George Richards, FHN Publisher
The Florida Panthers were trying to avoid their second losing streak on 2021 season Saturday afternoon against the Dallas Stars.
Well, at least early on, it didn’t look like they were trying that hard.
Dallas took advantage of a Panthers team which seemed to hit the snooze button too many times, scoring twice in the first two minutes en route to a 4-1 win at AmericanAirlines Center.
Goalie Anton Khudobin had a 3-0 lead midway through the first period and, well, that was more than enough run support.
Florida’s first losing streak of the season came from March 21-25 and was followed by a six-game winning streak which started in Dallas.
The Panthers, who have now lost their past three games, will try and get back on the winning path in Dallas on Tuesday night.
On Saturday, the Panthers looked like they had just rolled out of The Standard stuffed from a late brunch.
Florida was lethargic early on, turning the puck over twice — once in its own zone, the second in the neutral zone — and Dallas put it in the net.
Dallas broke the ice a minute in off a Florida turnover, Jason Robertson going top shelf on the first shot of the day.
Just 49 seconds later, Joel L’Esperance made it 2-0 as he and Justin Dowling charged in on a 2-on-1 and L’Esperance beat Sergei Bobrovsky.
Florida, which did not get its first official shot on goal until midway through the period, found itself down 3-0 at 9:03 when Jamie Benn scored on a power play chance.
It was an ugly first period for the Panthers — who didn’t look too hot Thursday in Carolina, either.
Florida’s power play was 0-for-2 and had not scored since April 1 against Detroit until Sasha Barkov stuck with it in front of the net and followed his own rebound and scored with 1.5 seconds left in the third.
Until the power play came on Mark Pysyk’s interference call with 18 seconds left, Florida had only taken five shots on goal in the entire second period.
They got three on the power play — two from Barkov.
Barkov’s goal snapped an 0-for-13 run with the man advantage.
Through the first two periods, Florida was credited with 15 shots on goal but 44 shot attempts. Dallas blocked 20 in the first 40 minutes.
Florida looked to make it a one-goal game early in the third when Khudobin stopped Carter Verhaeghe with a nice save.
Robertson threw a dagger at the Panthers moments later as he brought the puck into the offensive zone and threw a shot up from the top of the slot to make it 4-1 at 1:21.
Bobrovsky saw his personal nine-game winning streak stopped as he ended the day with 15 saves.
ROSTER SHUFFLE BEFORE DEADLINE
Quenneville said Saturday morning that the Panthers were hoping to have Anthony Duclair back for Tuesday’s game against the Stars.
Duclair has been out since injuring his shoulder after being tripped by Detroit goalie Thomas Greiss and smashing into the end boards.
The Panthers have one spot on the active roster right now after defenseman Brady Keeper and goalie Spencer Knight were returned to the taxi squad.
Lucas Wallmark and Lucas Carlsson are expected to join the taxi squad when they meet the team, Quenneville said, in Dallas.
Defenseman Brandon Montour will be on the active roster when he joins the team likely after the trade deadline comes Monday at 3 p.m.
When the deadline passes, the 23-man roster limit goes away as long as teams remain under the salary cap.
So, since Florida doesn’t play again until after the deadline passes, we may not see as many roster moves as in the past.
GEORGE’S THREE STARS OF THE GAME
1. Jason Robertson, Dallas
2. Anton Khudobin, Dallas
3. Sasha Barkov, Florida
ON DECK: PANTHERS AT STARS
When: Tuesday, 8:30
Where: AmericanAirlines Center, Dallas
Season series: Florida leads 4-2
TV/Radio: BSFLA/560-AM