2014–15 Florida Panthers season

The 2014–15 Florida Panthers season was the 21st season for the National Hockey League (NHL) franchise that was established on June 14, 1993. The team missed the playoffs for the third year in a row for the first time since the 2008–09 season and the 2010–11 season. Off-season On April 29, 2014, General Manager Dale Tallon relieved Interim Head Coach Peter Horachek of his duties, and announced that the Panthers were looking to hire a new head coach with NHL experience prior to June 27, 2014, when the 2014 NHL entry draft will be held.

Training camp The Panthers will play in six pre-season exhibition games before the start of the 2014–15 regular season.

Memorable events On March 3, 2015, in a game against the Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Roberto Luongo suffered an injury and was forced to leave the game; he was replaced by backup Al Montoya. Later in the same game, however, Montoya also suffered an injury. Without another available goaltender (NHL teams seldom have a third goaltender on the roster), Montoya attempted to continue playing with the injury while the team debated their options, reportedly considered between either having forward Derek MacKenzie play the position or calling on a "local" goaltender. Forty-one-year-old Goaltending Coach Rob Tallas subsequently dressed in goaltending gear, registered with the team's roster and began warming up in the dressing room tunnel in preparation to enter the game as an emergency backup, but before entering the game, however, Luongo was able to return and finish the remainder of the game. Allegedly, Luongo was at the hospital when Montoya was injured and was rushed back to the arena. This marked the second such instance for Tallas being called in as an emergency backup, with the other occurrence happening the previous season and also preventing him from officially entering the game as the original goaltender returned. Had he played, it would have been his first appearance in an NHL game in 14 years. The incident has reportedly lead the NHL to consider reviewing its rules for "emergency" players and led the Panthers to hold open tryouts for a "fill-in" goaltender.

Standings

Suspensions/fines Player Explanation Length Salary Date issued Vincent Trocheck Diving/Embellishment during NHL Game No. 577 in Washington on Sunday, January 4, 2015, at 11:04 of the third period. — $2,000.00 January 7, 2015 Dmitri Kulikov Clipping Dallas Stars forward Tyler Seguin during NHL game No. 820 in Dallas on Friday, February 13, 2015, at 13:05 of the third period. 4 games $93,189.96 February 16, 2015

Schedule and results

Pre-season 2014 preseason game log: 0–4–2 (Home: 0–1–1; Road: 0–3–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Recap 1 September 24 Dallas 4–3 Florida SO Houser 2,841 0–0–1 2 September 27 Florida 1–2 Nashville SO Montoya 12,700 0–0–2 3 September 27 Florida 1–4 Nashville Luongo 15,741 0–1–2 Recap 4 September 29 Florida 4–5 Dallas Luongo 14,234 0–2–2 Recap 5 October 2 Tampa Bay 0–3 Florida Luongo 2,859 0–3–2 Recap 6 October 4 Florida 1–4 Tampa Bay Montoya 15,411 0–4–2 Recap

Regular season 2014–15 Game Log October: 3–2–3 (Home: 1–2–0; Road: 2–0–3) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 1 October 9 Florida 2–3 Tampa Bay OT Luongo 19,204 0–0–1 1 Recap 2 October 11 New Jersey 5–1 Florida Luongo 11,419 0–1–1 1 Recap 3 October 13 Ottawa 1–0 Florida Luongo 7,311 0–2–1 1 Recap 4 October 17 Florida 1–0 Buffalo Luongo 17,864 1–2–1 3 Recap 5 October 18 Florida 1–2 Washington Montoya 18,506 1–2–2 4 Recap 6 October 21 Florida 4–3 Colorado OT Luongo 14,440 2–2–2 6 Recap 7 October 25 Florida 1–2 Arizona OT Luongo 13,202 2–2–3 7 Recap 8 October 30 Arizona 1–2 Florida Luongo 7,691 3–2–3 9 Recap November: 6–4–3 (Home: 3–2–1; Road: 3–1–2) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 9 November 1 Philadelphia 1–2 Florida Luongo 9,774 4–2–3 11 10 November 4 Florida 1–2 Boston OT Luongo 17,565 4–2–4 12 Recap 11 November 6 Florida 1–4 Philadelphia Luongo 19,777 4–3–4 12 12 November 8 Calgary 6–4 Florida Montoya 9,230 4–4–4 12 Recap 13 November 11 San Jose 4–1 Florida Luongo 8,075 5–4–4 14 Recap 14 November 14 NY Islanders 4–3 Florida SO Luongo 10,010 5–4–5 15 Recap 15 November 16 Florida 6–2 Anaheim Montoya 16,128 6–4–5 17 Recap 16 November 18 Florida 2–5 Los Angeles Luongo 18,230 6–5–5 17 Recap 17 November 20 Florida 3–2 San Jose SO Luongo 17,331 7–5–5 19 Recap 18 November 22 Florida 2–3 Nashville SO Luongo 17,163 7–5–6 20 Recap 19 November 24 Minnesota 4–1 Florida Luongo 8,426 7–6–6 20 Recap 20 November 26 Carolina 0–1 Florida Luongo 8,119 8–6–6 22 Recap 21 November 28 Ottawa 2–3 Florida Montoya 9,758 9–6–6 24 Recap December: 7–4–3 (Home: 4–1–2; Road: 3–3–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 22 December 1 Florida 1–2 Columbus Montoya 12,309 9–7–6 24 Recap 23 December 2 Florida 4–3 Detroit Luongo 20,027 10–7–6 26 Recap 24 December 4 Columbus 4–3 Florida SO Luongo 7,788 10–7–7 27 Recap 25 December 6 Buffalo 2–3 Florida Luongo 8,597 11–7–7 29 Recap 26 December 8 Florida 2–4 St. Louis Luongo 17,330 11–8–7 29 Recap 27 December 12 Florida 3–2 Detroit SO Luongo 20,027 12–8–7 31 Recap 28 December 13 Florida 3–4 Buffalo SO Montoya 18,450 12–8–8 32 Recap 29 December 16 Washington 1–2 Florida SO* Luongo 10,012 13–8–8 34 Recap 30 December 18 Florida 2–1 Philadelphia SO Luongo 19,582 14–8–8 36 Recap 31 December 20 Florida 1–3 Pittsburgh Luongo 18,668 14–9–8 36 Recap 32 December 22 Pittsburgh 3–4 Florida SO Luongo 15,947 15–9–8 38 Recap 33 December 28 Toronto 4–6 Florida Luongo 17,877 16–9–8 40 Recap 34 December 30 Montreal 2–1 Florida SO Luongo 19,614 16–9–9 41 Recap 35 December 31 NY Rangers 5–2 Florida Montoya 15,090 16–10–9 41 Recap* The shootout between the Panthers and the Washington Capitals on December 16, 2014, was the longest to date in NHL history, at 20 rounds. January: 5–6–1 (Home: 1–3–1; Road: 4–3–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 36 January 2 Florida 2–0 Buffalo Luongo 19,070 17–10–9 43 Recap 37 January 4 Florida 3–4 Washington Montoya 18,506 17–11–9 43 Recap 38 January 8 Florida 3–1 Vancouver Luongo 18,799 18–11–9 45 Recap 39 January 9 Florida 6–5 Calgary Montoya 19,289 19–11–9 47 Recap 40 January 11 Florida 4–2 Edmonton Luongo 16,839 20–11–9 49 Recap 41 January 13 Florida 2–8 Winnipeg Luongo 15,016 20–12–9 49 Recap 42 January 15 Colorado 4–2 Florida Luongo 9,584 20–13–9 49 Recap 43 January 17 Edmonton 3–2 Florida SO Luongo 10,529 20–13–10 50 Recap 44 January 19 Vancouver 2–1 Florida Luongo 9,373 20–14–10 50 Recap 45 January 27 Detroit 5–4 Florida Luongo 12,190 20–15–10 50 Recap 46 January 29 Columbus 2–3 Florida Luongo 7,917 21–15–10 52 Recap 47 January 31 Florida 1–3 New Jersey Luongo 16,278 21–16–10 52 Recap February: 6–6–3 (Home: 3–1–2; Road: 3–5–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 48 February 2 Florida 3–6 NY Rangers Luongo 18,006 21–17–10 52 Recap 49 February 3 Florida 4–2 NY Islanders Montoya 14,704 22–17–10 54 Recap 50 February 5 Los Angeles 2–3 Florida Luongo 9,624 23–17–10 56 Recap 51 February 8 Nashville 3–2 Florida SO Luongo 10,844 23–17–11 57 Recap 52 February 10 Anaheim 2–6 Florida Luongo 8,576 24–17–11 59 Recap 53 February 12 Florida 1–2 Minnesota Luongo 19,055 24–18–11 59 Recap 54 February 13 Florida 0–2 Dallas Montoya 18,211 24–19–11 59 Recap 55 February 15 St. Louis 2–1 Florida SO Luongo 11,859 24–19–12 60 Recap 56 February 17 Florida 3–2 Toronto Luongo 19,098 25–19–12 62 Recap 57 February 19 Florida 3–2 Montreal SO Luongo 21,286 26–19–12 64 Recap 58 February 21 Florida 1–4 Ottawa Luongo 16,938 26–20–12 64 Recap 59 February 22 Florida 1–5 Pittsburgh Montoya 18,592 26–21–12 64 Recap 60 February 24 Florida 2–3 Chicago SO Luongo 21,526 26–21–13 65 Recap 61 February 26 Chicago 3–0 Florida Luongo 17,387 26–22–13 65 Recap 62 February 28 Buffalo 3–5 Florida Luongo 10,374 27–22–13 67 Recap March: 8–5–2 (Home: 5–2–1; Road: 3–3–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 63 March 1 Tampa Bay 3–4 Florida Montoya 10,336 28–22–13 69 Recap 64 March 3 Toronto 3–2 Florida Montoya 10,198 28–23–13 69 Recap 65 March 5 Dallas 4–3 Florida SO Ellis 8,510 28–23–14 70 Recap 66 March 7 NY Islanders 3–4 Florida SO Ellis 14,474 29–23–14 72 Recap 67 March 12 Winnipeg 2–4 Florida Ellis 9,819 30–23–14 74 Recap 68 March 14 Florida 2–0 Carolina Ellis 11,790 31–23–14 76 Recap 69 March 15 Florida 1–2 NY Rangers Ellis 18,006 31–24–14 76 70 March 17 Montreal 3–2 Florida Ellis 18,245 31–25–14 76 Recap 71 March 19 Detroit 1–3 Florida Luongo 11,458 32–25–14 78 Recap 72 March 21 Boston 1–2 Florida SO Luongo 17,044 33–25–14 80 Recap 73 March 24 Florida 3–4 Tampa Bay Luongo 18,729 33–26–14 80 74 March 26 Florida 4–1 Toronto Luongo 18,831 34–26–14 82 Recap 75 March 28 Florida 2–3 Montreal OT Luongo 21,287 34–26–15 83 Recap 76 March 29 Florida 4–2 Ottawa Ellis 19,045 35–26–15 85 Recap 77 March 31 Florida 2–3 Boston Luongo 17,565 35–27–15 85 Recap April: 3–2–0 (Home: 3–2–0; Road: 0–0–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 78 April 2 Carolina 1–6 Florida Luongo 9,827 36–27–15 87 Recap 79 April 4 Tampa Bay 4–0 Florida Luongo 11,072 36–28–15 87 Recap 80 April 5 Montreal 4–1 Florida Ellis 14,112 36–29–15 87 Recap 81 April 9 Boston 2–4 Florida Luongo 11,778 37–29–15 89 Recap 82 April 11 New Jersey 2–3 Florida Montoya 12,236 38–29–15 91 RecapLegend:

Playoffs Despite having 91 points, the Panthers failed to qualify for the playoffs for the third consecutive year.

Player stats Final stats Skaters

Regular season Player 79 15 39 54 10 38 81 8 36 44 −2 34 72 24 19 43 −7 38 81 12 27 39 12 32 78 14 24 38 11 20 71 16 20 36 −4 16 72 19 16 35 −4 20 82 3 24 27 4 22 49 22 2 24 6 14 53 6 17 23 4 48 50 7 15 22 9 24 73 3 19 22 0 48 ‡ 52 7 14 21 12 8 ‡ 39 8 10 18 2 34 † 20 6 12 18 7 6 63 8 7 15 −8 28 76 4 9 13 −4 58 82 5 6 11 −17 45 66 3 5 8 1 25 64 2 6 8 −19 28 44 2 6 8 −7 20 46 1 4 5 −13 50 25 2 2 4 −4 12 33 0 3 3 −4 34 7 1 0 1 1 4 9 0 1 1 −4 5 2 0 0 0 −2 0 ‡ 7 0 0 0 −1 2

Goaltenders Regular season Player 61 61 3528 28 19 12 138 2.35 1743 0.921 2 0 0 0 20 13 977 6 7 2 49 3.01 453 0.892 0 0 0 2 8 8 486 4 3 1 19 2.35 221 0.914 1 0 0 0 †Denotes player spent time with another team before joining the Panthers. Stats reflect time with the Panthers only. ‡Denotes player was traded mid-season. Stats reflect time with the Panthers only. Bold/italics denotes franchise record.

Notable achievements

Awards

Regular season Player Award Awarded NHL Third Star of the Week December 8, 2014 NHL Third Star of the Week January 12, 2015 NHL All-Star game selection January 10, 2015 NHL All-Star Game rookie selection January 10, 2015

Milestones

Regular season Player Milestone Reached 1st Career NHL Game1st Career NHL Assist1st Career NHL Point October 9, 2014 100th Career NHL Point October 17, 2014 800th Career NHL Game October 18, 2014 1st Career NHL Game November 1, 2014 A. Ekblad 1st Career NHL Goal November 1, 2014 500th Career NHL Game November 4, 2014 100th Career NHL Game November 4, 2014 100th Career NHL Game November 11, 2014 700th Career NHL Game November 18, 2014 R. Grimaldi 1st Career NHL Goal1st Career NHL Point November 22, 2014 100th Career NHL Game December 13, 2014 100th Career NHL Game December 16, 2014 200th Career NHL Game December 20, 2014 700th Career NHL Game January 13, 2015 300th Career NHL Point February 10, 2015 100th Career NHL Game February 19, 2015 900th Career NHL Game February 28, 2015 B. Boyes 200th Career NHL Goal March 1, 2015 100th Career NHL Point March 12, 2015 600th Career NHL Game March 21, 2015 400th Career NHL Game March 26, 2015 D. Bolland 200th Career NHL Point March 29, 2015 100th Career NHL Game April 2, 2015 400th Career NHL Win April 2, 2015 1,800th Career NHL Point April 9, 2015 J. Jokinen 300th Career NHL Assist April 9, 2015

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