The Florida Panthers’ lone representative at this years NHL All Star game made his mark in a fantastic fashion and helped change the outcome of Sunday night’s game. With the Eastern Conference down 11-10 (yes, 11-10 in a hockey game) Jay Bouwmeester would step forward and deliver for the East.

With 3:39 seconds left in the 3rd period Bouwmeester scored to tie the game at 11-11 and force overtime. After a frantic overtime period saw neither side score, the sold out crowd at the Bell Center in Montreal got another chance to see some scoring, in addition to the 22 goals scored in regulation. Bouwmeester’s goal forced the game into a shootout which the Eastern Conference would win, taking the All Star game 12-11.

Bouwmeester wasn’t named the MVP of the All Star game, but he certainly saved the game for the East and made a good showing of himself and his franchise on a national stage with the whole of NHL nation watching.

For the first time in several years, the Florida Panthers head into the NHL All Star break with a solid chance of making the post season. In the 7 seasons since their last playoff appearance (2000), the Panthers have had at best a sliver of hope to make the playoffs, not this year though. Heading into the break, the Panthers sit 1pt out of a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference and have 36 games left this season to solidify a playoff spot.

The Panthers have come a long way not only since 2000, but have also improved their fortunes since the early part of this season. After their November 8th loss to Phoenix, the Panthers were (points wise) the worst team in the NHL with 9pts through 13 games. Since then however the Panthers have turned their fortunes around. The team set a franchise record with 7 wins in December, and scored 27 goals in 5 games to start 2009.

So what do the Panthers need to continue doing right and what must they improve on to make the playoffs? A few simple things can help ensure a trip to the post-season for the first time since 2000.

1. Player accountability has been a big part of the Panthers turnaround this year. Under new head coach Peter DeBoer nobody is immune to benching if they aren’t performing. Tomas Vokoun in particular was one player who didn’t appear to be as sharp as possible when the season began, so to the bench he went. In his place Craig Anderson pushed him for the starting position in the Florida net and was 5-1-2 during Florida’s hot streak in December. Vokoun however has returned as the starter and been very impressive. Each and every player giving their all down the stretch will be important if the Panthers want to make the playoffs.

2. The Panthers must get better at finishing games. The Panthers have been very good this season at coming from behind and forcing overtime late in games, however overtime and shoot outs have been a major downfall for the Panthers so far and cost them a lot of points in the standings. So far the Panthers have lost 6 times in a shootout and only won 2 times in overtime. Picking up full points in these situations will be vital to getting Florida into the playoffs.

3. Most importantly for the Panthers, the team just needs to stay healthy. Almost every big name player on the team has spent a week or more on the injured list this season. At one point earlier this season the Panthers had 5 forwards on the injured list, but nonetheless launched themselves into a hot streak with the help of every player on the team stepping up to fill the void. The Panthers aren’t likely to be able to survive if they tempt fate twice though. Losing a key player at some point down the stretch could prove costly in a tight playoff race.

Make no mistake, your Panthers have a great chance of making the NHL playoffs this season. The team has played very good hockey to this point, but if they want to end their playoff drought they’ll need step their play up another notch.

The Florida Panthers put in an all together mediocre performance last night at home, resulting in a 4-1 loss to the Dallas Stars. Florida netted the games 1st and only goal in the opening period, but were dominated from there on out giving up 2 goals in each of the next 2 period to fall 4-1.

The Panthers out shot the Stars 10-5 in the 1st period, but had only Karlis Skrastins goal at 12:41 to show for it. The Panthers were up 1-0 after the 1st period, but that would be all the offense they would must for the game. Dallas came out in the 2nd period and outshot the Panthers 11-8. Dallas tied the game on the power play at 12:33, and with 32 seconds left in the period scored to take a 2-1 lead.

The 3rd period was a closer affair, and Florida actually outshot Dallas 10-9, but the Stars would be the only team to find the back of the net. Dallas’ Mike Ribeiro would score a true hat trick, getting 2 goals in the 3rd to go with his go ahead goal late in the 2nd period. 3:45 into the 3rd Ribeiro scored, and then added an empty netter with 26 seconds left in the game to finish off his hat trick.

For the Panthers, last nights game was an unfortunate way to head into the All Star break. Last night’s loss was the first game in January in which the Panthers did not pick up at least 1pt, dropping their record to 5-1-3 in the month of January. The Panthers have no reason to be too down though, they had gone 8 straight games with at least a point and enter the All Star break in a tie for 9th place in the Eastern Conference, just 1pt behind the Carolina Hurricanes for 8th. Look for Florida to come out of the All Star break fighting, their playoff lives depend on it.

The Florida Panthers can’t seem to find the net when it comes to shoot out situations this season. The Panthers scored late in the 3rd period to tie the Buffalo Sabres and force overtime, only to fall in the shoot out for the 2nd time in 3 games.

David Booth got Florida on the board first in the 1st period with a goal on a penalty shot at 16:29 of the period, giving Florida the 1-0 lead at the intermission. The Panthers would hold the lead through most of the 2nd period until Buffalo scored at 18:03 to tie the game at 1-1 heading into the 3rd period. Buffalo would take a 2-1 lead early in the 3rd period, scoring on the power play. Florida would pull even at 2-2 through Nathan Horton at 16:36 of the period to force overtime.

In the overtime session the Panthers outshot the Sabres 3-2, but neither team could find the back of the net, forcing a shoot out to decide the winner. It was over quick in the shoot out as Florida would have both attempts saved while Buffalo would score on both attempts, giving the Sabres a 3-2 OT win.

Florida played well, outshooting the Sabres in 2 of the 3 periods, and the overtime session. Florida was unfortunate to not score in the 2nd period (while allowing a tying goal) despite outshooting the Sabres and really controlling the pace of the game. David Booth scored his team leading 19th goal. The Panthers did manage to pick up a point tonight, keeping them ahead of Carolina for 2nd in the division and 1pt behind the Pittsburgh Pengiuns for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. It will be very important for the Panthers to head into the All Star break on a roll, because upon their return from the break they will be in the midst of a tough playoff hunt.

Saturday night the Florida Panthers were dominated for two of three periods, but still walked away from the game with a 4-3 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning. Trailing 3-1 after the 1st period, the Panthers controlled the 2nd period, scoring 3 unanswered goals to steal victory from the Lightning.

Tampa Bay built a 2-1 lead by the mid point of the 1st period before the Panthers would get themselves on the board. Gregory Campbell scored late, at 17:55 of the 1st, to pull the Panthers within a goal at 2-1. Campbell’s effort was undone 51 seconds later as Tampa Bay re-established a 2 goal lead at 3-1 with just over 1 minute left in the 1st. Tampa Bay dominated the flow of play in the 1st and outshot Florida 11-4.

Florida would dominate the 2nd period though, the only stretch of the game in which they played well, scoring 3 unanswered goals and outshooting Tampa Bay 13-9. Florida used the power play to get themselves back in the game in the 2nd period. Cory Stillman scored the first power play goal at 6:39 to get Florida back within a goal at 3-2. Just over 4 minutes later Richard Zednik would score his 9th of the season to tie the game at 3-3. Jay Bouwmeester would complete the comeback scoring on the power play with 1 second left in the period to put Florida ahead 4-3.

Florida put in a solid effort on the ice, with the exception of in goal. Craig Anderson started the game put was pulled after the 1st period in which he allowed 3 goals on 11 shots. Tomas Vokoun, who replaced him in the 2nd, stopped all 22 shots he faced. Thankfully for Anderson, Florida’s offense continues to be red hot as they scored 4 goals and went 2 for 2 on power plays.