Kritik und Lob » been as sharp as normal, but his GAA isnt terrible at 2.53

For Trent Merrin, the goosebumps began in June.Long-time Penrith starters James Segeyaro had been let go, veteran Jamie Soward dropped, and international centres Dean Whare and Peta Hiku were sidelined for the rest of the season.They were clinging onto their spot in the NRL top eight, and much of their fate now rested in the youthful hands of 18-year-old rookie halfback Nathan Cleary.However, that didnt stop Panthers boss Phil Gould from daring his team - a roster he had torn down then rebuilt since saving the club in 2011 - to make a fairytale run to the grand final.I hear commentators say the words, In a couple of years, theyre capable of winning the premiership, Gould said at the clubs 50th-anniversary gala dinner three months ago.In a couple of years they might be ready for us. In a couple of years they might see us coming.But he told the squad there was no time like the present.If you want to dedicate yourself for the next 14 weeks to each other, to your coaches, play hard and play tough, theres no reason why we cant sneak up on them this year.And make it a real celebration to remember.Merrin, who turned his back on St George Illawarra to take up a big-money move to the foot of the Blue Mountains last summer, remembers the speech distinctly.I got goosebumps at the time because I believe it, he said ahead of Saturdays semi-final against Canberra in the nations capital.Ive been around some great teams and this is definitely one of them. Everyone keeps talking about the future, but were all looking at the present and were preparing for the present.And despite the Panthers being the youngest and most inexperienced team left of the six remaining in title contention, Merrin in unashamedly convinced they can go all the way.If they do, theyll become the first team to lift the trophy from outside the top four in 20 years.I believe we can, for sure. Ive got total belief in that and I know that everyone else in the team does too, he said.Its not about that though. Its about Canberra this week. Weve got to take it one week at a time and prepare each and every day the hardest we can. Jose Iglesias Jersey . -- Team after team passed on Andre Ellington in the draft. Denny McLain Jersey . Walcott is available for Saturdays home match against Southampton as Arsenal looks to extend its two-point lead at the top of the Premier League. 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SUNRISE, Fla. -- Right winger Jaromir Jagr, who at 44 is the grand old man of Florida Panthers hockey, has a groin injury and is questionable to play Monday night against the visiting Tampa Bay Lightning.He had a little bit of cramp in his groin, Panthers coach Gerard Gallant told the media on Sunday. I dont think its anything too serious. But he is sore. Hes day to day.Another issue for the Panthers is goalie Roberto Luongo, who has lost four games in a row. He has allowed 12 goals in those four losses.The Panthers say they are not concerned about Luongos play. But you have to wonder if the 37-year-old is starting to lose a bit off his proverbial fastball in his 18th NHL season.Florida, which won the Atlantic Division last season, is off to a poor start with a 5-6-1 record. They are last in the Atlantic, already 10 points behind the first-place Montreal Canadiens.The Lightning (7-4-1) have 15 points and are in second place in the Atlantic, six points behind Montreal.Tampa Bay has played the Panthers just once this season, defeating Florida 4-3 in a shootout.The Lightning are coming off a 4-1 win over the New Jersey Devils on Saturday night. Still, Tampa Bay is worried about its consistently slow starts.In 12 games, the Lightning has led just twice after one period. They have trailed six times and played to a scoreless draw on four occasions.The Lightning tends to turn the puck over far too often in opening periods, and that keeps them from getting out on that attack.Thats what happened in Saturdays first period as Tampa Bay trailed New Jersey 1-0 after the opening 20 minutes.Its an issue, Lightning coach Jon Cooper told the media. Theres no question.Tampa Bay goalie Ben Bishop (5-3-0) has been solid -- he had 37 saves against the Devils. But his goals-against average (3.01) is high for him. His GAA was 2.06 last season.Perhaps Luongo is not the only goalie with something to prove on Monday.Offensively, Tampa Bay has a deep and dangerous group of forwards, led by Steven Stamkos, who signed an eight-year contract extension in the offseason that will pay him $8.dddddddddddd5 million per season on average.Stamkos has seven goals and seven assists this season, and his 14 points are second on the team behind Nikita Kucherov (four goals, 11 assists, 15 points).Defenseman Victor Hedman, who also signed a big-money extension in the offseason -- eight years, $7.9 million per season, is the teams third-leading scorer. He has three goals and seven assists.For Florida, its top three scorers are all surprises: forwards Jon Marchessault (six goals, six assists), Vincent Trocheck (six goals, two assists) and Colton Sceviour (five goals, three assists).Marchessault and Sceviour werent even with the team last season, both signing low-money, two-year free-agent contracts on July 1.Some of the teams bigger names are injured and out long term (forwards Jonathan Huberdeau, Jussi Jokinen and Nick Bjugstad), out with a nagging injury (Jagr, possibly) or slumping (star center Aleksander Barkov has two goals and three assists).Luongo (3-5-0) hasnt been as sharp as normal, but his GAA isnt terrible at 2.53.What ails Luongo and the team overall is nothing that couldnt be greatly helped with a win on Monday night.In other news regarding the game:The Panthers waived defenseman Steven Kampfer and recalled defenseman Jakub Kindl, 29, from their American Hockey League affiliate, the Springfield Thunderbirds.Kampfer had been a healthy scratch for 11 of the Panthers 12 games this season.Kindl, a native of the Czech Republic, was the Detroit Red Wings first-round pick, No. 19 overall, in 2005. Last season, he had two assists in 19 games for the Panthers and two goals and four assists in 25 games for Detroit.The Lightning recalled forward Cory Conacher from AHL Syracuse. With forward Jonathan Drouin listed as day to day with an injury, Conachers presence provides insurance for Tampa Bay. ' ' '