Photo credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Image
Daniil Tarasov and Sergei Bobrovsky have Florida Panthers fans debating the crease after another shaky finish.
The night had real heart before the trouble, with a full arena leaning into Brad Marchand's milestone ceremony. Florida also needed the practical part of it, giving Sergei Bobrovsky a back to back breather.
That is where Tarasov came in, and the game itself was good hockey, fast pace and skill everywhere. He stopped 26 of 29, but the late goals by Cole Caufield and Nick Suzuki flipped the vibe hard.
The tying goal is the one fans will replay, because it started with a miscommunication behind the net between Tarasov and Aaron Ekblad. One hurried touch later, Suzuki had the lane and the building felt suddenly quiet.
Florida Panthers patience thinning on Daniil Tarasov
I get it, nobody wants to pile on a backup, but the groans are getting louder.
Tarasov is 26, and his season line sits at 4-6-1 with a 2.97 goals against and a .900 save percentage. Those numbers are fine in the middle, but they do not calm you when the puck goes sideways late.
Florida did not sign him to be a star, they signed him to be steady behind an elite starter. Tarasov's one year deal is $1.05 million, which screams «support role,» not «carry nights.»
The problem is that Bobrovsky is 37, carries a $10 million cap hit, and the Panthers need him fresh for the long road. If he has to play every big spot, the plan starts to look shaky by March.
''You should close those out. It's frustrating that we weren't able to." Marchand said.
This is why the fan patience is fraying, because you can live with a goal that beats you clean. It is the puck management wobble, the unsure touch, and the late leak that scares people.
With the Winter Classic coming Friday, the Panthers will want the crease story to settle down fast. Either Tarasov steadies himself, or every «rest Bobrovsky» night will feel like a gamble.