The Florida Panthers Have 25 Games & Need to Win Them All

It’s been rough for the Florida Panthers.

Instead of thriving, and trust we understand because of…first it’s difficult to three peat. Second, the injuries surrounding this team from preseason. But in spite of that, the Panthers have been clawing their way to try and compete and have been doign their best. That’s why they limped into the Olympic break like a fighter walking back to the corner with one eye swollen shut, the other barely open, and the ref looking real close at stopping the damn match…”throw the d**m towel!”

It’s rough going into the break after getting smacked 6-1 by the Tampa Bay Lightning, and having to walk into the break staring at the standings like a bad credit score.

And the worst part?….

…Tampa isn’t even the problem anymore.

Tampa literally took Florida’s lunch money this season as they own the season series 3-1 and waved goodbye to the Cats. Let alone nevermind that they’ve won 19 of their last 21 games. Good news…if this is good news, is that the Panthers won’t have to play against Tampa in the final 25 games of their season.

Cool.

But still, it’s like removing a lion, while the building is on fire…too many problems.

The real issue like that burning building is the Eastern Conference standings. The Panthers currently sit at 61 points, and trail the Boston Bruins by 8 points for the final playoff spot…like that wasn’t the biggest f**k you to Brad Merchand right there. Someone cue the dramatic hockey music and the cinematic movie lights because the Panthers are going to have to go full Mighty Ducks on the NHL and go on a miracle run winning close to 18 of their last 25 games, pick up some points, if they even want to smell the postseason.

In a realistic world, that also might not be enough.

That’s not “we just need to play better hockey.” That’s “we need to turn into the 2019 St. Louis Blues overnight.”

Head coach Paul Maurice has already been letting the league hear it about this ridiculous condensed schedule, created so the NHL could jam in a three-week Olympic break. The Olympics will be great. Everyone loves international hockey. But the Panthers are paying for it with one of the most brutal stretches imaginable to close the season.

Can we say ouch….because when Florida comes back, they’ll be playing 25 games in 49 days.

That’s basically hockey every other day with zero breathing room.

Practice? Forget it.

Recovery? Good luck.

Coach Maurice will be blessed to have a few real practices once the break ends…let’s keep in mind that most of the roster (well a big chunk will be in Italy playing overseas).

It also won’t be an ease period walking back into the break because the Panthers have to play against back-to-back games against the Tornoto Maple Leafs, and the Buffalo Sabres, both teams they’re chasing in the standings.

Right now…every blown lead, every bad penalty, every soft goal from here on out could literally end the season.

The good news is that…like Shannon Sharpe once famosly said…”Help is on the way.” Injured players like Seth Jones, Dmitry Kulikov, and Jonah Gadjovich should be back for the Panthers which will give them much needed stabilization defensively and also give some needed depth.

The bad news is that injuries are already biting again.

Backup goalie Daniil Tarasov went down in the third period after getting slammed into the net by one of his own teammates and had to be helped off the ice with what looked like a groin injury. And if there’s one thing that tends to pile up when teams play nonstop hockey, it’s more injuries.

Which is the last thing Florida can afford.

So now the Panthers head into the break bruised, tired, and basically needing a miracle run just to keep the playoff streak alive.

No pressure or anything.

They don’t need to be good when they come back.

They need to be damn near perfect.