The Florida Panthers are at a crossroads right now. They are in the midst of a five-game stretch where they are 1-4-0.
Florida is not playing very good hockey, according to Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice.
“It wasn’t the game, it’s bigger,” Maurice said Thursday. “This is five-game block we’ve played one way, and that’s not good enough for us.”
After losing two home games to the New Jersey Devils and splitting a home and home with the Winnipeg Jets, the Panthers dropped a 3-1 decision to the Chicago Blackhawks Thursday night.
The good news is they get to come back to Sunrise for a three-game homestand which begins Saturday night against the Colorado Avalanche.
The bad news is that they’ll be facing three very good hockey teams. Florida will face the Avalanche, the Washington Capitals and the Toronto Maple Leafs at Amerant Bank Arena before taking to the road again.
These three games are very important and they must pick up points. The Panthers are one-point behind the Maple Leafs, who they’ll face Wednesday, in the Atlantic Division standings.
Florida is currently 12-7-1, while the Maple Leafs are 12-6-2. There are still plenty of games left for the Panthers to turn things back around.
SCORING STREAK UPDATE
The lone goal by the Panthers was scored by none other than Sam Reinhart, who is tied for the NHL lead with 15 goals. Reinhart is also fourth in the league with 30 points.
His point streak has now reached 12 games, with Reinhart accumulating 10 goals and 18 points during the run.
Florida captain Sasha Barkov was held off the scoresheet in Chicago, bringing his point streak to an end at nine games after he’d racked up three goals and 17 points.
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