The Maven's New Course Is Called Florida Panthers 101 – Students Are Welcome.
The Panthers not only are the sporting toast of Florida and the National Hockey League but also the subject of widespread scrutiny among serious hockey students.
The fact that they lead the Stanley Cup Final three games to one only ads to their eminence.
Just out of curiosity The Maven asked historian Al Greenberg to teach a brief course called "Winning Hockey Panthers Style."
And since Greenberg is a New Yorker and lifelong Rangers fan; I specifically asked him to apply his Panthers savvy to the Rangers.
MY FIRST QUESTION: As a Rangers fan who watches the Cats, what do the Cats do so well that can be passed on the Blueshirts to improve next season?
GREENBERG: "Hustle, hustle, and more hustle. A good example was provided by Sam Bennett I'm Game Three when he scored because he pounced on Edmonton goalie Skinner's error. In another instance, Sam Reinhart scored after Aleksander Barkov picked defenseman Bouchard's pocket.
SECOND QUESTION: Despite the loss in Edmonton what is it about Florida's defensive play that usually works well?
GREENBERG: "When it's working, coach Paul Maurice's system is designed to force the Edmonton forwards to the perimeter. That requires relentless checking which they normally – but not last night – do to perfection.
THIRD QUESTION: What about last night?
GREENBERG: "The Cats knew that Edmonton can be explosive and have great comeback ability. Before the game Connor McDavid repeated the old Yogi Berra line, "It ain't over 'til it's over."
McDavid underlined the point by making the graduate course Panthers 101 look more like Hockey Kindergarten!
