José Theodore, NHL Goalie

Video from Panthers Live

2012-02-13T23:00:00.000-06:00

Big thanks again to Nelly.

When asked about comparing himself to other goalies.

When asked who he feels is the best shooter he faces in the shootout.
Right before the video started, the fan called him "Hosay", so he said "I'm José, not Hosay. I'm from Montreal not Mexico." That's exactly when this video started, and everyone laughed, but you can hear him saying "It's ok, it happens all the time" so he didn't want to make the person feel bad.

Playing in Montreal vs. Florida

What does he do before games?

When asked if he's fought other goalies.
Some of us have heard the adorable "I'm a lover not a fighter" line before. ;o)

José Theodore at Panthers Live, 2/13/12

2012-02-13T21:21:00.000-06:00

Thanks to fellow José fan, Nelly, for sharing her photos from the Panthers Live event tonight. It was a Q and A with José, Brian Campbell, and Mike Weaver.

Here are some photos, and I'll post videos a bit later. Good stuff!

And also thanks to Yuri for tweeting me some photos as the event was occurring.

And from the Panthers twitter account.

Post-Game Interview, Articles, and Blogs, 2/12/12

2012-02-12T22:05:00.001-06:00

Click to watch video of interview with José after his win over the Islanders on 2/12/12.

From On Frozen Pond:

“We struggled a little bit but now it's crunch time and it's never too late to start doing the right things,'' said Jose Theodore, who was back in net for the Panthers after missing 13 of the past 15 games with a sore knee. “Winning back-to-back games on the road is always huge.''

Theodore showed a little rust as Florida continued its trend of giving up early goals. Frans Nielsen scored on New York's first shot 3:35 into the game as the Panthers surrendered the opening goal within the first four minutes of a game in four straight road games.

Yet as was the case on Saturday, the 1-0 deficit didn't deflate the Panthers as they came back to win.

“It's good to be back out there,'' Theodore said. “I only had a couple of practices, so I was a little rusty. You like to get a couple of easy shots to get the feel of the puck, but their first four were quality chances. I didn't start the way I wanted to, but I didn't panic and the team played a heck of a game in front of me.''

From ESPN:
"I was just looking forward to getting this game in and I was feeling better as the game went on," Theodore said. "I'll have to work hard in practice to get my game to where it was a couple of months ago."

From The Sun Sentinel:

“That was two solid games. It’s satisfying,’’ Panthers coach Kevin Dineen said. “I don’t think it was an easy night for Jose. A lot of pucks were jumping and hopping. He had to be sharp. Our young defensemen played good in front of him and obviously, we got some production from different places. We’ve talked about that a lot, a little bit of diversity and not betting on the same horses all the time.’’

Theodore, who hasn’t played since Jan. 20 when he reinjured his knee that has forced him to miss 13 of 15 games, recovered from a shaky start in which he gave up a goal on New York’s first shot to record 26 saves.

“It’s good to be back helping the team,’’ said Theodore, who improved to 18-9-2 against the Isles. The only other team he has more victories against are the Penguins with 20. “I was a little rusty. When you miss a couple of games I always like to have a couple of shots to feel the puck. [Today] the first four shots were quality chances. It didn’t start the way I wanted to but with my experience I didn’t panic and the team played great in front of me.”

Gameday, Panthers @ Islanders, W (4-1)

2012-02-12T13:59:00.002-06:00

José is the starter today on Long Island.

Sorry I'm late updating. I'm not quite back into the swing of him playing. It seems like it's been forever.

The Panthers won 4-1. They had a very solid game all around, except for the first 3 minutes or so when their one goal against was scored. They just have a real problem with those first few minutes, especially on the road. But they bounced back nicely.

José faced 27 shots and obviously saved 26. I was really hoping the Panthers would limit his shots faced to less than 30, and they did, so I appreciate that. With it being his first game back, I really wanted it to be a quiet game for him and his knee. Hopefully his knee weathered the storm well. There were at least 3 times I saw Dmen in front of him diving to block shots with their bodies, so they were really trying to take care of him. "Theo's mom" here sent them a batch of virtual brownies as a thank-you.

They next play at home on Wednesday against Ottawa. The Capitals lost today, so the Panthers' lead is 4 points in the Southeast Division.

Quote from José about his knee

2012-02-11T15:51:00.000-06:00

From On Frozen Pond

“The knee is really good so now it's just about getting back out there,'' Theodore said. “I needed the rest because it didn't feel good. I have a couple practices under my belt so I'm ready. It was tough sitting out and watching. It's good to be back with the team.''

Gameday, Panthers @ Devils (Clemmensen in goal, W 3-1)

2012-02-11T12:18:00.003-06:00

Sorry for the late post, but they didn't announce the starter until warm-ups. Since Clemmensen is in goal today, we can only assume José will start tomorrow against the Islanders (3:00 EST.)

The Panthers won 3-1. Great defense out there today. Hopefully the D shows up for José too. Jason Garrison went out with a lower-body injury, so he won't be playing tomorrow.

Gameday, Panthers vs. Kings, W (3-1)

2012-02-09T15:35:00.001-06:00

It was said yesterday that Clemmensen would get the start tonight and José would be on the bench. And that was again reiterated this morning at morning skate. Now this is in Harvey Fialkov's blog:

"Finally, the Panthers goalie situation is returning to normalcy with both Jose Theodore and Jacob Markstrom skating and taking shots at morning skate today. Although coach Kevin Dineen said yesterday that Scott Clemmensen would start tonight against the Kings and Theodore would be his backup, that could change. Dineen said he would check with Theodore today and if he says he’s ready then he could be in the net tonight to face red-hot Kings goalie Jonathan Quick."

So I guess we'll wait and see what happens at gametime.

**************************

Clemmensen was the starter, and the Panthers won 3-1. Solid game by the Panthers all around.

And here's proof that José is back in uniform.

José is Back in the Lineup!!!!!!!!!!!!

2012-02-08T13:52:00.003-06:00

Yes, that's a lot of exclamation points, because I AM exclaiming. It seems he will be Clemmensen's backup tomorrow against Los Angeles, so they're easing him into it, which I appreciate. But at least he's dressing for the game!!

Sun Sentinel Blog

Theodore ready to return but will back up Clemmensen tomorrow

While most of the Panthers took a mental healthy day off today after Tuesday’s 4-0 thrashing at the hands of the Capitals and old pal Tomas Vokoun, several injured Panthers skated for 60 minutes at Saveology.com Iceplex.

Goalie Jose Theodore, who has been nursing a lingering knee injury on and off since Jan. 1, will suit up for tomorrow’s home clash against the Kings but will back up Scott Clemmensen most likely for one more game before playing in one of the weekend back-to-back sets against New Jersey and the Isles.

Other injured players skating but not ready to return are forward Jack Skille (shoulder), goalie Jacob Markstrom and defenseman Ed Jovanovski (hand). Skille is probably the closest to returning.

The Panthers are still in pretty good shape if they can get their core guys back. Elias says they have the softest schedule and they have games in hand with Washington and Ottawa. It’s no time to press the panic button and that was Kevin Dineen’s message after the game last night.

Post-Game Notes 2/7/12

2012-02-07T22:25:00.000-06:00

From On Frozen Pond

This is the part about José:

With the Panthers being delayed coming out of Fort Lauderdale by more than two hours on Monday, it was probably a good idea that Dineen left goalie Jose Theodore at home.

Theodore, who has been doing on-ice workouts, didn't have to hang out on the team charter as it sat near the runway while mechanics and technicians worked on the plane.

Dineen said Theodore was to skate in South Florida on Tuesday and should be on the ice Wednesday whether or not the Panthers hold a practice session.

Theodore suffered a minor knee injury after being run over by teammate Dmitry Kulikov and Montreal's Mike Blunden on Dec. 31. Theodore returned to play in two games last month but has been out since.

The Panthers would like to have Theodore back for this weekend's back-to-back series against the host Devils and Islanders.

“He's getting close, but if he wasn't going to play [Tuesday], he was better off staying at home,'' Dineen said. “We had a bit of a tough day, some technical difficulties with the plane. That happens.'

Gameday, Panthers @ Capitals, L (0-4, Clemmensen)

2012-02-07T10:55:00.002-06:00

Even though yesterday it was reported that José would be travelling with the team to Washington, it seems that was not correct.

From the Sun Sentinel blog: Panthers injured goalie Jose Theodore remained home in South Florida and skated today.

José is Day-to-Day and Will be Travelling to Washington

2012-02-06T10:32:00.000-06:00

José will be travelling with the team to Washington, but it's not known whether he will play or not. My guess is no, but I'm no expert.

It Seems José Skated Yesterday (Saturday)

2012-02-05T16:11:00.000-06:00

I guess it probably wasn't covered by the media yesterday, because the team was in Tampa. But according to The Sun Sentinel's Harvey Fialkov, José skated yesterday, along with Markstrom who is still recovering from knee surgery.

The blog is found here.

The part I'm talking about:

"With Markstrom and Theodore – who both skated Saturday and nearing returns – projected as next year’s tandem in net, Clemmensen, 34, an unrestricted free agent after this season, may be playing for a job elsewhere."

Actually, I like everything about that paragraph.

Gameday, Panthers @ Lightning

2012-02-04T19:54:00.002-06:00

Clemmensen started in goal. The team looked like crap, and Clemmensen was pulled after 5 goals. Brian Foster came into the game. Happy 25th birthday to Brian!

Gameday, Panthers vs. Jets, W (2-1)

2012-02-03T14:51:00.002-06:00

Clemmensen will be in goal tonight against the Jets. José was not at morning skate today. No update on his condition. Coach Dineen was sick with no voice, so he didn't talk to the media after practice.

The Panthers won 2-1 tonight. They are 3 ahead of Washington and 5 ahead of Winnipeg.

Clemmensen will get the start tomorrow night in Tampa also.

Dineen Hopeful that José Will be Back by Saturday

2012-02-02T13:31:00.003-06:00

From the Sun Sentinel:

Dineen is still hopeful that Skille and goalie Jose Theodore could play this weekend, more likely against Tampa Bay on Saturday, and not Winnipeg tomorrow.

Then of course Harvey had to add one of his usual comments that annoy me:
"Could the Panthers dangle Clemmensen or Theodore at the trade deadline for another blue-liner or offensive-minded center for the playoff push?"

I honestly have forgotten how many times I've pointed out to these writers that José has a no-trade clause.

Interview from Yesterday

2012-02-01T14:59:00.001-06:00

Harvey Fialkov posted a few interviews on his blog today. This one of José was actually from yesterday after practice, obviously before he knew the extent of his knee issue.

Click for interview.

José Will Miss a Few More Games with Knee Issue

2012-02-01T10:15:00.002-06:00

There are not many details yet, but José was not at this morning's skate. Brian Foster has been called up to backup Clemmensen against Washington tonight.

It seems that José's knee might never have been as well as it needed to be and playing perhaps aggravated it. Hopefully more information will be forthcoming.

Panthers goalie controversy brewing

2012-01-31T14:38:00.000-06:00

Those are the words of Harvey Fialkov of The Sun Sentinel, not me.

And as a fan, what Dineen said here (there are some plays over the course of the season that I’d like to see him make some saves for us) really irritates me. I guess he expects perfection, even if the team in front of his goalie isn't.

Here's the blog:

January 31st, 2012 | 2:56 PM

CORAL SPRINGS On the day before arguably their most important game of the 2011-12 season against the Washington Capitals, the Panthers may be on the brink of their first goalie controversy of the year.

While Panthers coach Kevin Dineen verbally quashed that notion by firmly stating that Jose Theodore is his starter, his actions prior to the All-Star break spoke otherwise when he started Scott Clemmensen against the Philadelphia Flyers over a rested, uninjured Theodore.

“You always start looking at the immediate games in Colorado and Chicago,’’ said Dineen when asked to assess Theodore’s season. “They were disappointing to all of us. When you look at the big picture he’s had a real positive effect on our lineup. He’s been a guy whose won some games for us. That’s what you need out of your goaltenders.

“Saying that, there are some plays over the course of the season that I’d like to see him make some saves for us.’’

Theodore, 35, is 14-9-5 with a 2.50 goals-against-average, which is one shy of his victory total last season with Minnesota and his best GAA since 2007-08. However, since sustaining a minor knee injury on New Year’s Eve against the Canadiens, Theodore sat out the next 18 days before losing 4-3 in overtime to Colorado and 3-1 to the Blackhawks.

“We knew down the stretch you need two goalies to be good,’’ said Theodore, who admitted he’s rarely 100 percent healthy. “Clemmensen’s playing great now. We had a good break to refocus for the last stretch.’’

Clemmensen, 34, who has notched at least a point in 11 of his 13 decisions (6-2-5), played the final two games before the break, earning a 4-3 shootout win over Winnipeg before losing in a 3-2 shootout versus Philadelphia.

“Any time you’re given an opportunity to play you’ve got to make the most of it,’’ said Clemmensen, who has started six of the previous nine games while going 2-2-2. “Right before the break I was playing quite a bit. That goes to show that my belief in [Dineen] and his belief in me are justified.’’

Dineen reiterated that Theodore is his No. 1 guy, but …

“I’m looking to win every game I can and [goaltender coach Robb Tallas] and I talk every day to try to build a consensus and decision who’s going to get the net,’’ he said. “Sometimes that’s a very easy decision to make. Other times, it’s a challenge.

“Jose Theodore is our starter. We can’t have success down the stretch without Jose playing good hockey.’’

Panthers Back on the Ice Today

2012-01-30T19:33:00.000-06:00

All-Star Break is over! The Panthers had a late afternoon practice. They will play the Capitals on Wednesday night, and the winner will hold sole possession of the #1 spot in the Southeast. Big game!

Recent photos of José wearing his new mask

2012-01-29T10:51:00.000-06:00

From January 20 against Chicago

From January 21 in Winnipeg

And before the January 24th game against Philadelphia

Fan Photos from the January 14, 2012 community practice at Kendall

2012-01-29T10:07:00.000-06:00

Fellow Panthers fan, Ernie Alvarez, shared his photos of José from the January 14th community practice at Kendall. Thanks so much, Ernie! Great photos!

Leadership is praised for Florida Panthers’ turnaround

2012-01-28T20:12:00.000-06:00

By George Richards of The Miami Herald

NHL observers at the All-Star Game credited GM Dale Tallon and coach Kevin Dineen for the Panthers’ strong showing this season.

OTTAWA -- Picked to finish near the bottom of the Eastern Conference before the season started by most experts, the Panthers are not only in the hunt for a playoff spot, but also a division championship as well.

The Panthers went into the All-Star break with 55 points — tied with Washington for the Southeast Division lead and seventh overall in the conference. There are 34 games left. Surprised?

“I am not surprised at all,’’ said Pierre McGuire of NBC Sports. “Breaking down what [GM] Dale Tallon had done by bringing in a veteran presence and stability in goal with Jose Theodore, I’m not surprised with what Florida has done. I am a little surprised at where Washington is right now.

“[Coach] Kevin Dineen has made a huge difference, as has [assistants] Craig Ramsay and Gord Murphy. And of course, Dale Tallon, as well. That team was crying out for leadership and direction. Look at what it has done for them.’’

When the All-Star break ends, the Panthers could be in make-or-break mode as All-Star defenseman Brian Campbell put it on Friday. Florida opens with four divisional opponents — including two against Washington. The Capitals visit Sunrise in the first game after the break on Wednesday.

Defenseman Dennis Wideman was part of the Panthers’ salary purge at the trade deadline last February, being sent to the Capitals. An All-Star selection this season, Wideman knows it could be Florida keeping Washington from its fifth consecutive division title.

“They signed a lot of good players in the offseason, so when things started, I looked at them as a contender, a playoff team,’’ Wideman said. “... We have a lot of games down the stretch against the Panthers. These four point games are getting to be important.’’

Both Dave Strader and Kevin Weekes have history with the Panthers organization and have paid attention to what Florida has done this season. Strader, Florida’s TV voice from 2005-07, credits Tallon’s sweeping changes as the reason for the early success.

“I honestly thought Florida would be the surprise team in the Eastern Conference,’’ said Strader, now with NBC. “It was such a terrific makeover of the roster, although you never know how a team will gel. But they have. I watch as many of their games as I can, and it’s great to see how the market has embraced what the team has done.’’

Weekes, Florida’s backup goalie in 1997-98 after being an original draft pick in 1993, gave credit to Dineen and Tallon for changing not only a losing atmosphere but also bringing the fun back into the locker room. The Panthers, led by newcomers Kris Versteeg and Campbell, are a much looser bunch than in years past.

“I like that Dale Tallon thinks outside of the box, so he didn’t just take players based on predisposed notions,’’ said Weekes, who works for the NHL Network. “... And I played against Kevin Dineen and think he has a great approach to the game, and it has rubbed off. They are in position to succeed now.

“It’s very upbeat in Florida right now. Guys love coming to the rink, but know they have to work. It’s still a game. You have to work, but it should be fun being an NHL player. I think you see that with the Panthers now.’’

Gameday, Panthers vs. Flyers, 7:30 EST (Clemmensen in net)

2012-01-24T09:35:00.003-06:00

The Panthers lost in a shootout, final score was 2-3.

It's good that they have a week off now. That way if José's knee is at all sore, it will have time to heal.

I'll keep you updated if anything comes up over the All Star Break!

Gameday, Panthers @ Blackhawks (L, 1-3)

2012-01-20T14:09:00.002-06:00

After one period, the Blackhawks lead 2-0. José faced 8 shots. One goal was a breakaway by Toews, the other he was totally screened.

And the Panthers can't get much offense going. It's not looking promising. But I'm keeping the faith.

That was not a very impressive showing by the Panthers.

José faced 22 shots on goal. He had moments where he looked really sharp. I'm just really getting tired of the defense of the Panthers. They're rather lacking in my mind, and are no good at clearing the crease. It's frustrating.

Still lots of hockey to be played.

They play in Winnipeg tomorrow night. Clemmensen will probably get the start.

Jose Theodore: South Florida is Final Destination

2012-01-19T14:48:00.001-06:00

From George Richards' On Frozen Pond:

Speaking of being at home, goalie Jose Theodore was joking with a reporter from the Denver Post Thursday when he declared “Florida is my last stop.''

Theodore, who has played for the Canadiens, Avs, Capitals and Wild, made it clear he isn't thinking about retirement.

“I didn't say this would be my last contract,'' he said.

Theodore is signed through next season. Theodore made 40 saves in Wednesday's loss to the Avs.

Gameday, Panthers @ Avalanche, 3-4, OT

2012-01-18T16:25:00.002-06:00

Nice little quote today from Semyon Varlamov about José:

“He was my best friend in Washington. It was tough…when he played well all season and in second game coach puts the young guy out on ice. He was very professional and helped me in the playoffs."

After José's first period after 18 days, the Panthers are leading 1-0. He faced 9 shots on goal and looked sharp.

He is wearing the new TikiGargoyle Mask. Here's the back of his mask...waiting for a better photo.

Sorry I disappeared for a while. This was a painful one. They were leading 3-1 going into the 3rd, but ended up losing 3-4 in OT. The Panthers had so many opportunities to put it away and didn't. Including a 4 minute PP in the 3rd. Ouch. José was quite solid tonight. First game back after 18 days and stopped 40 of 44. You could see his frustration though...he slammed his stick a couple times at the end. It was painful to see his disappointment. Here's hoping for something better on Friday.

José Will be on the Road Trip beginning this Afternoon

2012-01-17T10:48:00.002-06:00

Official Photos of José's New Tiki Mask

2012-01-16T12:21:00.001-06:00

Artist David Gunnarsson released official photos of José's new mask today. Here's what he had to say:

Burning TikiGargoyles on Theodore´s mask

We have the honor to present the Florida Panthers goalie Jose Theodore´s new mask. I love so much to work with Jose, he just like me loves a lot of details on the masks. :)

On this mask it is time for Gargoyles again, I love to paint gargoyles. Jose wanted it in a new unique way with a cool connection to Florida. Karl in my team came up with the idea of Tiki, I made some sketches were I mixed Tikis and Gargoyles, and the design idea was born. Jose loved the sketches and I started the adventure to paint it.

The Burning TikiGargoyles are sitting on each side of the Florida beach in their sand castles, guarding the net. Around this I created a totally action packed Florida design with so many Florida details to discover all over the mask. I love to spend a lot of time just painting details and go crazy on details, and play with metallic effects. Lots of the stuff you can only see when you see the mask live. I remember when I was a kid and watched the TV series Miami Vice, in the intro there were flamingos, so I really wanted that in the design... :)

On the chin the mask is transformed into a Tiki Gargoyle mask, turning Jose into one when he put it on his head.

Gameday, Panthers vs. Bruins (José will not dress)

2012-01-16T10:30:00.000-06:00

Better safe than sorry, I'm just really sad that they don't feel he's ready. Hopefully soon. They go on a 3-game road trip after tonight, first game being in Colorado on Wednesday. I wonder if he'll travel...

Will José Start Tomorrow Against Boston?

2012-01-15T16:36:00.003-06:00

Edited with Richards' "rethink."

Coach Dineen and José wouldn't commit as to whether he'd be starting tomorrow against Boston. This from George Richards of The Miami Herald:

And this from Harvey Fialkov of The Sun Sentinel:
Theodore itching to return

Theodore, who has missed the last four games with a knee injury, is itching to play against the Bruins, especially after they knocked him out of the net with four goals in 20 minutes of an embarrassing 8-0 defeat on Dec. 23.

“It’s always fun to play the Stanley Cup champions,’’ said Theodore, who earlier this season notched a shutout against Boston. “Last game they gave us a pretty good spanking, so obviously, it would be good to get back [at them].’’

Autograph Signing Photos and Video

2012-01-15T10:28:00.000-06:00

The Panthers participated in an autograph signing for full season ticket holders last week. Here's a video from the event. At the :40 mark you see a bit of adorableness with José fist bumping with a little boy.

Fans weren't allowed to take photos, so these were from cell phones, therefore a little blurry.

José Wore a New Mask at Practice Today

2012-01-14T14:42:00.001-06:00

From George Richards' On Frozen Pond:

Panthers goalie Jose Theodore was rocking a new mask on Saturday although he says he's not decided whether it will be his new game mask or not.

Theodore said he has had gargoyles on his old masks because he liked the idea of the legend that gargoyles 'defended the city.'

On his new mask, Theodore brings the idea back -- with a tropical take: Tiki carvings defending sand castles. With palm trees and stuff.

José Practiced but Will Not Dress in Tonight's Game

2012-01-13T10:29:00.002-06:00

José is Practicing with the Team Today

2012-01-12T10:26:00.003-06:00

More Photos

2012-01-11T18:59:00.000-06:00

And here's the best photo I've seen of my 2nd favorite Panther, Matt Bradley.

Panthers Won't Rush José's Return

2012-01-11T18:56:00.002-06:00

From the Sun Sentinel:

The Panthers insist they won’t rush Theodore back despite their lack of depth at the position right now.

“You can’t do that,” goaltending coach Robb Tallas said. “It’s a small injury and you don’t want to make it serious. You do the right steps to make sure [Theodore] is 100 percent. [Scott] Clemmensen is a great goalie, and everybody has 100 percent confidence in him to carry this team right now.”

Until Theodore returns, the Panthers will depend on rookie Brian Foster to serve as Clemmensen’s back up.

José Skated Today

2012-01-10T16:28:00.001-06:00

Great news! (Except for Markstrom, I'm not saying that's good news.)

Gameday, Panthers vs. Canucks, W (2-1)

2012-01-09T22:57:00.000-06:00

Clemmensen was in goal tonight when the Panthers beat the Canucks 2-1. He played a great game and was 1st star of the game.

It was announced tonight after the game that Markstrom's knee injury is more serious than first thought. Some are speculating surgery might even be necessary. So Brian Foster will be the backup for a while. Hopefully José will be back next week and things will be somewhat back to normal. After tonight it seems Clemmensen can hold down the fort until then.

Luckily over the next week the Panthers only play Friday, and then next Monday.

The Update is That There is No Update

2012-01-09T15:54:00.002-06:00

I wish I had something to report, but I don't. I'm hoping he's just resting his knee, and things are still on target for a 2 week return, which would put it next week sometime. Not sure if they'd want to test it out in the Boston game at the beginning of the week, or a bit later. But time will tell, I guess.

There are updates about other injured Panthers, but the big 3 media South Florida media folks on twitter (Sun Sentinel, Miami Herald, and Fox Sports Florida) haven't mentioned him in days.

Markstrom tweaked his knee on Friday, so he's seeing his surgeon tonight to make sure it's ok to play. They recalled Brian Foster from San Antonio to backup Clemmensen in the game tonight against Vancouver.

Photo Finds

2012-01-07T20:13:00.000-06:00

Since we won't have new game photos of José for at least another week, I've been on the hunt for some I might have missed from past games. I found some nice ones today. I'll post a few at a time...try to stretch them out.

This was from warmups before the game in San Jose on December 3rd.

This was from the December 16th game vs. Calgary.

And this was from the November 15th game in Dallas.

More to come!

Panthers lost to New Jersey Last Night

2012-01-07T13:40:00.000-06:00

I forgot to post about last night's game. The Panthers lost to New Jersey 5-2. Two of those goals were empty net goals though, so Markstrom went 24-27 on the night.

The Panthers are back home Monday against Vancouver.

There has been no updates on José's knee the past couple days.

#3 Outdoor Moment: Theodore's toque

2012-01-07T13:36:00.000-06:00

Gameday, Panthers @ Rangers (Clemmensen in Goal) 2-3, OT

2012-01-05T21:57:00.000-06:00

Even though José is injured, I thought maybe I should keep people up-to-date on how his team is doing. The Panthers were in New York tonight to take on the Rangers. Thi was their final game against the Rangers this season. The Rangers won 3-2 in OT. They won the series 3-1.

There were no updates on José's injury today.

1/4/12 Update on José's Injury

2012-01-04T09:55:00.002-06:00

Thanks to Joanne for letting me know that they were discussing José on RDS last night. They said the team doctors are still waiting for the swelling to go down before they can determine whether he needs surgery or not.

Then this just came across twitter. Maybe they were able to take x-rays and can tell for sure that it's not a tear...I hope so.

Jose Theodore out for two weeks

2012-01-03T18:37:00.000-06:00

From ProHockeyTalk at NBCsports.com (but they got their information from RDS, it seems.)

Matt Reitz
Jan 3, 2012, 6:24 PM EST

News out of South Beach is that Florida Panthers starting goaltender is out for two weeks with a knee injury he suffered on New Year’s Eve against the Montreal Canadiens. Renaud Lavoie from RDS broke the news and added the disclaimer: “could be longer.” We’ll just let the “could be longer” part settle in for the Panthers fans out there.

Theodore has been a solid No. 1 netminder for the surprising Panthers this season. He’s given his new team a chance to win just about every start; it’s all Dale Tallon and Co. could have hoped for when they watched Tomas Vokoun walk away and signed Theodore on July 1. Don’t look now, but Theodore as a better goals against average and save percentage through the first three months of the season.

Head coach Kevin Dineen has already announced that Jacob Markstrom will get the start in Florida’s next game against the Islanders. The team plays back-to-back games against the Islanders and Devils, so they will probably need both the rookie Markstrom and inconsistent back-up Scott Clemmensen to step up their games as the Panthers continue to fight for the Southeast Division lead.

The Panthers doctors and coaches are remaining optimistic that Theodore’s injury won’t turn into a long-term problem. “We got our fingers crossed it’s nothing too serious,’’ head coach Kevin Dineen told the Sun-Sentinel. “Our doctors feel good that he’ll be back in the swing of things fairly soon.’’

Until then, hotshot prospect Markstrom will get another opportunity to impress at the NHL level.

1/3/12 Update on José's Injury

2012-01-03T15:14:00.002-06:00

This is a tweet from someone at RDS. I can't vouch for the reliability.

Direct Quote from Coach Dineen about José Theodore's Injury

2012-01-02T16:29:00.003-06:00

From George Richards' On Frozen Pond:

On Monday, coach Kevin Dineen said he hoped Theodore's injury wasn't too serious although he will miss the next two games. “We have our fingers crossed,'' Dineen said. The Panthers are waiting for the swelling to go down in Theodore's knee before it is known whether or not he'll need surgery. “We'll be without him for a little stretch although I don't really have a timetable,'' Dineen said.

1/2/12 Update on José's Injury

2012-01-02T11:42:00.002-06:00

A "little tender" sounds MUCH better than what I feared.

From Harvey Fialkov of the Sun Sentinel:

"Dineen confirmed that there are no immediate plans for surgery for Theodore because first the swelling must go down to determine the nature of the injury. The worst-case scenario would be a torn ACL with the best probably being a strained MCL, which doesn’t require surgery."

1/1/12 Update

2012-01-01T10:43:00.000-06:00

Of course there isn't much new news yet about José's injury. This is all I've seen at this point.

"Could" be a few weeks, but I'm still going to hope it's only one or two.

It's Being Reported as a Knee Injury

2012-01-01T00:00:00.000-06:00

This translated to he has a right knee injury and will miss several games. :(

José Left the 12/31/11 Game with an Injury

2011-12-31T20:37:00.002-06:00

One of José's teammates fell on him early in the 2nd period, and he was on the ice for quite a while in pain. He was able to finally skate off the ice under his own power, but he did not look comfortable. He has not been back to the bench since then, and it's over halfway through the 3rd.

It was thought it might be a knee/leg issue, because he feel very awkwardly on his leg. There was just an update, but it was the famous "lower body injury" business.

More updates:

Gameday, Panthers vs. Canadiens, José out with injury

2011-12-31T17:56:00.003-06:00

After the first period the Panthers trail 0-1. Much better than last night! José has stopped 8 of 9 shots.

And tempers have flared quite a bit. There has been more than one tussle when Panthers' players have been trying to protect José and keep the Habs away from him. Quite a big one at the end. Good times.

Kulikov fell on José during the 2nd period, and he had to leave the game. He went off under his own power, but he fell awkwardly on his leg. Possible leg or knee injury, but no one knows for sure yet. More as soon as I hear something.

Clemmensen came in and stopped all the shots he faced. It's tied at 1 right now.

Gameday, Panthers vs. Rangers, L (1-4)

2011-12-30T10:35:00.003-06:00

The Rangers scored 3 pretty quick goals, so with about 6:00 left in the 1st period, José came in the game.

José has saved 8 of 9 shots through the end of the 2nd. The Panthers trail 4-1.

He ended up saving 10 of 11 shots and the Panthers fell 4-1. Now they're back at it tomorrow against the Canadiens. José will start that game.

12/28/2011 Practice Photos Courtesy of swamphockey.com

2011-12-29T20:42:00.000-06:00

Thanks again to the folks at Swamp Hockey for allowing me to post their photos. Great stuff!

Toronto Game Photos Courtesy of swamphockey.com

2011-12-29T20:35:00.000-06:00

I wanted to say a huge thank-you to the folks at Swamp Hockey for granting me permission to post the photos they took of José at the Toronto game and at practice yesterday. These are really great photos!! I'll post the practice photos in another post.

José Wearing a New Set of Pads at Practice

2011-12-29T18:45:00.000-06:00

A friend of mine that lives in Florida went to practice yesterday and took some photos (thanks, Nelly!) He was wearing a new set of pads with small yellow stripes on them.

Gameday, Panthers vs. Maple Leafs, W (5-3)

2011-12-27T15:34:00.003-06:00

From On Frozen Pond:

Jose Theodore doesn't speak on game days because of days (re: lots of media) like today. He was very discreet in sneaking out the back door of the locker room. I saw you bubba. Theodore in net versus the Leafs.

(I thought the "sneaking out the back door" comment was pretty funny.)

José has bounced back yet again. Resilient, this man is. He's turned aside all 11 shots he's faced, and he's looked really sharp. The Panthers have only had 4 shots, but at least they scored with one of those, so they lead 1-0.

José stopped 12 of 13 shots in the 2nd and the Panthers lead 4-2.

He saved 7 of 8 that last period (the one goal was a deflection, he had no chance) for a total of 29 saves on 32 shots. The Panthers won 5-3.

Merry Christmas!!

2011-12-24T22:49:00.002-06:00

I hope you all have a wonderful holiday season!!

Gameday, Panthers @ Bruins (Bad)

2011-12-23T09:26:00.005-06:00

Not gonna lie. I fully expected this to be a bad game, and it is. The Panthers aren't playing defense and aren't doing anything offensively. And they trail 4-0. At least one of those was a pretty bad goal on José. The rest were team goals. It's ugly and will be a long 40 minutes if things don't change.

He faced 14 shots on goal.

Clemmensen started the 2nd period. After 2 periods the Panthers trail 6-0. Bad, bad, bad.

The Panthers lost 8-0. Not much more to say about that.

Gameday, Panthers @ Senators, 3-4, OT

2011-12-22T10:47:00.002-06:00

Clemmensen in goal (sorry for the late update. I had a dentist appointment.)

FYI, José is 13-7-4 with a .923 save % and 2.31 GAA. I'm so proud of him I could just about burst. And I'd like to see what that Versus analyst has to say now (the one who early in the season said the Panthers would be looking for a new goalie by Christmas.)

The Panthers lost in OT last night. They lost Stephen Weiss to an upper body injury early in the game. That's 7 forwards they are short to injury right now. Weiss will not be back for tonight's Boston game. :(

Gameday, Panthers vs. Coyotes, L (1-2)

2011-12-20T10:29:00.003-06:00

After one period the Panthers trail 1-0. That wouldn't seem so bad, except that one goal came with less than 10 seconds left in the 1st during a 5 on 3 PK. The Panthers have been taking stupid stick penalties all game, and that one led to the goal. Right before the buzzer. Let's hope they can bounce back, which we've seen all season long they can. He faced 7 shots on goal. There was a lot more skating than shooting on both sides (the Panthers also had 7 shots.)

After two periods, the Panthers trail 2-1. José faced 9 shots that period, the same amount Smith faced for Phoenix. The shots have been exactly the same this game. Difference is the Panthers have had more penalties, and both goals were on the PP.

I do like to see José push/shove/punch the opponents in the back when they're too close. ;o)

Well, that was painful, because it was so close. They had a chance to tie it up with less than 20 seconds left with a penalty shot. And Weiss' shot was so close, it sat on the goal line. Ugh! But José played well, and saved 20 of 22 shots.

Theodore Proving Critics Wrong

2011-12-19T14:56:00.000-06:00

Frank Rekas of The Rat Trick wrote a great piece about José today. I'm so glad he did, because I would like to say what he said to all the fans who doubted when the Panthers signed him this summer. But if I say it, people will say it's just because I'm an overzealous fan who can't see the truth. Well, Frank is an intelligent hockey fan, not JUST a José fan, and people will listen to him more than they will me. Haha. (Not that I think I'm NOT intelligent, but you know what I'm saying.)

Anyway, here's the article.

Admit it. You were wrong. You passed judgement too early, and you had a knee jerk reaction that you’d like to take back from that summer day in July when Dale Tallon announced that Jose Theodore was signed to a two year contract to become the Florida Panthers next goaltender. When it became obvious to Dale that veteran Tomas Vokoun and his “camp” weren’t going to accept what the Florida Panthers were offering, Tallon had to act quickly. He grabbed what he thought was the first and only choice to be the new Panthers netminder. And he hasn’t looked back.

Personally I had predicted this scenario if Vokoun didn’t sign because I always had faith in Theodore as a strong and more than capable backstop. Besides the fact that he’s been a fan favourite in many places he’s played, he always seems to respond to adversity. This year after what coach Kevin Dineen called a “stinky” pre season, Jose Theodore is displaying the type of goaltending that won him the Hart Trophy as the league’s MVP in 2001-2002.

Let’s take a look at some stats:

* Games played: 24. On pace for 60.

* Wins: 13. On pace for 32.

* Goals against average: 2.32.

* Save percentage: .923.

I think that most readers would agree that they were nervous going into the season with Jose as the number one goalie, especially with that “stinky” pre season display. But one thing about Jose that you’ve seen on the ice, and we have seen in the dressing room is his demeanor. His confidence, and his personality reflect the way he plays. Nothing rattles him, nothing disturbs him, and he knows and believes he can do the job. It’s not that he’s overconfident, but it’s that he believes in himself and his ability. This was never more evident than two weeks ago when the New Jersey Devils visited the Panthers and blew open a three goal lead, prompting virtually everyone to think that a goalie change would be made following a horrendous first period. Not so, as Theo shut the door for the remaining 50 minutes, and with each save, his teammates became more confident, and went on to win one of the most thrilling games in Florida Panthers history, by a score of 4-3.

In talking with Jose after that contest, not once did he think he was going to be pulled, but he also had all the confidence in the world that as things settled down, and his teammates rallied around each other, they all knew that the game wasn’t over. His steady play between the pipes has been not only refreshing, but infectious to the rest of the team, allowing the Panthers to be able to take that odd offensive chance here and there, and be willing to force the play knowing that Jose has their back.

The speed and skill that this Panthers team has requires them to play a more uptempo style game, and thankfully the dump and chase drek of years past is gone. While being 35 years old, you have to remember that Theodore is just two seasons removed from a 30 victory year with the Washington Capitals, which was preceded by 32 the year before. His mishandling in the playoffs by a panicky head coach (Bruce Boudreau) led to his ultimate demise in Washington, and possibly to that teams playoff failures.

While this Florida Panthers team gets most of it’s energy and recognition from the performance of the FlashMob Line of Stephen Weiss, Kris Versteeg and Tomas Fleischmann, everyone knows that you must have a solid goaltender that needs to keep you in games, and steal a few as well. Jose Theodore has provided the stability, and reliability in net that we’ve needed to keep this team in games, and be a true back bone for a club that continues to surprise.

Gameday, Panthers vs. Hurricanes, W (3-2, OT)

2011-12-18T12:07:00.005-06:00

After one period the game is tied at 1. The goal against José was a deflection. :( He stopped 6 of 7 shots.

After two the Panthers trail 1-2, and they should feel lucky that's all. The whole team looks lethargic and dead on their skates. The Hurricanes really picked it up in the 2nd and peppered José with 16 shots. He stopped all but one (one that was the result of a turnover near the net.)

Let's hope the Panthers wake up this last period. Maybe the 5:00 start time has them off their game. They did start looking a little sharper near the end of the 2nd.

Another OT game. My heart can't take too many more of these. But at least this one didn't have to go to the shootout for the Panthers to win. José made a total of 24 saves on 26 shots.

Post-Game Interview and Highlights, 12/16/11

2011-12-16T23:17:00.000-06:00

There was an interview with José after the win. Some nice smiles in there.

And here's the full shootout.

José Signing Autographs after Practice Tomorrow

2011-12-16T21:58:00.000-06:00

I don't think I have many followers in Florida that will be able to go to this, but I wanted to let you all know anyway.

Join Panthers netminder Jose Theodore for an autograph session at Saveology.com Iceplex this Saturday from 12:30-1:15pm. Theodore will sign autographs for fans at the incredibleSPORTS Pro Shop.

Click here for official piece.

So glad tonight's game ended on a high note for him. It'll be more fun for him to hang out with fans after a win like that.

Gameday, Panthers vs. Flames, W (3-2, SO)

2011-12-16T10:26:00.004-06:00

After one period the game is tied at 1. The Flames' goalie, Leland Irving, is playing in his first NHL game. José is playing in his 603rd. ;o)

José has saved 6 of 7 shots.

Still tied at 1 after 2 periods. José saved all 11 shots he faced that period. He was run over by a Flames player, and he was not happy at all! He tossed another player's stick at the Flame. Then someone tweeted that he "punched" a guy in the back that was in his crease. I didn't see that. He's not pleased tonight. But he's made some really great point-blank saves, so his anger is not detracting from his play for sure.

Ugh, another shootout!! This time the Panthers were actually able to score and the Panthers snuck away with the win. José was only scored on once in the shootout. He ended up with 24 saves on 26 shots.

He got his mask knocked off once too.

Florida Panthers at the Ice and Dice Event

2011-12-15T20:47:00.001-06:00

The Florida Panthers Foundation sponsored the Ice and Dice Event last night to benefit Pediatric Cancer. All the players were there playing casino games/cards with fans.

I'm still waiting for the Panthers' website to publish photos, but they have released this video. You see José being introduced near the beginning. Then near the end, he and Stephanie are talking to a couple guys. He looks like he's telling an animated story. ;o)

A couple of my tumblr followers were at the event, and they reiterated what all of his fans always say (me included), he's so sweet when you meet him. Just none sweeter. And Stephanie too.

Florida Panthers Shut Out in Shootout AGAIN ... Cats lose Fourth Straight Shootout 3-2 to Jersey Devils

2011-12-14T08:57:00.000-06:00

Here's the post-game notes from George Richards of the Miami Herald.

On Frozen Pond

Jose Theodore gave up six goals Sunday night against the Rangers, but Panthers coach Kevin Dineen looked at that outing as more fluke than the norm.

With that in mind, Theodore was back between the pipes Tuesday against the Devils. Theodore rewarded Dineen's faith by stopping 32 shots in a 3-2 shootout loss to New Jersey at BankAtlantic Center.

The Panthers are 1-4 in shootouts this season – all coming at home – and have scored just one goal in those five contests. Marcel Goc, who could be out until the New Year, scored to lead Florida to a 3-2 shootout win over Tampa Bay in the home opener.

Despite the loss, the Panthers gained a point over second place Washington. The first-place Panthers have a seven point lead on the Capitals once again.

“We weren't very good and we have to go back, have a few good practices and the next few days will be big for us,'' said Kris Versteeg, who scored both of Florida's goals but is now 0-for-4 in the shootout.

“We weren't good enough all night and that will happen sometimes. We should be thankful we have a point. [Theodore] saved us all game. He's the reason we got to overtime. We should have pushed back.''

Theodore's game Sunday definitely looks like an anomaly as he had only given up four goals once in a game this season and had given up three goals or fewer in 16 straight heading into New York. Theodore let Sunday's game roll off him as he was loose after Tuesday's morning skate, wearing a retro Chicago Bears t-shirt with a Yankees cap tilted to the side.

On Tuesday, he was forced to be at his best as the Panthers struggled for offense once Versteeg gave them a 2-0 lead with another two goal performance against the Devils.

The Panthers were outshot 16-6 in the second period and 5-1 in the third. Florida's one shot in the third was its fewest in a single period this season. The Panthers came hard at Martin Brodeur in overtime but none of their four shots found the back of the net.

In the shootout, Ilya Kovalchuk (5-for-6 this season) scored for the Devils as did Patrik Elias. Florida only got two shots as it shot second; Tomas Fleischmann and Versteeg were stopped.

Florida took a 1-0 lead in the first after a sweet pass from Stephen Weiss found Versteeg on the right side of Brodeur. In the second, Versteeg got loose on a penalty kill and walked in on the Devils' Hall of Fame goalie to make it 2-0.

Elias scored less than a minute after Versteeg's second goal to make it 2-1, with Zach Parise tapping a puck off the back wall past Theodore to tie with 7:40 into the third.

Fleischmann had a chance to give the Panthers the lead but hit the post with 5:16 left.

“We were lucky to get one [point],'' defenseman Ed Jovanovski said. “We had a lot of turnovers and that's eventually going to bite us. We'll take the point and put it in the bank but we could be a lot better.''

Read more: http://miamiherald.typepad.com/flapanthers/2011/12/flapanthers-shut-out-in-shootout-again-cats-lose-fourth-straight-shootout-3-2-to-njdevils-quinton-ho.html#ixzz1gWNO7dWP

Gameday, Panthers vs. Devils, (2-3, SO)

2011-12-13T12:24:00.005-06:00

This game is going much better than the last one. After one period the Panthers lead 1-0. José has stopped all 13 shots he's faced.

After 2 periods the Panthers lead 2-1. José has stopped 28 of 29 shots and has been very sharp. You wouldn't even know that last game happened. That's the mark of a great goalie.

Ugh, shootout loss. But José bounced back beautifully from the 6 goal game last outing. What a pro. He saved 32 of 34 shots, and he definitely got them the OT point with a couple great saves with less than 5 seconds left in regulation. The Panthers were shutout in the shootout. They are terrible at scoring in the shootouts. Their goalies are never going to be able to win regularly in them if they don't figure out how to score. José stopped 1 of 3, but the one he stopped was Parise, who is great at shootouts. So that's awesome.

Happy Holidays from the Florida Panthers

2011-12-12T15:09:00.003-06:00

Oh these guys...what fun (although I'm not sure they all thought so. Haha.)

Gameday, Panthers @ Rangers, L (1-6)

2011-12-11T18:14:00.003-06:00

The Panthers trail 1-2 after one period. José faced 9 shots. The two goals were power play goals, and the Rangers are good on the power play. Panthers had been good on the PK, but these were 2 defensive breakdowns.

Thank goodness for Erik Gudbranson and his first NHL goal with less than 5:00 to go in the period. It shifted the momentum a bit. Let's hope it carries over to the 2nd.

And Fox Sports Florida showed some footage from the Central Park practice yesterday. We lucked out and they interviewed José. He REALLY seemed to enjoy the day. But he did mention how he really likes "Florida sun" too. Haha. He definitely prefers warm weather.

Bad game all around. After 2 periods, they trailed 1-6. Clemmensen started the 3rd period. The Panthers have had practically no offense. 6 power plays and haven't scored on them. Sure, José wasn't GREAT, but the team in front of him really let him down. And he's the one that's going to get all the blame. The life of a goalie, I guess.

He ended up saving 16 of 22.

On Frozen Pond's Look at Cats in the Park

2011-12-10T20:33:00.003-06:00

On Frozen Pond by George Richards

José is in the green jersey, kneeling on the far left, arm around Brian Campbell (click to see a slightly larger version)

Florida Panthers Have a Blast in Central Park as they Get Back to their Roots

NEW YORK – Brian Campbell sat on the stanchions of the rink along with three of his teammates, his feet dangling over the edge over the ice as if he was a little kid once again.

On Saturday, Campbell wasn't alone in feeling like he had gone back in time. The entire Panthers team hopped into the past as they took to the open ice at the Lasker Rink in Central Park in Manhattan, playing childhood games on the small slab of ice more so than they did any real practicing in the early winter chill of the great outdoors.

The Panthers coaching staff got in on the fun as well. Head coach Kevin Dineen and crew donned colorful team practice jerseys and participated while wearing red ski caps with the New York Fire Department logo on the front.

Dineen said center Stephen Weiss picked out the different teams that skated and competed in feats of skill; Weiss also came up with the idea the coaches wear the 'FDNY' toques.

“There are a lot of smiles out here,'' Dineen said after the lighthearted hour long practice was almost finished. “The fun factor was very high.''

Dineen seems to have been pushing all the right buttons when it comes to his dealing with the Panthers in his first few months as head coach.

After talking about the disappointment of losing 2-1 in overtime to Buffalo on Friday, Dineen became jovial when talk turned to the possibility of Saturday's 'pond practice' outdoors in Central Park.

“Oh yeah it's on,'' Dineen exclaimed when asked if the team would indeed skate Saturday.

The Panthers equipment staff were first to arrive at the outdoor facility around 11:30 on Saturday morning with the already-dressed team showing up on a charter bus a few minutes later. The players walked down a set of stone steps into the rink while wearing gym shoes, their skates hanging from their sticks as if they were meeting their friends at the municipal rink.

And, yes, they kind of were. The team started the day off by signing autographs for the crowd that gathered. On the ice, things were loose. Goalies Jose Theodore and Scott Clemmensen, like everyone else, left their pads at home. That's perhaps what Theodore loved most.

“It was a lot of fun and I think I'm ready to play on the point [of the power play],'' Theodore said after putting a puck into the net. “It was the perfect weather, not too cold. We had a real good time out here that's for sure.''

When the skate was close to being done, the Panthers gathered at center ice for a team photo that included those who work at the rink and helped make Saturday happen.

Although the Panthers haven't practiced outdoors in the past decade it's becoming a popular option for teams when they come to New York. With a lack of ice in the city, teams are looking at the outdoor rinks as an opportunity for team bonding as much as a chance to stay loose. The Toronto Maple Leafs practiced at Lasker last Sunday as part of their father's trip; the Philadelphia Flyers have worked outdoors as well.

This may not be the Panthers only trip here if Dineen has any say in it.

“It's been a hard schedule, there's a lot of time on the road,'' he said. “These are the ones that stick out at the end of the season. It was a good day for the Florida Panthers. It was a great day for all of us. We got back to our youth.''

Videos from the Practice in Central Park

2011-12-10T19:13:00.003-06:00

And here's an interview with José, but it's in French. Still fun to watch. Anyone care to translate?

The Panthers Practiced in Central Park in NYC Today

2011-12-10T12:46:00.000-06:00

The Panthers are in NYC to face the Rangers tomorrow night. Today they held their practice outside in Central Park. I have a few photos that were shared on twitter by the media there. I'm hoping for more official (and clearer) photos later. And there is supposed to be a bit of video also, so I'll share that as soon as it shows up. In the meantime, here are a few of José.

He's in the green jersey, kneeling on the left, with his arm around Brian Campbell

Gameday, Panthers @ Sabres, 1-2, OT (Clemmensen in Goal)

2011-12-09T17:30:00.001-06:00

Scott Clemmensen will get the start tonight, since José started last night. José will probably start again Sunday night against the Rangers.

The Panthers lost 1-2 in OT. So at least the Panthers got a point.

The Morning After: Jose Theodore Continues to Stump Bruins

2011-12-09T10:07:00.000-06:00

And an article from the Bruins side.

By Mike Miccoli, Boston Bruins correspondent

Jose Theodore is a Bruins killer. This is not news--at least it shouldn’t be.

Let’s take a trip back in time to the 2003-04 playoffs. Theodore, then a Montreal Canadien, helped his team battle back from a 3-1 deficit against the Bruins that included a big Game 7 shutout win in Boston and enough theatrical saves to make Tim Thomas blush. Almost eight years later, Theodore is still giving the Bruins headaches, this time with a dynamite performance on Thursday night when the Florida Panthers shut-out the Bruins 2-0.

It took more than 57 minutes of hockey for either team to get on the board but the Panthers’ Tomas Kopecky buried a rebound that stemmed off of a failed-clear attempt from Joe Corvo to put Florida ahead. Kris Versteeg added an empty-netter after Thomas, whose ten-game win streak was snapped, was pulled for the extra-attacker.

The Bruins got plenty of shots, but Theodore saved all 40 of them. There were plenty of near-misses, including five shots that hit the post, but that wasn’t enough to slip a win past the surging Panthers club that now sits second overall in the Eastern Conference.

“I knew right away that it was going to be tough for them to score goals,” said Theodore after playing in his 600th career NHL game. “When I feel like I’m on top of my game I know I’m tough to beat. And tonight we just played well, stuck with the game plan, didn’t panic, got away with the win.”

Blame it on the Bruins not being able to bury their chances, or maybe on Theodore just getting lucky but either way, it was a long night for the B’s shooters who were consistently being turned aside.

“I think the main thing right now for us is we can’t get down on ourselves,” said Milan Lucic, who was robbed most notably in the third with a nifty Theodore glove save. “We can’t get frustrated. We have to pick ourselves back up and start over again, and remember what got us those fourteen wins in fifteen games. That’s what should be our focus right now and not let frustration creep into our game just because we’ve had trouble these last two games.”

After backing up Niklas Backstrom in Minnesota last season, Theodore signed a two-year deal with the Panthers and is off to an impressive start. He’s 5-1-1 in his last seven games and 11-5-3 with a 2.17 on the season. Since the lockout, Theodore is a stingy 9-0-1 against the B’s, allowing only 16 goals.

“Boston’s an Original Six team,” said Theodore. “It was a big rivalry with Montreal. It’s easy to get pumped up, they’re always one of the best teams in the league. This year they’re defending the Stanley Cup, so there’s always something that gets you going and when you play against the best you want to raise your game.”

With the NHL realignment set to become official next season, Bruins will be seeing a lot more of the Panthers who would be joining the B’s conference. The Bruins will have to learn how to solve Theodore if they are to survive their newly acquired foe.

José 1st Star at PuckDaddy and NHL.com

2011-12-09T10:04:00.001-06:00

PuckDaddy

No. 1 Star:
Jose Theodore, Florida Panthers

Talk about your statement games: Theodore stopped all 40 shots he faced, making third-period goals by Tomas Kopecky and Kris Versteeg stand up in a 2-0 victory at the Boston Bruins. Theodore was the backbone all night, including on the penalty kill as the Bruins went 0-for-4. He snapped Tim Thomas's winning streak at 10 games. The Panthers moved ahead of Boston in the conference standings.

Lead story at NHL.com

And NHL.com's 1st star for last night

Theodore backstops Panthers to win over Bruins

2011-12-08T22:34:00.000-06:00

From CBCSports.com

The Associated Press
Posted: Dec 8, 2011 9:52 PM ET

Jose Theodore saw his share of the Bruins when he was with the rival Montreal Canadiens. So he needed no extra motivation against Boston, even though the defending Stanley Cup champions were the hottest team in hockey and one point ahead of the Florida Panthers in the Eastern Conference.

"There's always something that gets you going," Theodore said after making 40 saves to beat Boston 2-0 on Thursday night and snap Tim Thomas' winning streak at 10 games. "And when you play against the best, you want to raise your game."

Tomas Kopecky broke a scoreless tie with 2:32 left, and Theodore notched his second shutout of the season to lead the Panthers.

"It was just one of these games I was seeing the puck well, and I knew right away that it was going to be tough for them to score goals," said Theodore, who faced the Bruins in the playoffs in 2002 and '04 and beat them both times. "When I feel like I'm on top of my game, I'm tough to beat. And tonight we just played well, stuck with the game plan, didn't panic and got away with a win."

Thomas made 28 saves in his first loss since Oct. 27. In the 11 games since, he has allowed just 18 goals while posting three shutouts.

He was on his way to a fourth when Shawn Matthias took the puck wide and shot on net. Thomas made the save but left the puck in front; Sean Bergenheim skated over it and missed, but Kopecky followed up and put it in.

"I just wanted to make sure I got everything I had on it, because he's a really goalie," Kopecky said. "We knew he's going to be playing hard, we knew it's going to be a tight game. So after the second period we just said, `We need to stay patient."'

Kris Versteeg added an empty-net goal with 42 seconds left, outracing the Bruins to a loose puck and backhanding it into the net to give Florida its third consecutive victory.

With the win, the Panthers moved ahead of the Bruins and into second place in the Eastern Conference.

The Bruins went all of November without losing a game in regulation, but they are 2-2 in December. They have lost two in a row for the first time since back-to-back losses to Montreal at the end of October.

"We did a good job of getting shots and scoring chances, but that's all they are if you don't get results," forward Milan Lucic said, noting that the Bruins hit the post three times in the first 10 minutes. "We've got to get back and remember what got us those 14 wins in 15 games (in November)."

The Bruins dominated the scoring chances for most of the game, but Florida put pressure on Thomas with 5 minutes left and then struck quickly after Lucic whiffed on a puck in the Florida zone to allow the game-winning break.

"You could see they were just waiting for a mistake to take advantage of," Bruins coach Claude Julien said. "And that's just what they did."

The Bruins hadn't been shut out since the third game of the season. But they suffered from sustained bad luck, hitting the post a handful of times and failing to capitalize on chances even as they outshot Florida 40-30.

Florida Panthers Keep on Trucking, Beat Defending Stanley Cup Champion Bruins 2-0 ... Jose Theodore Holds Fort Before Tomas Kopecky Scores

2011-12-08T22:18:00.000-06:00

On Frozen Pond post-game by George Richards

BOSTON – Not that the Bruins wish him any real harm, but they wouldn't have minded if the bug that kept Jose Theodore out of Monday's game lingered a couple days longer.

For if Theodore was ill on Monday, he was flat out sick on Thursday.

Theodore carried the Panthers in a meeting of division leaders for much of the night, his 40 saves and a Tomas Kopecky goal in the closing minutes being the difference in Florida's 2-0 victory over the defending Stanley Cup champions at the Garden.

“We have to keep this going. We're playing confident right now,'' Kopecky said after Florida's third straight win that gave it a seven-point cushion over second place Washington in the Southeast Division.

“We're trying to prove those people who never believed in us [wrong]. I think we're doing a pretty good job of it.''

Kopecky's goal came when he and Shawn Matthias crashed the net with Tim Thomas (28 saves) going down after stopping Matthias' shot. Kopecky pounced on the loose puck and shot high, tumbling over the 2011 postseason MVP in the process. Thomas wasn't around when Kris Versteeg got Florida's second goal by depositing the puck into an empty net with 42 seconds left.

Our goaltending was stellar. It was impressive,'' coach Kevin Dineen said. “We had to find a way to get some offensive pressure, it was so sporadic. We didn't have sustained pressure, just some snapshots here and there. For the most part, the ice leaned toward our end. When you find a way to win a game like that, it shows the confidence of your team. I think a little of that is built on what we've done so far.''

Theodore was felled by a bout of the stomach flu after the team came back from California. Theodore had the sweaty chills and estimated he may have lost 10 pounds off his lithe frame. You wouldn't have known that Thursday as Theodore was terrific in Boston once more, his game reminiscent of those classic battles against the Bruins when he backstopped rival Montreal.

The Bruins controlled play for the opening half of the first and third periods, but Theodore allowed the Panthers to stick right in there. Boston clanging the iron on a pair of first period shots definitely helped. But Theodore knew it was a fight between two goalies on Thursday, a battle he won.

“Actually I didn't feel too fresh, my energy level was a little low,'' Theodore said as he sat on a bench in the locker room draped in a white towel. “It was a game where I saw the puck well and knew it would be tough for them to score. When I am at the top of my game, I'm tough to beat. We played well, stuck with the game plan and didn't panic and got the win.''

It has been some time since the Bruins and Panthers played in a game of consequence, one those around the league had an eye on.

One may have to go back to the 1999-2000 season. That's when the Panthers last made the playoffs and current goalie coach Robb Tallas played 27 games for the Bruins that year. Or 1996, when winger-turned-TV voice Billy Lindsay's goal in Game 5 beat Boston in the opening round of the postseason.

Regardless, it has been a while since this match up mattered. Thursday's game definitely fit the bill.

A large media contingent awaited the Panthers after the morning skate as news is spreading about one of the league's biggest surprises this season.

The Panthers are tied with Philadelphia with a league-best 10 road wins as they go for their first four-game winning streak since 2007 at Buffalo on Friday night.

“We ground out a game and found a way to win. That's huge,'' Sean Bergenheim said. “We've showed many times we can hold leads or come back when we're down. We never panicked. We always knew we would get the one goal it would take. We don't care what people write or think about us. It's OK for us to fly under the radar right now. We're just doing our job quietly and see where it takes us.''

With Theodore starting Thursday after missing Monday's game against Washington, Dineen said it's very likely Scott Clemmensen gets the start Friday in Buffalo.

Gameday, Panthers @ Bruins, W (2-0)

2011-12-08T11:32:00.004-06:00

After one period, the game is scoreless. José has saved all 12 shots he's faced. And some of those were really good chances for the Bruins that required super saves. He's looking really good. Bruins lead shots 12-8.

Still scoreless after 2 periods. Shots are now 26-20, Boston leading. So José saved 16 more that period.

They won!! And José got his 32nd career shutout in his 600th career game!! How cool is that? He was really stellar and ended up with 40 saves. He was the 1st star, of course.

José Back on the Ice Today and Probable Starter Tomorrow

2011-12-07T12:14:00.001-06:00

José was back with the team today at practice, hopefully in good health. The Panthers will fly out this afternoon, headed for Boston. Probable starters tomorrow are José and Tim Thomas.

This will be José's 600th game! And his 31st against Boston.

José Is On the Mend

2011-12-06T15:59:00.003-06:00

Markstrom has been reassigned to San Antonio, so it would seem José is feeling well enough that he will go on the road trip starting tomorrow.

Gameday, Panthers vs. Capitals, W (5-4)

2011-12-05T16:23:00.004-06:00

José has flu-like symptoms. They recalled Markstrom, and Clemmensen will get the start. Speedy recovery to José!

The Panthers won 5-4, so now have a 7 point lead in the Southeast Division.

Fan Photos from Last Night's Game

2011-12-04T11:24:00.001-06:00

Clemmensen got the start in the win over San Jose last night, but there were a few fan photos that I'd like to share.

Remember how fun José and Brent Burns were together last season in Minnesota? Burnzie is such an adorable and playful manchild, and he seemed to really like José. Well Burns is playing in San Jose this season, so during warmups they met at the red line and chatted it up for a few minutes.

@sharkshockeyforlife on tumblr took these two photos of the meeting.

And @Gladiatorslday on twitter shared these 2 photos with me.

Gameday, Panthers @ Sharks, W (5-3)

2011-12-03T10:14:00.003-06:00

Clemmensen was in goal for this game. The Panthers won 5-3 and now have a 5-point lead in the Southeast Division. They are tied with Philly for the most road wins with 9.

"After being the first team all year to defeat the Sharks after they scored first, Florida is going into tomorrow’s game against Washington holding a five point lead on them in the division, plus six on Winnipeg, eight on Tampa and TWELVE on Carolina. The only other division with a difference between first and second as large or larger is the Northwest, where Minnesota is six ahead of Vancouver and Edmonton."

Gameday, Panthers @ Kings, 10:30 EST (L, 1-2)

2011-12-01T16:32:00.007-06:00

After one period the Panthers were trailing 1-0. The one goal was an evil deflection goal. No chance for José. He saved 8 of 9 shots.Was really great on a couple PKs.

According to the boxscore, José only faced one shot that period. That's not right, because they scored one goal, and I know he saved some. I'll update at the end of the game.

Anyway, Panthers trail 2-1 right now.

Panthers lose 1-2, but considering all their injuries (Versteeg, Bradley, Goc, Upshall) I think they really hung in there well tonight. José had some awesome saves. They corrected their shots on goal stat, and he faced 7 in the 2nd and 10 in the 3rd for a total of 24 saves on 26 shots. But Jonathan Quick had more. He was almost a brick wall, stopping 40 shots. Can't win 'em all. They play San Jose on Saturday.

Article in La Presse Today

2011-12-01T11:12:00.000-06:00

Thanks to fellow José fan, Mel, for sharing an article that was in La Presse today (a Montreal newspaper.)

Here's the link to the actual article.

And thanks to Mel for this translation:

JoseTheodore : Retirement can wait

And to think that Jose Theodore was toying with the idea of retirement…

As he hit 35 and after 13 seasons in the NHL, including a memorable 2001-2002 season where he was crowned with the Hart and Vezina trophies, Theo could have settled under the Florida sun and take advantage of a retirement full of time with his companion Stephanie and their daughter Romy.

After an unsatisfying year in front of the Minnesota Wild net, Theodore had no intention of extending his career just for the sake of extending it. And like all the star goalies in the last 10 years of the NHL, Theodore is more worried about the end of the world than the end of the month, and there was no way he was going to play just for the money.

Here's where it was time to reflect on a possible retirement.

One phone call changed everything. When Dale Tallon courted José Theodore, he did it with some strong arguments. He was giving him the chance to prolong his career with a team that had vastly improved, but also the chance to get settled where he already had every intention of throwing down the anchor.

“I got an offer from Denver to assist Varlamov, with who I played with in Washington. Ottawa and Detroit were also interested. My first choices were still Tampa Bay or Florida. Tampa went for Mathieu Garon. When the Panthers called and they agreed to give me two years, and I signed right away. It’s the best of both worlds. I play hockey for a guy that has faith in me and treats me as a number 1 and I was able to settle my family where I would have if I had taken my retirement. But, retirement can wait,” threw José Theodore by phone from L.A.to La Presse where he will face the Kings tonight.

Already 10 wins

Retirement can even wait longer than thought if Theodore and his team continue their success.

Strong off a night of 26 saves, including some spectacular saves at the expense of Eric Staal and Jeff Skinner, José Theodore ruined Kirk Muller’s headcoaching debut in Carolina.

With 10 wins to his record, Theodore and the Panthers, who have three more wins (two belonging to Jacob Markstrom and one to Scott Clemmesen), are surprising many opponents since the beginning of the season.

They are even making liars out of analysts that saw them maybe fighting for a playoff spot, but never for first place in the Eastern Conference.

It’s true that the Panthers are taking advantage of difficult season starts, some disastrous, by their rivals in Carolina, Washington, Tampa Bay and Winnipeg to take the lead in the South-East division, but as of Wednesday, they were only two points behind the Penguins who sit atop the East. With a game in hand over Sidney Crosby and his troops.

It’s something else...(significant)

Theodore is not the only one responsible for the surprising success of the Panthers. His goals against 2.29 and 92.4% save percentage and the fact that he has earned points in 13 of his 18 games played (10-4-3) confirm that he is giving his teama chance to win ever night.

Comfortable in his head and in his skin

Theodore is happy in Florida, both on the ice and with his daughter who started kindergarten. The Panthers,they are rubbing their hands as they are getting a good return on their 1.5 million in salary paid out to Theo this year.

Two games away from playing his 600th in the NHL, José Theodore will easily satisfy his bosses for another year and maybe for more if they decide to give him the opportunity to serve as big brother to the young Jacob Markstrom who is a season or two away from being a number one in Florida.

“I’m 35 years old. I’m fit even if the morning after games is starting to be a little difficult. I am above all happy. Serene. I don’t have anything to prove to anyone. I know that I was often criticized, but when I look at what I have done, I am proud. Six teams wanted me last summer. Which means that my value is good or it actually counts in the eyes of the hockey guys of the NHL.”

It’s true that José Theodore was often criticized. That his performances in Montreal, his Hart and Vezina trophies in 2001-2001, and his 30 and 32 win season in Washington, were minimized.

He was always shaken by his critics that affected him more than he let on, José Theodore never gave any excuses. He could have given some solid ones at that.

To the pleasure of his fans or the to the sarcasm of his haters, Theodore has been able to win 270 games, 31 by shutouts, even with all the legal issues his family and his father-in-law have faced. And if that wasn’t enough, he has had to deal with his daughter’s serious health issues, a miscarriage that robbed him of his first son and a premature birth that saw him lose his second son.

These issues would have ended many careers, but 15 years after starting in the NHL, José Theodore is still here.

Fun JibJab Video I Made

2011-11-30T23:58:00.002-06:00

Thought you might enjoy a video I made at www.jibjab.com tonight with my 5 favorite Panthers.

Jose Theodore Bringing It (from On Frozen Pond)

2011-11-30T10:16:00.000-06:00

Click here to see article.

By George Richards

RALEIGH, N.C. – Remember how bad Jose Theodore looked during the Panthers preseason? Seems like a long, long time ago.

Theodore has been terrific for the Panthers this season, and put many questions following a shaky training camp to rest after shutting out the Islanders 2-0 in the season opener.

“We're well beyond how stinky he was in training camp,'' coach Kevin Dineen said. “Part of the advantage he had was he was a veteran and I was able to believe in him. Give him the benefit, believe in the resume that he could go out and do it. Since the beginning of the year, he's given us a chance to win every night.''

Since that night, Theodore has won 10 games with a point in three of his losses. On Tuesday, he gave up one goal as the Panthers won their NHL-tying best seventh road game.

Coming into the season, Florida's goaltending was a question mark as starter Tomas Vokoun left the team and landed in Washington. Theodore was pegged as Vokoun's replacement and has fared well. Going into Wednesday, Theodore has stopped 92 percent of shots faces and is allowing an average of 2.29 goals per game.

Vokoun, whose Capitals trail the Southeast Division leading Panthers by five points, trails Theodore in both save percentage and goals-against. Both have 10 wins this season.

“It is always good to start the season off on the right foot,'' Theodore said. “The team is playing great and I'm feeling good.''

Although Dineen jokes that he was lying a bit when he said he wasn't concerned about Theodore's uneven showing in training camp now, Theodore says he stands by what he said at that time. “You remember,'' he said. “It didn't bother me.''

Now in his 14th NHL season, Theodore said in September that he wasn't worried, that when the lights of the regular season came on, he would be ready.

The Panthers weren't too sure. Before Scott Clemmensen needed knee surgery, there were rumblings that he may open the season on Long Island instead of Theodore. When Clemmensen went down, the Panthers went all in with Theodore. So far, so good.

There's little doubt Theodore enjoys being Florida's top goalie after spending last season as the backup in Minnesota. Theodore was thankful for that opportunity, mind you, after not being signed during the summer of 2010. An injury led to the Wild signing Theodore on the eve of the 2010-11 season opening.

“Last year was still a good experience for me and my career,'' said Theodore, who signed a two-year deal with the Panthers on July 1. “I had to find wins when I played, even though I didn't play every game. Right off the bat when I came here, they told me they wanted me to be the guy. I knew it was a challenge, my job to lose. But you still have to prove yourself every night. It's fun.''

Unlike Minnesota, Theodore had time to come to South Florida and get settled. With some family already living in the Boca Raton area, Theodore knew a little bit about the region and wanted to be here. Theodore isn't the only one comfortable with that arraignment. The Panthers are as well.

“Jose has the ball and he keeps running with it,'' Dineen said. “It's a ground game right now and he keeps going and going and going. He's doing a great job.''

Read more: http://miamiherald.typepad.com/flapanthers/2011/11/flapanthers-jose-theodore-bringing-it-keaton-ellerby-ready-to-go-with-dmitry-kulikov-out-mark-cullen.html#ixzz1fCpy0jRi

Gameday, Panthers @ Hurricanes (W, 3-1)

2011-11-29T10:54:00.004-06:00

After the first period, the game is scoreless. José has stopped all 8 shots, some of them were very good chances, but he was really good.

The game is tied at 1 after 2 periods. The Panthers still haven't gotten much going, but they did score one. And the defense hung José out to dry on the Hurricanes goal. He's still been the star of the game so far though.

José ended up saving 26 of 27 shots on goal and should've been the 1st star, but he ended up as 2nd star, because Matthias had 2 of the goals near the end of the game (one was empty net.)

Some Photos from the Past Few Games

2011-11-26T10:46:00.001-06:00

I realize sometimes I don't post as many photos here as I do on my tumblr, so I'll try to catch up a bit here. These are some of my favorites from the past few games.

November 17, 2011

November 19, 2011

November 21, 2011

November 23, 2011

Gameday, Panthers vs. Lightning (1-2, OT)

2011-11-25T11:08:00.005-06:00

It's been a relatively slow game so far and is scoreless after one.

José stopped all 7 shots on goal, and a couple of the saves were big ones.

The 2nd period was quite a bit more exciting. José stopped all 13 shots he faced, and Flash scored his 10th goal of the season to make it 1-0, Panthers leading. One of the saves José made will surely show up on a highlight reel or two. I'll post if it does.

The Lightning won in OT. José ended up saving 29 of 31 shots and was named 3rd star of the game. They couldn't have asked anymore from him. He was great!

Here's a photo from the sensational save I was talking about. He did save it with his face!

Gameday, Panthers vs. Rangers, W (2-1)

2011-11-23T09:10:00.007-06:00

After one period, the Panthers lead 1-0. José stopped all 8 shots he faced.

After two periods, the Panthers lead 2-1. José only faced 4 more shots.

The Panthers extended their win streak to 3 with a 2-1 win over the Rangers. José didn't face a lot of shots tonight, but he was super down the stretch when he needed to be. I'm so proud of him. He ended up saving 19 ofr 20 shots.

Post-Game Interview, 11/21/11

2011-11-21T23:31:00.000-06:00

Click here for video.

And Coach Dineen's comments about why he didn't pull José after the 3 goals:

"I don’t hang those goals on my goalie. I’m not shy at making that call, but I just felt that José’s put a pretty good body of work together for us the last 2 weeks, and he deserved a chance to rally with the team as we rallied around him. At the end of the day our push-back was very strong tonight.”

I like this guy.

Gameday, Panthers vs. Devils, W (4-3)

2011-11-21T10:48:00.004-06:00

Tonight when the Devils play the Panthers, José will try to continue his stellar performance from Saturday night's game. Which we, of course, know that he can. Marty Brodeur in net for New Jersey. The battle of the two Quebecois 35+ goalies who have scored a goal.

After the 1st period, the Panthers trail 3-0. Definitely a rough start for the Panthers. Lots of turnovers and not being where they should be. I didn't think any of the goals could be called José's fault, but the rest of the team sure made him look bad. Here's hoping for a better 2nd period.

The Panthers are mounting a nice comeback!! They played much better in the 2nd, and are only trailing 3-2 after 2. José faced 13 shots the 1st period and 9 the 2nd for a total of 22 so far.

Oh wow, what a comeback!!! Flash scored the go-ahead goal with about 2:00 left in the game. It was awesome!!! And José held tough. He ended up saving 22 of 25 shots. Every team should want a goalie that can keep his composure after being down 3-0 early in the 1st and become a brick wall. This guy's experience is invaluable to the team.

My Theo Story on The Rat Trick

2011-11-21T10:42:00.000-06:00

I've become friends with Frank Rekas from The Rat Trick (Panthers blog hosted on Fansided), and we talk hockey now and then through twitter and e-mail. I was so excited about my experience at the game in St. Louis last week that I sent Frank an e-mail telling him about it. He was so impressed with what José did that he asked me if I'd be willing to share my story with The Rat Trick readers. At first I was hesitant. Putting myself out there to a larger audience of readers is pretty scary for me. This site is my creation, so I feel I can be my silly and off-beat self, and I won't be judged. I wasn't sure how The Rat Trick readers would take me. But I decided that I wanted more people to know how amazing José is, so I decided I'd do it.

I even allowed my photo to be published? Was I high? Haha. Hopefully everyone will focus on the man standing next to me and just ignore whatever else is in the photo. ;o)

Here's where you can find the article.

No negative critiques please, because it's already published, and I can't change anything now. Thanks.

Highlight Saves from 11/19/11

2011-11-20T14:45:00.001-06:00

Here are a few of my favorite saves from last night. Embedding them takes up so much room on here, I'll just put the link.

Breakaway Save on Cooke, 1st period

Double save on Neal, 2nd period

When things got crazy around the net in the waning minutes of the 3rd, he stood tall.
Save on Malkin, 3rd period

Save on Staal with less than a minute left

And then there was this save that's gotten a lot of attention on nhl.com today. He lost his stick, and the puck bounced off of it. I kind of think it would've gone just wide anyway, without the stick, but people are focusing on this one save rather than all of his beauties.

"Stick save"

Post-Game Interview, 11/19/11

2011-11-20T02:32:00.002-06:00

From Fox Sports Florida (remember, their videos tend to disappear after a while, so don't expect this to stick around forever.)

Click here for video.

Gameday, Panthers vs. Penguins, W, 3-2

2011-11-19T11:46:00.005-06:00

Theo will be the starter tonight against Pittsburgh in Florida. In other Panthers goalie news, Clemmensen didn't practice due to soreness, and they have recalled Markstrom to be Theo's backup tonight. The Panthers are also missing important forwards Goc, Upshall, and Bradley due to injuries.

After one period, the Panthers and Penguins are tied at 1. José saved 6 of 7 shots. The one goal was a bit of a flub on his part. He almost knocked it in himself after what looked like a mishandle, but a Penguin did actually touch it. But then he came back later to stone Cooke on a breakaway, so he redeemed himself quite well. One of the best things about him...he can shake off a bad goal and just move forward. Years of experience help with that.

After 2 periods the score is tied at 2. José was hit with 16 more shots on goal that period. Lots of good saves.

It's like that first goal really made him mad, and he was a beast the rest of the night. He saved 39 of 41 shots, and the last period he stood on his head. He saved their bacon numerous times, especially in the last 3 minutes. Wow, it was crazy. My heart was pounding and my hands were shaking. He always keeps his cool and stays calm. Such composure.

The Goalie Guild's Insight on Florida Panthers Goldtending

2011-11-18T19:07:00.000-06:00

The Rat Trick Radio had Justin Goldman from The Goalie Guild as a guest on their radio podcast on November 17, 2011. He discussed the Panthers goalies. He first discussed Markstrom, then José. At the beginning of the podcast, it's general Panthers talk, then it moves into Justin and the goalies talk.

Insight on Florida Panthers Goaltending

He had some pretty nice things to say about José and his wonderful attitude, being a great teammate, and being so mentally tough.