A common thread in Florida Panthers’ recent losses? They’ve had their share of chances
The Florida Panthers have been in this position several times already this season. The offense, at least by analytical measures, outperforms the opposition. It takes the majority of the shots on goal, generates the majority of the scoring chances.
And ... the Panthers lose.
Such was the case again on Sunday in the Panthers’ 5-3 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets, their third consecutive defeat and fourth in the past five games that has Florida sitting at 9-8-2 on the season as they prepare to host the Boston Bruins on Wednesday.
The Panthers and Blue Jackets were tied 2-2 going into the third before Columbus scored three unanswered goal — a short-handed goal, 5-on-5 goal and power play goal — to pull away despite Florida having a 51-16 edge in scoring chances and 50-23 edge in shots on goal on the night.
“It’s the same story,” forward Nick Cousins said after the loss.
It’s been that way for the better part of the past week-plus for the Panthers. Florida has been the aggressor in each of its past three regulation losses.
The Columbus performance is just the latest example.
Florida had a 34-24 edge in scoring chances and 44-29 advantage in shots on goal against the Dallas Stars on Thursday but had to work out of a four-goal first-period deficit in their eventual 6-4 loss.
And against Edmonton on Nov. 12, the Panthers outshot the Oilers 42-32 and had a dozen more scoring chances (34-22). The final score? 4-2 Edmonton.
(In its 5-4 shootout loss to Calgary on Saturday, the Panthers and Flames both had 35 shots on goal and Calgary had a 26-25 edge in scoring chances.)
”If we were getting outshot every night, getting outchanced, there would be concerns,” Panthers coach Paul Maurice said. “We drive lots of play here. There is another level we need to get to and it is hard to get there.”
Tkachuk’s latest milestone
With his first-period goal on Sunday, Matthew Tkachuk recorded his 25th point of the season and did so in just 17 games. He is the first player in Panthers history to hit the 25-point mark that quickly in his Panthers tenure.
Tkachuk has eight goals and 17 assists on the season (tied for seventh in the NHL) and has logged at least one point in all but three games he has played. This includes eight multi-point outings and three three-point games. He is on a three-game goal streak.
How Ekblad has played
Aaron Ekblad has barely missed a beat since returning from his 11-game absence due to a groin injury sustained on Oct. 17 against the Boston Bruins.
In five games since his return to the ice, the Panthers’ star defenseman has been on the ice for an average of 24:47 per game — the 20th-highest mark in the league and about on par with his average ice time the past two seasons (25:05 in the 2020-21 season, 24:55 in the 2021-22 season). He has one goal and two assists in that span while firing off 22 shots on goal, including a team-high-tying seven in Sunday’s loss to Columbus.
“Feel good,” Ekblad said. “Still working on timing, making it perfect. Trying to find that great game — not the simply good game. Trying to find that next level and that next gear. I think even when you’re at your best, you’re trying to find that, so it’s a never satisfied kind of attitude.”
.JPG)