Reasons for struggles

Not only have the Panthers had 121 man-games lost, which ranks 16th in the NHL, according to mangameslost .com., most of the injuries have occurred to top-six forwards. It started in the preseason with Huberdeau (42 games-plus) with a sliced achilles’ tendon, and former second-line center Nick Bjugstad (21-plus) with a broken wrist and recently a groin pull.

It has snowballed to include Barkov, arguably the best two-way player on the team, to six games and counting; Jonathan Marchessault (7); and blossoming top-four defenseman Alex Petrovic (26-plus).

The injuries have forced general manager/interim coach Tom Rowe to inject inexperienced players such as Paul Thompson, Michael Sgarbossa, Jared McCann, Kyle Rau, Greg McKegg, Seth Griffith and Denis Malgin into important roles in the lineup. It may pay off in the long run, but for now, it’s been mostly a hindrance.

Injury ward: Goal shortage:

Panthers co-owner Doug Cifu said Monday that one shouldn’t use injuries as an excuse, but the absence of several top-six forwards has led to Rowe constantly shuffling his top three lines. The loss of chemistry has seen the Panthers average just 2.26 goals per game, 26th in the league, compared with 2.83 per game last season (eighth).

Associate coach Dave Barr was hired to fix last season’s inept 23rd-ranked power play (16.9 percent), and although it’s still ranked 23rd, it has gotten worse at 15 percent.

The most glaring decline has come when skating at even strength. The Panthers were ranked sixth last

Last season the Panthers lost just five games (26-3-2) when leading after one period, while they have already lost six this season (12-4-2). Last season they were 33-4-5 (ranked sixth) when leading after two, and this season they’re 12-1-3 (18th).

The goaltending tandem of Roberto Luongo and James Reimer has been the least of Florida’s problems, respectively posting 2.39 and 2.59 goalsagainst-averages, both better than their career averages.

The overhauled blue line, which has basically five new starters (including the long-term absence of Petrovic), has not jelled. The defensemen have allowed frequent odd-man rushes while not clearing the crease enough to give Luongo and Reimer clean looks at outside shots.

Two-time All-Star Aaron Ekblad has taken a step backward in his third season. While his offense has picked up, Ekblad has a plus-minus of -15.

Blown leads: Defense: