You have to go back pretty far in the schedule to find the last time the Florida Panthers stacked up three L’s in a row.
Not since the end of November has Florida gone this long between victories.
Interestingly, the Panthers aren’t really unhappy with how they’ve been playing, feeling it’s been more a situation where they’re simply not getting results.
With challenging road games coming up against Ottawa and Detroit, picking up the suddenly elusive win isn’t going to get any easier.
For now, let’s get to Wednesday’s takeaways:
PUCKS ON NET
One constant during Florida's three-game skid this week has been an issue with recording shots on goal.
In the two games against Montreal, the Panthers recorded 53 shots on 94 attempts. The Canadiens were credited with blocking 52 shots, nearly the same amount Florida was able to get on net.
It wasn't any better against Toronto.
Florida recorded 31 shots, the most of their three games this week, bus still had 49 attempts that never got to Anthony Stolarz, 26 of which were blocked.
Consider that the Cats have scored exactly two goals in each of their three losses, which is over a goal less than their season average of 3.09 goals per game, and it's clear where the disconnect is coming from.
We'll see how long it takes Florida to get things cleaned up.
"We're having a hard time hitting the net, and getting a bunch blocked," said Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice. "I think we probably had close to 50 that never got to the net. We had some good looks."
NOT ALL BAD
Florida did score first on Wednesday in Toronto and carried much of the play throughout the game.
The second period was particularly strong for the Cats, outshooting the Leafs 16-5, but still coming out with only a 1-1 tie.
A less-than-idea start to the third period allowed the home team to build some momentum that eventually helped them take a commanding late lead on Florida.
Once again, there was a lot to like within the game, but ultimately the results were less than ideal.
"I didn't like the first six minutes of third period. I just didn't think we skated, and then we got hemmed in a little bit," said Maurice. "The overview is I expected the whole game to look like that, I thought that's the way the game was going to be played. I loved the first 40, probably the last 10-12 minutes of the third period, I liked out game an awful lot."
BIG MILESTONE FOR BOB
Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky played in his 750th career NHL game against the Leafs on Wednesday.
It's just the latest milestone for a guy that should absolutely end up in the Hockey Hall of Fame.
He's won multiple Vezina Trophies, is a three-time NHL All-Star and in recent years has earned a reputation as one of the league's best playoff goalies.
There is also that Stanley Cup he helped Florida win last summer.
As elite and exceptional as Bob has been on the ice, he's been equally impressive as a teammate, always smiling and seeming to enjoy himself while displaying a work ethic that has become legendary among his peers.
"He's a new experience for me," said Maurice. "He's an incredibly interesting man off the ice, just a wonderful person to talk to. I still consider him a young guy. Boy, you learn a lot from conversations with him, and then his prep and how much he cares. He seems, as well, to have found a way to have a little bit of fun with all the pressure that a number one goalie carries. So he's been a pleasure."
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