Aaron Portzline just flagged how many goals the Panthers have been leaking: 16 allowed over their last four games, with Columbus up next.
Florida dropped a 4-1 decision in Boston on Sunday, its second straight loss, and Tuesday's game at the Blue Jackets closes out the road trip.
Portzline noted that the Panthers have lost three of their last four, and that they beat Columbus 7-3 four weeks ago on the strength of four power-play goals.
The Blue Jackets are in no position to feel confident either. They are 27th in the NHL at 7-8-0 and lost 5-2 in Buffalo on Friday, but they are 6-3-0 at home, and that matters for a team that has been shaky away from Florida.
Columbus will also be without Conor Garland. Brian Hedger reported that Rick Bowness ruled him out with an upper-body injury and has no timeline for his return.
Earlier today, we covered Conor Garland's lineup absence against Florida. Garland has one assist in 15 games this season, so Columbus loses a body more than a source of offense.
Florida's own road numbers are modest. The Panthers are 5-5-2 away from home and 5-5-0 over their last 10.
The goals tell the same story. Florida has scored 56 and allowed 55, a +1 goal differential that looks more like a bubble team than a contender.
Can the Panthers still catch the Atlantic's top three?
They can, but the margin is shrinking. FlaHockeyNow pointed out that Florida sits four points back of third place in the Atlantic.
The Panthers are 9-7-2, 16th in the NHL and fifth in the division. Boston leads the Atlantic at 13-4-1 and has won four straight, so the gap at the top is not closing on its own.
George Richards also made a point worth sitting with: four of Florida's nine wins came against the Jets and Blackhawks. Chicago is 31st in the league and has lost six in a row.
That makes Tuesday close to a must-win. A short-handed Columbus team in the bottom third of the league is exactly the opponent a team with playoff hopes beats. If Florida can't do it, the questions for Paul Maurice get louder.
Thursday brings the Red Wings, and the Panthers would like to arrive there with the skid already over.
Quick hits
OTTAWA SENATORSMichael Russo reports the Wild placed Cameron Crotty on waivers, and Ottawa has the first right to reclaim him. A defenseman on the wire is always worth a look.
SAN JOSE SHARKSAlexander Wennberg returns to the Sharks lineup tonight against the Islanders, according to NHL Rosters. San Jose is chasing a win.
NEW YORK RANGERSMollie Walker relays that Mike Sullivan said Alberts Smits was dealing with his upper-body injury. The coach was open about it.
DALLAS STARSBrien Rea reports Remi Poirier is back with the Stars off waivers. The goalie goes from one roster to another in a hurry.
CHICAGO BLACKHAWKSCharlie Roumeliotis reports Arvid Soderblom has cleared waivers, which closes the book on the backup goalie change in Chicago.
Latest Stories
Trade Rumor: Florida picks are in play for BlackhawksCOLUMBUS GETS BAD NEWS BEFORE PANTHERS GAMERick Bowness just ruled Conor Garland out for Tuesday night's Blue Jackets game against the Panthers, per DMaetzMedia.
Lineup Change: Blue Jackets lose Garland vs PanthersWILSON FINALLY SPEAKS ABOUT SATURDAYRMNB just shared Tom Wilson's explanation for boarding Sandis Vilmanis, and he says he reached out to the Panthers' locker room.
Tom Wilson explains his boarding hit on Sandis VilmanisBOSTON HAS PICKED ITS NEW ENEMYBrady Tkachuk and the Panthers left Boston with a 4-1 loss Sunday, and now Bruins media are calling Florida their most hated team.
Panthers have become the Bruins' most hated teamTHE PANTHERS HAVE A SCHEDULE PROBLEMGeorge Richards pointed out this morning that the Panthers' nine wins come with a catch: four of them were against the Jets and Blackhawks.
Panthers' nine wins come with a catchA BIG DAY FOR THE TKACHUK FAMILYMatthew Tkachuk and his brother Brady are celebrating their father Keith's Hall of Fame induction, and the Panthers forwards call it legacy.
Tkachuk brothers celebrate Keith's Hall of Fame momentTHINGS GOT UGLY IN BOSTONBrady Tkachuk dropped the gloves with Nikita Zadorov off the opening draw Sunday, and the Panthers' night in Boston only got uglier.
Brady Tkachuk starts a wild night at TD GardenLATE DRAMA FOR THE PANTHERS IN BOSTONJack Studley just reported that the referees sent Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk down the tunnel with 8:08 left in the third period in Boston.
Matthew Tkachuk sent down the tunnel in Boston