Monday night was a disastrous 3-2 loss in Brooklyn to the Islanders.
Up 2-0 going into the 3rd and dominating the entire game, the Panthers looked poised to get an extremely important two points before playing Montreal Tuesday night.
It was beyond uncharacteristic for this Florida team to give up 3 late goals, in regulation no less, to lose a game in such a way.
They have been strong defensively and in net for most of the season. But over the course of 82 games things like this will happen. It was vital to rebound against a young, beat up Canadiens team to keep the possibility of a positive road trip alive.
But there was a problem.
As has been the case for months, the Panthers are once again beat up. Derek MacKenzie, just returned from a concussion, is back out again with a small fracture in his foot sustained blocking a shot against Philadelphia Saturday night. He is week to week.
Erik Gudbranson was seen limping after Monday's game and is listed as day-to-day. The biggest surprise about Tuesday was Jussi Jokinen was also listed as day-to-day with a lower body injury. He seemed fine after the game.
Jokinen is having an incredible year playing with Vincent Trocheck and Reilly Smith. He is currently on a 10 game point streak and is 2nd on the team in points behind Jaromir Jagr. More importantly he does everything well and is a vital piece of this team's success for the stretch run.
MacKenzie anchors a solid fourth line, is the team's best shot blocker, and often lifts the team up with his play. Losing both of those forwards for any period of time hurts chemistry.
Luckily the Panthers got Teddy Purcell back from injury Tuesday, and Steven Kampfer and Greg McKegg were called on to fill in the other holes. Dylan Olsen was also called up on an emergency basis but did not play.
The information on Gudbranson and Jokinen is vague, so one/both/none could be back Thursday in Toronto. MacKenzie and captain Willie Mitchell are likely a week or two away.
Despite the infirmary, Florida rebounded nicely in a 4-1 win and regained sole possession of first place in the Atlantic Division after Boston's regulation loss at San Jose. Boston has a brutal schedule over the next few weeks that could bode very well for the Panthers' finishing in the top spot.
Florida still has one game at Boston and Tampa remaining, which will be huge points on the line.
Kampfer surprisingly lead the team Tuesday with a +3 rating. Trocheck, Nick Bjugstad, and Brian Campbell were the top 3 stars of the game, respectively. Al Montoya stopped 27 of 28 shots and once again stood tall when the team needed him most. The Luongo/Montoya tandem has been one of the best duos in the NHL and if the injury bug doesn't hit them this team will always have a chance.
But two weeks ago GM Dale Tallon was counting the days until this team was finally and mercifully healthy.
It looks like that will have to wait again.
Every team is beat up this time of year, and as long as the top line of Huberdeau-Barkov-Jagr stays together they can score. However, the loss of Jokinen is huge because of the chemistry he has with Trocheck and Smith.
Once head coach Gerard Gallant doesn't have to keep mixing and matching lines, the Panthers will be in great shape for the playoffs should that time come. But the question is will good health visit this team in time? We shall see.
In the meantime the Florida Panthers are in first place in mid-March. While that means nothing in terms of the ultimate goal to the season, this season has been a resounding success for a team that many thought were a borderline playoff team at best.
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