Without Aleksander Barkov, Florida Panthers can’t dig out of big early hole in Boston
The Florida Panthers teased the long-awaited return of the “Comeback Cats” on Monday, but ultimately the big hole they dug against the Boston Bruins was too much to overcome in Massachusetts.
The Panthers fell behind by four in the second period, quickly cut the Bruins’ lead down to a single goal, but then faded down the stretch and ultimately got blown out 7-3 in Boston.
With a chance to get back-to-back wins against the top two teams in the Eastern Conference, Florida came up short and split a two-game road trip against the New Jersey Devils and Bruins.
The Panthers weren’t helped by the absence of star center Aleksander Barkov, who went down with an apparent injury in the first period of Florida’s win Saturday. The Panthers ultimately got positive news with the captain just being listed as “day to day” by coach Paul Maurice, but the injury still held him out to start the week and Florida gave up seven goals without him in the lineup.
Goaltender Spencer Knight, who made his first start since Dec. 6, struggled mightily after missing much of the last two weeks with an illness. Boston generated just 13 high-danger chances — the same number as the Panthers — yet scored relentlessly, especially in the first period.
The Bruins jumped ahead 3-0 in the first 17 minutes, then pushed their lead to 4-0 with 18:22 still left in the second period. It was enough time for Florida to threaten a comeback — and three straight goals by forwards Sam Reinhart, Eric Staal and Carter Verhaeghe in just 6:20 of the second period cut Boston’s lead to 4-3 — but also enough time for the Bruins to pour on even more. They took a 5-3 lead into the third period after a goal by Boston center David Krejci, then superstar center Patrice Bergeron scored twice in the third to put away the Panthers.
Florida, which set a single-season NHL record by completing six comebacks of three or more goals last year, still does not have a multi-goal comeback this year and just two come-from-behind wins of any sort.
