Florida Panthers: Enough is Enough; This Play has Got to Stop

All season long, the Florida Panthers have displayed roughly the same effort, which has led to the same type of result: losing.

Much like last Thursday’s game against Buffalo and virtually most of the games this season, the Florida Panthers have been woefully unprepared when kicking off their match.

Yet again, the Panthers conceded an early goal to Columbus, exactly 1:37 into the opening frame. Like most of their goals given up this year, the defense (particularly Matheson) was at fault on this play.

And much throughout the rest of the game, the defense just couldn’t adapt. Goaltender James Reimer continued his solid play, doing his part to keep his team in the game – even when they were down.

The Panthers fought back hard after Duclair’s early opener and even took the lead heading into the first intermission, thanks to goals from Jonathan Huberdeau and Mike Hoffman.

But even when the lead was in their hands, the Panthers stopped pushing for more. They started playing on their heels and the momentum they fought hard to regain was completely lost.

Once Josh Anderson tied the game, the Blue Jackets controlled much of the tempo and even dictated the entire game. Oh, and did I mention that they took their second lead of the night?

Thanks to Aaron Ekblad, the Cats were able to even up the game (again) in the final minutes of the third. They were guaranteed at least a point, but in the state they’re currently in, a loser point is simply not enough.

The Panthers, once again, conceded early, this time being in the overtime frame (18 seconds in), having no chance to fight back.

There comes a point in the season where you have to ask yourself: when is enough truly enough? When does this type of performance stop? And most importantly, when are changes that need to be made going to be made?

Defenseman Mike Matheson, again, had a horrendous night. All season long, he has oversimplified plays that really don’t need oversimplification. At what point do you sit him down and ask what’s going on?

Center Aleksander Barkov looks increasingly tired, which is a result of his nightly playing time. When will Boughner tone down his ice time and give the 23-year-old a breather?

Even if the Panthers had a slight chance at making the postseason, their No. 1 centerman and star would be dead by the time the playoffs rolled around.

The defense simply needs a shakeup. At what point in the year does management give Jacob MacDonald another look? A month from now? Two months from now? How about three months from now?

How about Ian McCoshen? Who’s to say that he would be any worse than what’s currently up here? If we’re being honest, he should’ve been given the nod instead of Alex Petrovic – who was recently traded.

Finally, when is the goaltending situation going to be addressed? Roberto Luongo – who’s our No. 1 goaltender – is approaching the age of 40 and is only declining in play as we speak.

James Reimer, on the other hand, has played well as of late but hasn’t nearly projected that type of form throughout a calendar year. Inconsistency remains his major roadblock.

The time to start looking in the mirror is now. The time to start making necessary changes to this roster is now. And the time for a new game plan is also now.

If the Florida Panthers don’t change their ways, they aren’t just headed for another season of missed playoff hockey, but they’re headed for another season of painful mediocrity.