Conclusion
While the goalies have been Swiss cheese, the defense has had their fair share of holes, causing this slow start.
Some say that it’s only nine games and the team still needs time to gel and find their groove, which may be true. However, time is running out.
The East has plenty of teams gunning for playoff positions, and as we saw last season, a late-season push may not be enough.
On the bright side, the Panthers have been able to score goals this season. Mike Hoffman looks to be finding his place as his points streak has extended to seven games and Evgeni Dadonov has played like a superstar since he’s arrived.
However, unless Boughner is able to patch together this defense, the Panthers may in for a rough season.