Whether it was the travel or jumping into the cold waters of Baltic Sea after a hot sauna or something else, the flu has started to spread among the Panthers and it could force them to play Friday night's season opener against the Blackhawks here without several key players.
Center Stephen Weiss, and defensemen Keith Ballard, Bryan Allen and Jordan Leopold all missed practice this morning because of the flu. All will be game-time decisions, Coach Pete DeBoer said.
"We just have to keep those guys away from the other guys and hope to get through Friday and Saturday without spreading it any more," DeBoer said.
Not sure about the other three, but I'd be surprised if Weiss plays Friday. If he does, he deserves a tremendous amount of credit for gutting it out. I saw him in the hotel elevator this morning as I was leaving for practice and he looked as awful as he said he felt. The groin injury he's been dealing with is the least of his problems, he said. Not too bad anymore. At this point, the flu is the major issue.
"All of them want to play," DeBoer said. "It?s better they got symptoms today than tomorrow morning. Hopefully it will run some of its course and we?ll be able to get them in the lineup."
The Panthers could go with a couple different line combinations if Weiss doesn't play. Shawn Matthias skated between wingers Nathan Horton and David Booth on the top line in Wednesday's exhibition against Jokerit and did so again during practice.
DeBoer also tried Michael Frolik with Horton and Booth today and put Rostislav Olesz on the second line with Cory Stillman and Steven Reinprecht. Mike Duco skated with Gregory Campbell and Radek Dvorak.
"I don?t know what our line combinations will be," DeBoer said. "I?m actually going to look at the glass half full here and assume Weiss is going to play. If he doesn?t, we?ll deal with it then."
Duco will make his NHL debut if Weiss is out of the lineup. DeBoer said he hasn't decided on the lineup yet -- obviously the health of the sick four will influence that -- but assuming at least one of the three defensemen doesn't play, you'd see 18-year-old Dmitry Kulikov make his debut.
Jason Garrison, who played one NHL game last season, could also crack the lineup on defense.
"I?m pushing our young players not to fall off here. We need them," DeBoer said. "Sometimes with young guys, they get to this point and they take their foot off the gas and relax ? ?I?m here, I?m starting the season.? We can?t afford for that to happen. ?You have to continue to push to not only be here, but contribute.?
Tomas Vokoun will start in goal and would go again Saturday if he plays well enough, DeBoer said. Otherwise, Scott Clemmensen would make his Panthers' debut in the second game against Chicago.
***Both teams participated in a pep rally at beautiful Esplanade Park -- which has some cool statues -- today to promote the game. They took the stage at the same time, with all of the players wearing their jerseys and warm-up pants. (Photo below courtesy of Heidi Leigh from the Panthers)
Center Stephen Weiss, and defensemen Keith Ballard, Bryan Allen and Jordan Leopold all missed practice this morning because of the flu. All will be game-time decisions, Coach Pete DeBoer said.
"We just have to keep those guys away from the other guys and hope to get through Friday and Saturday without spreading it any more," DeBoer said.
Not sure about the other three, but I'd be surprised if Weiss plays Friday. If he does, he deserves a tremendous amount of credit for gutting it out. I saw him in the hotel elevator this morning as I was leaving for practice and he looked as awful as he said he felt. The groin injury he's been dealing with is the least of his problems, he said. Not too bad anymore. At this point, the flu is the major issue.
"All of them want to play," DeBoer said. "It?s better they got symptoms today than tomorrow morning. Hopefully it will run some of its course and we?ll be able to get them in the lineup."
The Panthers could go with a couple different line combinations if Weiss doesn't play. Shawn Matthias skated between wingers Nathan Horton and David Booth on the top line in Wednesday's exhibition against Jokerit and did so again during practice.
DeBoer also tried Michael Frolik with Horton and Booth today and put Rostislav Olesz on the second line with Cory Stillman and Steven Reinprecht. Mike Duco skated with Gregory Campbell and Radek Dvorak.
"I don?t know what our line combinations will be," DeBoer said. "I?m actually going to look at the glass half full here and assume Weiss is going to play. If he doesn?t, we?ll deal with it then."
Duco will make his NHL debut if Weiss is out of the lineup. DeBoer said he hasn't decided on the lineup yet -- obviously the health of the sick four will influence that -- but assuming at least one of the three defensemen doesn't play, you'd see 18-year-old Dmitry Kulikov make his debut.
Jason Garrison, who played one NHL game last season, could also crack the lineup on defense.
"I?m pushing our young players not to fall off here. We need them," DeBoer said. "Sometimes with young guys, they get to this point and they take their foot off the gas and relax ? ?I?m here, I?m starting the season.? We can?t afford for that to happen. ?You have to continue to push to not only be here, but contribute.?
Tomas Vokoun will start in goal and would go again Saturday if he plays well enough, DeBoer said. Otherwise, Scott Clemmensen would make his Panthers' debut in the second game against Chicago.
***Both teams participated in a pep rally at beautiful Esplanade Park -- which has some cool statues -- today to promote the game. They took the stage at the same time, with all of the players wearing their jerseys and warm-up pants. (Photo below courtesy of Heidi Leigh from the Panthers)
