driedger tomorrow

Good.

 

[Beezer]

@Beezer you are on for the GDT but I was depressed seeing the Caps thread still.

Anyways, I'm pretty happy with where Florida is. I'm expecting Toronto and Tampa to pass them shortly, putting Florida in 9th, but only 2 points back from Philly, and I'm not concerned about them. And Montreal is a mess. 6 of the 9 teams Florida is facing on this homestand are out of a playoff spot right now, and Nashville is struggling and will be on the 2nd of a b2b and 3rd game in 4 nights this game, Florida will have had 3 days off . Florida then faces bottom feeding Minny and CBJ. Good spot to make up lost ground.

working on it now....

just got home little while ago from black Friday shopping....

 

[MillarWithASave]

This is really a test for us as a team and for Bob. If Dreidger can pull off a good win tomorrow then it really doesn’t look good for Bob.

 

[FrolikFan67]

I’m so anxious to see how he does. I’m really happy that Q decided to let him start, I just wanted him to get a shot, at least one game, that’s all. They have nothing to lose.

 

[ShootIt]

Expecting a 2-1 game in ot lol

 

[pantherbot]

Not his first nhl start but first in awhile. Hope the team steps up their play for him. He deserves the chance. Don't think this should matter with respect to bob in the long run. He's a professional, he'll be fine.