Florida Panthers
Paul Maurice Looks for Positives during Florida Panthers Slump

If Paul Maurice was distraught with the Florida Panthers killing only one of four penalties against the Red Wings Thursday night, he certainly didn’t show it.
Not after the 5-2 loss, nor on Friday morning.
Maurice preferred to look at the big picture: The Panthers are in a solid position — they come into Saturday three points out of first in the Atlantic — despite a mediocre 4-5-1 record following the Christmas break.
a big reason why the Florida Panthers have only won four of its past 10 games is not that they are playing bad. But special teams are playing a huge role in whether this team wins or loses.
Florida’s once-effective PK is now running at 78.5 percent, 20th in the NHL.
At the Christmas break, they 12th at 80.8 percent.
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More importantly, since the holiday, they are only 29 for 40 on the PK at a very mediocre 72.5 percent. During that period, they are 24th in the NHL in PK effectiveness.
The PK unit is missing Aaron Ekblad, who has been out for five of the last six games with the potential of a return next week.
The penalty kill also suffered when Niko Mikkola recently missed five games.
Since Todd MacLellan took over as coach ten games ago, Detroit is 17 for 34 on the power play.
The Wings feasted on the Panthers Thursday, taking the lead three different times on three straight power-play goals.
“We had a tough night on the kill,” Maurice said. “Two are deflected. I’m not looking at Sergei on those. They’re just kind of those unusual things that happen by a team that’s just absolutely on fire on the power play. Those things are all going their way.”
Detroit’s Dylan Larkin, who scored one of the power-play goals said, “Everyone’s been clicking. I think tonight we justoutworked the penalty killers and attacked off their turnovers.”
On Friday, Maurice preferred accentuating the positive in preparation for a cross-country home-and-home series with Anaheim.
They will face old pals Frank Vatrano and Radko Gudas, both of whom were instrumental in the growth of the Panthers over the past few years.
“I’ve loved that three of our last four games were as strong and closer to the identity I believe that we’re going to have to play to be successful this year,” Maurice said.
“That’s a really good sign, and it’s in January. Usually, you amp up toward the end. We haven’t had the results. Two of those games we lost; One in overtime and last night. But whether it’s the eye test or the analytics, that’s as solid as we’ve played all year.
“We’re not close on the analytics in those two games – in the Boston game and the Detroit game. We’re dominant in those two games.”
Florida outshot Boston and Detroit by a combined 86-38 in non-winning efforts.
In Anaheim, Florida faces a rebuilding team with an outside chance of a playoff berth.
Their only genuine star performer is Troy Terry, who leads the team with 15 goals.
Grinders Vatrano (11 goals) and Alex Killorn (eight) add a veteran presence to the offense.
Travis Zegras, who had back-to-back 23-goal seasons earlier in his career, has suffered injuries the last two seasons.
He has been out of action since early December, recovering from knee surgery.
They have promising youngsters in Leo Carlsson and Cutter Gauthier.
On defense, they are led by Gudas and veterans Brian Dumoulin and the recently acquired Jacob Trouba.
Last month, the Ducks traded defensive mainstay Cam Fowler to St. Louis for a prospect and a draft pick.
Even during the lean years, John Gibson has been a solid goaltender; third-year man Lucas Dostal has developed into a very effective partner.
Maurice is not taking the Ducks lightly.
“I think they’ve added some strength to their blueline and that really changes what you’re capable of doing,” he said.
“They compete hard and they’re quick…There are just no easy nights in this league. The parity has brought that. It’s way different than it was 15-20 years ago when the bottom half of the teams just could not complete with the top half of the league. We don’t feel that now.”
ON DECK: GAME No. 47
ANAHEIM DUCKS @ FLORIDA PANTHERS
- When: Saturday, 6 p.m.
- Where: Amerant Bank Arena, Sunrise
- Local TV: Scripps Sports — WSFL 39 (Miami/FTL); WHDT 9 (WPB); LAFF 36.3 (Naples/FTM)
- Streaming: Panthers+, ESPN
- Radio: WPOW 96.5-FM2; WBZT 1230-AM (Palm Beach); WCTH 100.3-FM (Florida Keys); SiriusXM
- Panthers Radio Streaming: SiriusXM 932, NHL App
- This Season — At Anaheim: Tuesday. At Florida: Saturday.
- Last Season: Tied 1-1
- All-time Regular Season Series: Florida leads 22-15-2, 3 ties
- Up Next for the Panthers: Tuesday at Anaheim Ducks, 10 p.m.
