The Florida Panthers Need Their ‘A’ Game Back
from George Richards of Florida Hockey Now,
The Florida Panthers have played three games against the Washington Capitals in this first-round playoff series and have looked liked the team which ended with the best record in the NHL for about two-plus periods of them.
In saying that, it is little surprise that they go into Monday night’s Game 4 trailing the best-of-7 series 2-1.
The Panthers, simply put, have not been the Panthers.
Give the Capitals plenty of credit for that.
Their forechecking, backchecking, clog-up-the-middle style has stymied the Panthers for much of Games 1 and 3 as well as the first 15 minutes of Game 2.
But the Panthers need to take a look at themselves in the mirror.
After Game 1, some players said there was nervousness in opening up the playoff series.
Jonathan Huberdeau alluded to that after the Game 3 loss, Andrew Brunette bringing it up on Sunday.
Following the 6-1 loss on Saturday, Brandon Montour said the Panthers “weren’t really ready to play, I think. The energy level, we can say what we want in the room, but we get on the ice and I don’t think we were on it.”
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