DYNASTY - Florida Panthers

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SCORES
ANA - 3 NYR - 2 A pretty even game was won in the third period after the Rangers clawed their way back from a 2 - 0 deficit, only to see C Ryan Getzlaf (1G/1A) (9.0c) score with 40 seconds left in regulation to deny the Rangers at home.

DET - 2 WPG - 5 The Jets overwhelmed the Red Wings at home with C Bryan Little (2G/1A) (8.0c) and C Olli Jokinen (2G/0A) (7.5c) each scoring twice and D Zach Bogosian (1G/1A) (7.5c/8.0c) providing the final nail in the coffin.

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FLA- "The high flying Oilers are in town for tonight's contest against the struggling Panthers" is how "Doc" Emrick began the pregame lead in show. Bonehead is watching it although he knows he should quit before he gets interested...
The coaches have the Panthers prepped and ready for the game, leaving him just a few moments before they hit the ice. "Gent's" Bonehead begins, "three games ago we beat the best team in the NHL and we did it convincingly". This opponent was just called high-flying by the pre-game announcers while we were described as struggling and I'm damned if I'm standing around while they hand the game to them before the puck is dropped, ARE YOU HEARING ME???" The team roars YES!!! "Play Hard, Play Smart, and Play to win! Now lets go!!! The team has a noticeable jump in their skates as they hit the ice and Bonehead and Coach Ramsay nod at each other as they take their positions behind the bench.

The first period starts out with an early goal by LW Thomas Fleischmann (2G/0A) (7.0a) at the 17:30 mark. The rest of the period is pretty even until the last 6 minutes when the Oilers suddenly start shooting pucks at the Panthers goal like 3 for $1 at the County fair... But Tim Thomas (7-5-2 2.17GAA .927 Sv) is rock solid and keeps the lead intact going into the second period. The 1st period shot totals are 14 - 7 and a cause of concern for Bonehead and the staff. No changes are planned for the second period.

This second period is exciting if your a Panthers fan as the team opens up a three to nothing lead on the visitors, and the shot totals are more modest at 9 - 8 Oilers. Bonehead and Coach Pauwelyn are discussing what he is seeing from the press box and Coach Ramsay advises he thinks we should be very defensive for the third period. Bonehead agrees and the tactics are changed to V Def for the bottom two lines and they are given 20 mins skating time over the first two lines who are given 10 mins. The Defense is unchanged as per Coach McCabe.

The tactics are mostly successful as the Oilers don't score and the Panthers tack on a fourth goal to seal the deal. The Oilers manage a 11 - 7 shots advantage in the third period and dominate the game in that category 34 - 22, but the game is a solid win for the Panthers over a quality opponent on a nationally televised network game and sets the team back on track after a rough three game losing streak.

The brash young reporter that tried baiting Bonehead earlier this season is tonight making the three stars of the game choices and Coach Pauwelyn has a beef with him outside the locker room that isn't discovered until later. Coach Pauwelyn felt that Jonathan Huberdeau had a statictically better game than either D Gudbranson or LW Winchester and wanted to know the reporters reasonings for not picking him over the others. It apparently started a scuffle and was quickly broken up by security staff and Coach Pauwelyn was escorted upstairs to the "War Room" by the time Bonehead found out about it. Bonehead vows to talk to the beat reporter and find out what his beef with the organization is before it gets out of hand.

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The phone messages have been piling up while Bonehead and the coaching staff have been quietly reviewing game film. The 4 - 0 win was a relief, but there were so many Panther weaknesses that could have been exploited.

The SOG were way too many, although Bonehead has to admit the shots were kept above and outside the circles mostly and the crease was kept fairly clear for G Tim Thomas to see the shots. The Panthers offensive transition game was disrupted by the Oilers speedy forwards forecheck, however the Panthers made the most of their 22 shot attempts once in the offensive zone.

Finally Bonehead calls it a night and heads upstairs as the coaches gather their gear and head out. Jo is surprisingly still in her office and has left a file folder open on Bonehead's desk with a lot of yellow message notes all over it. Jo asks if he wants to read them or just a get summary... He smiles at her and asks gratefully for the summary. Jo begins "Your Maple Leafs offer was turned down but GM Nonis says unoffically just offer him a little more", "The offer to the Sharks was also turned down but no commentary from the GM to a lowly employee like me" she adds grinning. Bonehead' first thought is screw San Jose if I can get Toronto to trade with me. Jo lastly picks up the scouting report on D Ian White and wrinkles her nose at it. "KHL?", "not physical? Didn't the scout tell you White was as physical as Robak???" Bonehead is momentarily lost as he then remembers Ryan Stewart's comments before he left on his scouting trip... How did she know what was said in here?

Bonehead figures he's just tired and needs some sleep, so he closes the file and tells Jo to pack it in and he would see her tomorrow morning... With that he leaves the liquor bottles alone and escorts the pretty young lady out of the stadium offices and to her car. then jumps into his Land Rover and heads to his apartment.

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DAL - 2 BOS - 1 The secondary role players shined in a very even match as Bruins RW Shawn Thornton (1G/0A) (6.5a) and the Stars D Stephane Robidas (1G/0A) (8.0b)each scored in regulation. After the scoreless OT, then it went 10 rounds before D Sergei Gonchar (6.5a) broke the deadlock by deking a backhander through the goalie's pads for the win.

STL - 1 MON - 2 Canadiens RW Brendan Gallagher (2G/0A) (7.5b/8.0b) scored both goals and G Carey Price (9.0d/10.0d) stopped 32 of 33 shots for his seventh win of the season.

CGY - 5 MIN - 4 It was a tale of two games and a bitter hard fought contest between that won't be soon forgotten, as the Flames allowed a 3 goal first period to the Wild, then used a 4 goal third period to beat the Wild on their home ice. Flames RW David Jones (2G/1A) (6.5c) was a +3 on the evening and brought his team back into the game with both goals scored in the third period.

NYI - 2 WAS - 5 The Capitals used C Eric Fehr's (2G/0A) (6.5a) two goals to give the home team a comfortable lead and the outcome was never really in doubt in this sleeper.

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SCORES continued.
VAN - 1 ARZ - 0 A full sixty minutes of rough and tumble play between the teams couldn't decide a winner, neither could the five minute overtime period. Canucks RW Alex Burrows (7.5d) shootout winner in the third round barely went over the goal line over Yotes G Thomas Greiss (6.5c) who still got a shutout credit for an excellent performance.

OTT - 2 CLB - 6 Backup G Jeremy Smith (5.5d/6.5d) did a fine job in net for his second win and the Blue Jackets stayed undefeated in the month of November by beating the Senators in front of the hometown fans at Nationwide Arena.

PHI - 5 CAR - 3 Hurricanes G Cam Ward (8.0d) gave up an uncharacteristic 5 goals as his defense completely let him down, giving up 36 shots on the netminder. Five different Flyers scored and G Steve Mason 7.5a/8.0a) was able to get his third win of the season.

BUF - 1 SJS - 2 The Sharks needed both goals scored by RW Tyler Kennedy (6.5c) to overcome the Sabres in a close fought contest.

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Bonehead slept well last night, and even beat his assistant Jo to the office by 15 minutes. But he didn't beat everybody into the building...

Coach Stewart and Coach McCabe are both in the "War Room" poring over computer printouts of the Bruins tendencies and Corsi numbers. Bonehead sits down with the file Jo left him last night, and discusses it;s contents with them. Coach McCabe is pretty well resigned that D Kulikov is getting shipped out to make room for Jovanovski, but wonders if we have enough defense depth for the season. Coach Ramsay is openly excited to see the possibility of all three Maple Leafs forwards added to the Panthers roster, and even offers that another trade could be made for a top 4 defenseman if the Maple Leaf trade goes through.

Bonehead is wating them out and finally asks the million dollar question... "Who do we add to this Toronto deal to get it done?" Coach Ramsay immediately adds "the rights to C Pakarinen" since we are going to lose him after the season anyway"... McCabe agrees, and after some thoughts, stuns both men when he offers "we can restructure the Sharks deal too" Bonehead hasn't considered this and looks at McCabe...

McCabe goes to the whiteboard and marks in the Toronto players and then moves the lines around leaving Kopecky as the odd forward out. "Salary wise it works and by removing Kulikov and adding Kopecky to the Sharks trade - we are definitely better off offensively..." Coach Ramsay laughs at the double meaning, and Bonehead tells McCabe to leave it up on the board for the rest of the coaches.

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SCORES
PIT - 2 NYR - 4 Rangers LW Benoit Pouliot (6.5c/7.5c) scored twice including the GWG to lead the Rangers past the visiting Penguins. Our beloved stats geek noted these two goals were the first points scored at home by Pouliot this season.

ARZ - 4 ANA - 3 A third period PP goal by Radim Vrbata was the game winner, while an outstanding performance by Ducks D Bryan Allen (0G/3A, +3) (7.0b) fell just short of tying the game, ringing a slapshot off the post with 17 seconds left in regulation.

WPG - 2 CHI - 3 An uncharacteristically sloppy game by the Blackhawks allowed the visiting Jets to escape with a point, but D Niklas Hjalmarsson (7.0c/7.5c) got the win with a wrist shot over the Jets G glove in the shootout.

NAS - 5 COL - 4 There was a total of 5 lead changes in the game, and LW Nick Spaling scored the GWG with 2:36 remaining in the third period, to give the visitors the win.

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The usual routines are starting to settle in, and the players seem to be upbeat both on the morning flight and during afternoon practice. Bruins GM Peter Chiarulli pays a visit to Bonehead where he hands Bonehead the trade paperwork declining the trade. Bonehead simply asks "Is there any variation of the trade you would be interested in?" Chiarulli shakes his head no, they then shake hands and Chiarulli heads back to the elevators.

The coaches have the players ready, and the lines are posted on the whiteboard. Bonehead simply reminds the team that they are going to have to beat teams like this if they have any hope of the playoffs, but concentrate on tonight and get these two points! Coach Ramsay announces the Bruins tendencies on special teams and the team heads out for the opening faceoff.

The first period is a disaster... Five goals allowed on 14 shots, Tim Thomas doesn't even argue when Bonehead announces the goalie switch to Markstrom. Coach McCabe is irate - telling his defensemen to start finishing the checks and stop leaving bodies standing in front of the net. Coach Ramsay is more reserved but lectures his forwards to get back and help on defense. Bonehead simply says this is a test of the makeup of the team, if they want to make a game of it - now is the time! The line times are adjusted to 1-25/2-10/3-5/4-20.

The second period is even in goals but the Panthers are still outshot 12 - 6 and Bruins Jarome Iginlia scores his third PP goal for a hat trick, and yes the hats rained down! The Panthers squad is demoralized, but Bonehead just tells them to grind it out and make a game of it. Bone head is unhappy with the six minor penalties taken and none for the Bruins, but he wont use that crutch since most of the penalties were justified.

The third period slides backwards towards the disaster play like the first period, and the Bruins top line just has their way with our team. Iginlia (4G/2A), Krejci (2G/3A) and Lucic (0G/2A) all logged over 22 minutes of play. Bonehead just shakes his head and tells the team to shower up and let's get back to the airport and get home. The players air of confidence is definitely gone now, muttering and cursing and not even the stereo is playing as Bonehead heads back for the rink to think this over...

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OK folks - I had a little health issue, and joined with the OOTP16 being such a blast, I've ignored FHM.
I will be dropping the every NHL game coverage to speed up the simulation. I will post weekly screens of stats and Panthers games hoping to get the season done by mid April... So here we go!

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Trial screen of games.

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Miscellaneous info - I'm disappointed the Toronto trade didn't work...

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NHL scores

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OTTAWA - The Panthers arrive in the Canadian capital having put the debacle at Boston behind them, or so they say to the press. Team Captain Brian Campbell called a players only meeting after the morning skate and Bonehead respected the Captain speaking out and did not interfere with the process. Coach Pauwelyn has the Senator's tendencies sheet ready for tonight, but Bonehead just tosses it on the desk and engages all the coaches in "Where do we go from here?" regarding the trade rejections. The overwhelming sentiment is to leave it alone and see how it plays out tonight before pushing panic buttons.

The pregame instructions are simple, Coach Ramsay has sat C Scott Gomez for C Drew Shore and then reset the lines to 15 mins each and Coach McCabe has done the same with the defense. Bonehead tells the team that playing time will be earned through performance and he is going to forget the Boston game ever happened... and it works!

Aside from shots surrendered and takeaways, Bonehead is pleased with the effort and his third line really stepped up and played strong. The post game conference is awkward when the brash young reporter covering the Panthers asks as his first question how does Bonehead feel tonight after the horrible Boston game? Bonehead gives it some thought for dramatic benefit and says "Boston, horrible?" which gets some scattered laughs.

The coaches and players are happy and as the team is boarding the buses back to the airport, he says to them "We're back on track, folks" to cheers and backslapping.

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NHL Scores

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*** Game EIGHTEEN @ NYR Nov 10th *** (another "Bonehead" mistake I didn't catch before posting...)


NY - The morning skate is upbeat and good things are happening, Bonehead and the asst coaches all are complimenting the players drive and performance. Coach Ramsay and Coach McCabe stay with the winning formula of equal ice time for all four lines and defensive pairings. Coach Pauwelyn has the Ranger tendencies set on the whiteboard and Bonehead tells the forwards to pay attention to the breakout passes.

The results are an outstanding shutout win, the Panthers were again on the short end of shots generated 20 - 26 but only a very few odd man rushes occurred against as the forwards marked their men well. The only goal of the game came on a PP tally and it was huge as there were only three penalties called the entire game.

The locker room is rocking and the players are acting like they won the playoffs, but Bonehead just smiles and leaves them to enjoy the moment. His postgame ritual of going back oout to the ice is joined by Coach McCabe who says very little but grins a lot as they watch the MSG workers start covering the rink over for another venue.

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NHL Scores

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After the late flight lands from NY just after midnight, Bonehead is feeling pretty good and heads for the rink, following the equipment truck back to the stadium. Once there he goes to his office and views his "in bin" and looks over the trade rejections from the Maple Leafs and the Sharks... Doodling on a notepad and looking over the rosters of both teams he makes minor changes to both and uncharacteristically fires both off to the respective teams for approval... He drops C Bolland and opts for another minor league C named McGregg in the Tor trade, and in the San Jose trade its two minor league goalies and Thornton for his previous offer.

Again only time will tell if this changes the fortunes of the team... He leaves the originals on Jo's desk and copies it for the "War Room and he tapes it to the whiteboard before leaving or the night.

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NHL Scores

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Fla - Bonehead feels comfortable with the lineups and after conferring with the coaches nobody voiced any concerns about the changes to the trade offers. Coach Pauwelyn had the only comment that it would be awkward for the team IF the winning streak continues and these trades get approved... Coach Ramsay makes one late change adding in C Scott Gomez after C Drew Shore suffered a hand injury while roughhousing in the locker room after practice...

Bonehead is actually happy with the play of the team even though they lost 2 - 0, all phases of the game were competitive. The points for practice were the PP went 0 - 4 and D Eric Gudbranson was in Coach McCabes doghouse for taking two dumb penalties - but the fans loved it when he absolutely leveled Corey Perry along the boards resulting in a takeaway.

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Scores