Florida Panthers
That’ll Do: Panthers Playoff Hopes All But End with Loss to Devils
The Florida Panthers needed a strong start coming out of the Olympic break to have any chance to making the playoffs and a game in Newark against the Devils looked like one they should — and had to — get.
So much for that.
The Panthers did not do a whole lot against Jacob Markstrom and the Devils on Tuesday night, losing 5-1 in a game in which their slim playoff hopes appear to have met their end.
With Boston winning against the Penguins, Florida is now 10 points out of the playoffs with 21 games left.
Florida has lost three of four out of the break including the past three; counting the games before the Olympics and the Panthers have dropped eight of 10.
Playoff teams do not lose like this.
And, with the NHL Trade Deadline coming up Friday at 3, the Panthers have given Bill Zito no option other than to find what is out there and look ahead to next season.
As if he wasn’t already doing that.
Tuesday, the Panthers tied the score at 1 on a nice goal by Anton Lundell but that was all they mustered against a Devils team that had not scored more than three goals in their past nine games.
Thanks to a pair of empty-net goals, the Devils got five.
Don’t blame Sergei Bobrovsky for this one, either. He kept the Panthers in it during a rough first period.
The Panthers just do not have it right now.
Their run of making the postseason will end at a franchise-high six straight seasons.
The NHL will have a new Stanley Cup champion this summer.
HOW THEY SCORED
- Devils 1, Panthers 0 (12:10 1st): A Florida turnover leads to a 2-on-1 with Arseny Gritsyuk leading the push and beating Sergei Bobrovsky.
- Panthers 1, Devils 1 (14:37 1st): Evan Rodrigues sends a shot from the point that hits Anton Lundell who pulls down the puck and beats Jacob Markstrom with a big backhander.
- Devils 2, Panthers 1 (1:35 2nd 4/4): Luke Hughes fires a shot wide that bounds off the end boards — and Dougie Hamilton smokes it.
- Devils 3, Panthers 1 (8:13 2nd): Cody Glass deflects a Lenni Hameenaho shot in front.
- Devils 4, Panthers 1 (16:23 3rd EN): Dawson Mercer ends this one for the Devils with Bobrovsky on the bench.
- Devils 5, Panthers 1 (19:20 3rd EN): Another empty net goal? Why not.
FHN’S 3 STARS
- 1. Dougie Hamilton, Devils
- 2. Jacob Markstrom, Devils
- 3. Arseny Gritsyuk, Devils
ON DECK: GAME No. 62
FLORIDA PANTHERS at COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS
- When: Thursday, 7 p.m.
- Where: Nationwide Arena, Columbus
- Local TV: Scripps Sports — WSFL 39 (Miami/FtL); WHDT 9 (WPB); LAFF 36.3 (SW Fla)
- Streaming: Panthers+; ESPN+
- Radio: WQAM; WBZT 1230-AM (Palm Beach); WCTH 100.3-FM (Florida Keys); SiriusXM
- Panthers Radio Streaming: SiriusXM 932, NHL App
- This Season (Panthers Lead 1-0) — At Florida: Panthers 7, Blue Jackets 6 OT (Dec. 2); March 12. At Columbus: Thursday.
- Last Season: Panthers Won 3-0
- All-time Regular Season Series: Florida leads 28-16-10
- Up Next for the Panthers: Friday at Detroit Red Wings, 7 p.m.
If the Devils’ final goal tonight wasn’t the low point of this season nothing is. After the Panthers earned the President’s Trophy in 2022, only to get blown out in the playoffs, Bill Zito made a couple of courageous calls by bringing in Coach Maurice and overhauling the roster for what emerges once the postseason begins. We all know what happened after that. With so many players out this season, especially Barkov, gauging the potential of this year’s roster is impossible. That said, what has been rolled out there hasn’t been good enough for no other reason than everyone out… Read more »
That’s a pretty solid assessment – I’ll root for anyone except Tampa! It’s a shame because I really wanted to see us threepeat but at a certain point, it’s just greedy. These guys are toast. They play a physical game and have been beat up. They need to go away and dream it all up again… Hopefully they can come back hungry and focused. There is way too much pride in the room to think they won’t!
Spot on! It stinks to see them play hockey outside of what we’re all so accustomed to. Is it fatigue, no drive, no grit, etc…I don’t know. They have been playing ALOT of hockey. Also we don’t know if the Cats are playing injured. When will they play “panther hockey” is yet to be seen and then to lose to a team the way they did last night!? Go Cats! Hopefully Tampa gets romped and sent home.
So super sad day in Pantherland but as we all know these guys deserve an off season this year. I had no doubt they will be a better team for it next year.
Now with that said, is our pick we traded away top ten protected? If so let’s tank.
They all certainly looked energized when it came to the Olympics and 4 Nations. Just not when it comes to their own fans. Even the bench looks totally disinterested. Nobody expected a 3-peat but what we’re seeing is pathetic. Try another 150% increase in season tickets now (like last year) and screw the regular hard working fans like you just did. We should get a refund. I’m sick of hearing about the injuries, the players we have available should be plenty good enough to at least get in as a wild card. Bring on baseball.
EXACTLY!! I’ve been saying that for a while. But then I get your a fairweather fan, or I don’t know hockey. No, we had enough of our regulars and time for newbies to get accustomed to our play to at the very least make a wild card slot.
Im usually a fan of the Panthers and from Ontario
However, after #19 comments.im kind of glad their year will be over early!!!
Bashing Canada is not the way to keep fans!