“I think that the biggest thing is we played much better without the puck,” Vokoun told the press in a conference call on March 17. “We have been playing a lot better defensively and that means that we have been playing much better without the puck.”

Vokoun is 30-29-8 with a 2.68 goals against average with a .918 save percentage and four shutouts, allowing 179 goals. Not only does Vokoun have impressive stats, he is a standup goaltender who uses his size and his rapid glove hand to keep the Panthers in the game on a consistent basis.

“We got some scoring from different guys tonight and Tomas (Vokoun) was there to cover up for our mistakes,” Panthers coach Jacques Martin commented after a Panthers-Blackhawks game on December 17. “He made some big saves and we were able to capitalize when we had the opportunities.”

Vokoun does this very often for his Panthers, especially as of late. He is a very strong goalie who is usually in top condition. He rebounds well from bad goals and games, which makes him invaluable to the Panthers coaching staff.

Earlier this month, Tomas felt that he was getting mentally tired and he was glad that Craig Anderson could fill in for him so well.

“When we lose those few close games, obviously it’s tough, and I was getting really mentally tired and my game wasn’t where I wanted it to be,” said Vokoun during the March 17 conference call. “Craig went in and played great, and he started three games and gave me more than a week, not just to relax from the standpoint of not playing any games, but with the goalie coach, work on my game. It was a good break.”

The Panthers, who last saw playoff action in 2000, are trailing the eighth-place Philadelphia Flyers by 8 points with only 2 games remaining.

Their goaltenders, though, have been strong all year, and have been stopping everything lately (including a 3-2 victory over Atlanta with Anderson in net April 1st).

Considered the best goaltender Florida has had since Roberto Luongo, Vokoun kept the Panthers in the playoff picture for longer than many NHL experts expected.

Vokoun, who turns 32 on July 2, is signed through the 2010-11 season.

Florida will have to try and build a better lineup in the offseason. Vokoun will definitely be one of the main reasons that the Panthers will be in playoff contention next season.