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Florida Panthers Fall Out of Sorts, Lose to the Comeback Flyers

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Florida captain Sasha Barkov looks on during the third period of a 4-3 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers on Monday night. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Not long after the Florida Panthers gave up three goals in the third period to lose 4-3 to the Philadelphia Flyers, Evan Rodrigues was asked if there was any part of that game the team would like to replicate in New Jersey tonight.



“No, not much,’’ Rodrigues replied. “No. I thought we were playing the right way at the start, then things got away from us.’’

The Panthers had been 16-0 in games led after two periods this season and are now 51-1-3 over the past two regular seasons.

Philadelphia did a number on the Panthers on Monday, chipping away at an early 2-0 deficit before taking its first lead of the night on Noah Cates’ second goal of the season on a breakaway chance with 5:51 remaining in the game.

Although the Panthers were all over goalie Samuel Ersson early, he ended up with 26 saves and the Flyers kept Florida from doing a lot of what it likes to do by blocking 27 shots.

The Panthers won the first, led after the second — but the Flyers were the better team for much of the final 40.

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“We played at a speed that, I don’t know what speed we’re playing at the first period,’’ John Tortorella said afterward.

“Give them credit: They rebounded and found a way to get involved. This time of year, after a good win we had the other night, playing against one of the top teams in the league, and to come back against them gives you a little bit of juice.”

The Panthers did not help themselves by taking six penalties in the game — although three of them (an embellishment on A.J. Greer, and tripping calls on Sasha Barkov and Dmitry Kulikov) were softer than a tub of whipped Philadelphia cream cheese left in your car after a Publix run.

“I don’t understand half the calls, but that’s OK,’’ Paul Maurice said. “I don’t get paid to understand them.’’

And, those last two penalties were costly: Cates and Morgan Frost both scored game-tying goals on the ensuing power plays.

“We have taken 12 minor penalties in the past two games,’’ Maurice said, referencing Saturday’s 4-3 overtime loss to the Bruins.

“I don’t think anyone needed to wear equipment in either game. They weren’t heavy games. So they weren’t mean, they weren’t angry [penalties] … I don’t know what the hell they are.

“But, without Aaron Ekblad out of our lineup, we can’t be in the box 12 times in two games. We just can’t. We gave up four goals. That’s the difference in both of them.”

Florida’s loss did overshadow a bit of history from Sam Reinhart.

He scored a shorthanded goal while Barkov was in the box the first time — yeah, Barkov was flagged twice in this game — to give the Panthers a 1-0 lead.

Reinhart also made it 3-2 with a power-play goal at 3:34 of the third giving him his second shorty/power play game of the season and third in his time with the Panthers.

He is now the first player in franchise history to accomplish either.

Reinhart did not seem to be in the mood to talk milestones.

“I think the first thing you think about is discipline,” Reinhart said. “You see the difference when we’re dictating the pace and playing our game. We carried the play, got away from that, played into their hands. They were on their heels. That’s just the difference from the first period to the next two. We were a little too passive, a little slower.”

The Panthers get after it right away, heading up the Jersey Turnpike to visit the Devils tonight in Newark.

If the Panthers want to get this taste out of their mouth, the Devils will be a good opponent to do so against.

Because Florida knows they need to come right tonight or New Jersey will beat them for a third straight time this season.

“Learn from it, move past it,” Rodrigues said. “Start getting ready for tomorrow.’’

ON DECK: GAME No. 45
FLORIDA PANTHERS at NEW JERSEY DEVILS 
  • When: Tuesday, 7:30 p.m.
  • Where: Prudential Center, Newark
  • National Streaming Only: ESPN+, Hulu
  • Radio: WPOW 96.5-FM2; WBZT 1230-AM (Palm Beach); WCTH 100.3-FM (Florida Keys); SiriusXM
  • Panthers Radio Streaming: SiriusXM 932, NHL App
  • Season Series (Devils Lead 2-0) — At Panthers: Jersey 4, Florida 1 (Nov. 12); Jersey 6, Florida 2 (Nov. 14). At Devils: Tuesday.
  • Last Season: Florida won 2-1
  • All-time Regular Season Series: Devils lead 59-37-7, 7 ties
  • Up Next for the Panthers: Thursday vs. Detroit Red Wings, 7 p.m. (ESPN)

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