"On the day before arguably their most important game of the 2011-12 season against the Washington Capitals, the Panthers may be on the brink of their first goalie controversy of the year.

While Panthers coach Kevin Dineen verbally quashed that notion by firmly stating that Jose Theodore is his starter, his actions prior to the All-Star break spoke otherwise when he started Scott Clemmensen against the Philadelphia Flyers over a rested, uninjured Theodore.

"You always start looking at the immediate games in Colorado and Chicago,'' said Dineen when asked to assess Theodore's season. "They were disappointing to all of us. When you look at the big picture he's had a real positive effect on our lineup. He's been a guy whose won some games for us. That's what you need out of your goaltenders."