Photo credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images
Florida Panthers forward Mason Marchment skated hard but couldn't stop the skid, and the Panthers now must regroup before facing the Dallas Stars after getting handled 6-2 by the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday.
Florida had chances, but Colorado poured it on in the second period and held control the rest of the night, leaving Panthers coach Paul Maurice challenging his club to tighten up defensively.
The loss snapped Florida's minor momentum and highlighted how inconsistent the Panthers have been this season in tough matchups, though they had earlier rallied for a 7-6 overtime win over the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Goalie Daniil Tarasov made 36 saves in Colorado but was still on the wrong end of a scoreline that exposed some defensive breakdowns.
Florida's power play struggled to generate chances, and the Avalanche outshot the Panthers in key moments. Marchment, who has been one of Florida's more consistent options offensively, will need linemates to find the net more often if the Cats want a result in Dallas.
Panthers face Stars after loss and long road trip
Dallas enters this one riding solid form and sits near the top of the NHL standings with a 20-5-5 record, boasting balanced scoring from Jason Robertson and Mikko Rantanen.Stars goaltending has been strong too, making life difficult on teams trying to climb back into games late. That makes this a tall order for Florida, coming off a gritty road schedule that has seen its share of ups and downs.
Panthers fans are nervous about consistency, and rightfully so given the way the defensive structure has faltered against high-end competition. The matchup with Dallas won't get any easier unless Florida tightens its neutral zone coverage and commits to hard support on the breakout.
Marchment and linemates will need better puck possession early, because Dallas knows how to jump on mistakes and build leads. If Florida can limit early rush chances and play heavy in the cycle, they at least give themselves a chance to hang around. Panthers special teams will be under scrutiny too; they have to convert on power plays if they get opportunities against a disciplined Stars penalty kill.
No matter the outcome in Dallas Stars territory, the Panthers will look at this as a measuring stick game, a chance to show that a bad loss doesn't define their season or dent confidence heading into the winter stretch.