Latest news with #VitekVanecek
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
What was up with the goalie stare down before Game 4? Panthers' Vanecek, Oilers' Pickard explain
It's not every day goaltender warmup routines become a story. But it certainly became one in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final. As the teams took the ice pregame at Amerant Bank Arena on Thursday, Florida Panthers backup goaltender Vitek Vanecek locked eyes with Edmonton Oilers starter Stuart Skinner at the red line between the team's benches. Eventually, Edmonton's Calvin Pickard got in on the fun as well, making it a two-on-one stare down before they ultimately went their separate ways. So ... what exactly happened? 'I was just doing my routine,' Vanecek said, 'and then [Pickard] said 'if I want to go stretch with him.' I said 'no, I'm good, I like this side.'' Has this always been Vanecek's routine? 'It's a new one,' he said. 'For this series.' Pickard, who entered in relief for Skinner following the first period on Thursday, confirmed that's how things unfolded. 'It's nothing,' Pickard said. 'I just went over there asking, because he's just, I don't know, I think he's trying to get into [Skinner's] head. But it really wasn't anything. Obviously, the cameras, you can't hide out there. You guys are making it be a bit of a story, but I was just asking if he wanted to stretch next to me. He said, 'No.' I said, 'That's OK.'' Vanecek was able to appreciate how Pickard handled himself after being thrust into Game 4. Florida built a 3-0 lead against Skinner in the first period before Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch made the change. Pickard then went on to stop 22 of 23 shots he faced as Edmonton rallied to win 5-4 in overtime. 'It's always tough. He's an old guy, a lot of experience, and then he come into the game. He played great. I think that's something special for him.' Pickard will be back in net for Edmonton for Game 5 on Saturday at Edmonton's Rogers Place, with the best-of-7 series tied 2-2. Will another stare down ensue? 'I don't have much routine there,' Pickard said. 'I'll be probably facing our end.'
Time of India
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
'Goalies are such weirdos': Fans react as NHL goalie chaos in Stanley Cup warm-ups goes viral
NHL fans are going wild over the viral video of Calvin Pickard and Vitek Vanecek's goalie faceoff before Game 4. Calvin Pickard not only appeared at Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final to serve as a backup for Edmonton Oilers starter Stuart Skinner—he also swiped the internet for attention during warm-ups with his side-splitting, memeable exchange that had NHL fans laughing hard. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now NHL fans welcome the strangest brotherhood in sports In a moment shared far and wide on social media, Calvin Pickard slid over to Florida Panthers backup Vitek Vanecek, who stood motionless like a statue at center ice. Calvin Pickard, noticing the peculiar immobility, nonchalantly asked Vitek Vanecek if he'd like to stretch along with him. The reaction? A chilly, wordless rejection, and Calvin Pickard skates away with equal deadpan enthusiasm. The video went viral immediately. NHL goalies have always been perceived as a unique lot—serious, quirky, and sometimes unintentionally comedic. And then this pregame moment between Calvin Pickard and Vitek Vanecek just made that reputation for oddness grow. Corey Perry Warmup Routine Reddit exploded with comments from amused viewers. One commenter summed up the mood best: 'Goalies are such weirdos. I love it.' 'This made me laugh so hard during Pickard's post-game interview. What an adorable dork,' another said. Speculation regarding the interaction abounded online, with some speculating that Vanecek's statue-like demeanor was not necessarily an awkward energy. 'Do you think they are shit talking or just trying to get in their head, or just talking like buddies,' one Reddit user said to which someone replied, 'Stolarz did this last year to get in Skinners head. They must have felt it worked, and now their new backup is doing the same. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now It is intentional.' Fans also couldn't help but catch the dysfunctional Panther growl sound playing in the arena background of the video. "The panther growl in the background kills me," one user typed, adding to the levels of humor that made the moment almost scripted. And yet, amidst all the humor, there was a current of appreciation for hockey's most eccentric position. 'Goalies are a different breed!' one fan said. Also read: Although Stuart Skinner did not survive past the first period of Game 4, maybe the real mental game was already afoot before the puck was dropped—with Vanecek playing chess and Pickard merely attempting to stretch. Either way, the odd pregame ritual reminded everyone of one thing: goalies aren't merely players—they're a show in themselves.
Yahoo
16-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Panthers challenging road trip continues with stop on Long Island
The Florida Panthers did not get off to a good start on Saturday night in Montreal, and it cost them. If the Cats want to bounce back on Sunday and avoid a pair of losses in consecutive days, they'll need to show up from the start. Just as hungry as the Canadiens were in their home barn, you better believe the New York Islanders are just as desperate for every point in the standings they can get. Entering play Sunday, the Isles find themselves six points back of the New York Rangers for the final Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference, and with four teams to climb over just to reach their crosstown rivals. Florida, meanwhile, remains atop the Atlantic Division, currently holding a four point lead on the Toronto Maple Leafs and Tampa Bay Lightning, who each have 81 points. Only four points back of the Bolts and Leafs and turning some heads as they climbed up the standings are the Ottawa Senators, another team the Cats will need to keep an eye on as the postseason draws closer. In terms of recent play, both the Panthers and Islanders have left something to be desired. Florida has dropped two of three on their current six-game road trip while the Islanders have lost three straight and are in danger of falling too far behind in the Wild Card race. The Panthers will likely turn to Vitek Vanecek in goal on the back end of the back-to-back after Sergei Bobrovsky played on Saturday night in Montreal. Here are the Panthers projected lines and pairings for Sunday's tilt on Long Island: Carter Verhaeghe – Sasha Barkov – Sam Reinhart Mackie Samoskevich – Sam Bennett – Evan Rodrigues Eetu Luostarinen – Anton Lundell – Jesper Boqvist A.J. Greer – Nico Sturm – Tomas Nosek Gus Forsling – Seth Jones Niko Mikkola – Dmitry Kulikov Nate Schmidt – Uvis Balinskis Scratches: Jonah Gadjovich, Brad Marchand LATEST STORIES FROM THE HOCKEY NEWS - FLORIDA Three takeaways: Panthers struggle again with Montreal, Maurice quite unhappy with result Smoked meat: Panthers can't complete uphill climb, fall 3-1 in Montreal Panthers road trip continues against Montreal squad fighting for playoff spot The Hockey Show: Trade Deadline fallout, playoff posturing with Emily Kaplan Three takeaways: Panthers slow Leafs rush game, finding success without key players
Miami Herald
09-03-2025
- Sport
- Miami Herald
Vanecek stellar in Panthers debut, shutting out Sabres for Florida's sixth straight win
After he was traded over to the Florida Panthers earlier this week, goaltender Vitek Vanecek said he planned to do whatever he could to help the team win a second Stanley Cup. Saturday was a good start. Vanecek, who came over from the San Jose Sharks in exchange for forward prospect Patrick Giles, stopped all 21 shots he faced in his Panthers debut for a 4-0 shutout win over the Buffalo Sabres at Amerant Bank Arena. The Panthers are 40-21-3 on the season, swept their five-game homestand and are on a six-game win streak — one shy of their longest stretch of the season. Buffalo falls to 24-32-6. A.J. Greer, Carter Verhaeghe, Anton Lundell and Sam Bennett scored goals for Florida to back up Vanecek's efforts in net. Vanecek becomes the third goaltender in Panthers history to log a shutout in his franchise debut. The others: Chris Driedger against the Nashville Predators on Nov. 30, 2019, and Jose Theodore against the New York Islanders on Oct. 8, 2011. It was the third overall shutout for the Panthers over the past four games, with Florida giving up just one goal in that stretch. It's the first time in franchise history the Panthers have allowed just one goal in a four-game span, the first time any team has done that since the Tampa Bay Lightning from Feb. 24-March 2, 2021, and just the 11th instance since the turn of the century. This and that ▪ With his secondary assist on Verhaeghe's second-period goal, defenseman Aaron Ekblad has 30 assists on the season. It's the third 30-assist season of his career and first since the 2021-22 season. Ekblad has now logged at least one assist in six consecutive games, tying the Panthers record done four other times (also by Brandon Montour, MacKenzie Weegar, Jay Bouwmeester and Robert Svehla). ▪ Defenseman Nate Schmidt had the primary assist on the goals from Greer and Lundell. It's his first multi-point game since Dec. 22, 2022. ▪ The Panthers have outscored opponents 20-5 over their six-game win streak. ▪ Florida went a perfect 2 for 2 on the penalty kill Saturday, not allowing a shot on goal over the four minutes they played down a man. Since returning from the NHL's break for the 4 Nations Face-Off, the Panthers have gone 19 for 20 on the penalty kill over seven games.
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Panthers acquiring Brad Marchand from Boston
What's one more big splash before the Trade Deadline hits? Literally minutes before the deadline hit, the Panthers swung a massive move with the Boston Bruins for forward Brad Marchand. #FlaPanthers have agreed to a trade with #NHLBruins to acquire Brad Marchand. They're in the trade call queue. — Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) March 7, 2025 This comes after Florida has already acquired Seth Jones, Vitek Vanecek and Nico Sturm over the past several days. Marchand is currently out with an upper-body injury he suffered during Boston's win in Pittsburgh last weekend and considered week-to-week. Marchand and his gritty, in-your-face style of play should be a perfect fit with the Panthers as they push for a second consecutive Stanley Cup. Click back for updates on this breaking new story. LATEST STORIES FROM THE HOCKEY NEWS - FLORIDA The Hockey Show: Trade Deadline talk with Nick Alberga Three takeaways: Panthers earn dominant victory, Gadjovich fighting doesn't go unappreciated Dominant effort by Panthers against Columbus leads to Cats' fifth straight win Vitek Vanecek arrives, Kaapo Kahkonen acquired as Panthers remodel goaltending stable Florida Panthers acquire center Nico Sturm from San Jose
