There was a time not so long ago when a three-goal deficit in the first period was not a death sentence for the Florida Panthers, but, on Tuesday, Jonathan Huberdeau was on the opposite bench, Aleksander Barkov was out with an illness and a comeback never materialized.
The Panthers’ skid continued with a 6-2 rout at the hands of the Clagary Flames in Canada.
Florida (10-9-4) gave up a shorthanded goal in the first four minutes, a power-play goal to Huberdeau less than seven minutes later and finally an even-strength goal with 7:57 left in the first, and it was far too much for these Panthers to overcome. Florida dropped its second straight in Alberta to start a five-game road trip and has now lost 6 of 7, sitting two points out of postseason position with more than a quarter of the season gone.
