Goalie Reimer pulled for 2nd straight game in rout

SUNRISE — The skate from the opposite goal to the Florida Panthers bench is not an arduous one. About 115 feet bridge the journey, crossing from the north end of the BB&T Center to the lonely perch at the end of the bench reserved for goaltenders. It’s not supposed to be a joyous skate, but it’s become familiar for James Reimer in the past four days.

During the Panthers’ 7-3 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets, Reimer was yanked from the game for the second straight time as Florida lost its third consecutive game. With Columbus’ seven-goal output on Thursday night, the Panthers have now allowed at least five goals in three of their last five games. They have allowed seven-plus goals i n back-to -back games.

Reimer barely lasted 29 minutes Thursday night, allowing four goals on 19 shots. During Monday night’s 8-5 loss to Tampa Bay, Reimer only stopped14 of 19 shots on goal in less than half a game. Between the two games, Reimer has posted a 9.18 goals against average and .763 save percentage.

On the season, Reimer’s numbers dipped to 4.00 and .890, respectively, in nine games played. Both would be career-worsts across an entire season for him, who has started the last six games for Florida with Roberto Luongo sidelined with a right hand injury. Antti Niemi replaced Reimer for the rest of the game.

The Panthers loss spoiled a three-point night Florida goalie James Reimer tries to cover the puck as Columbus’ Markus Hannikainen pressures during Thursday’s game. Reimer allowed four goals in 19 shots. from Vincent Trocheck, The Panthers (4-7-1, 9 Luongo’s injury forced who scored a goal and aspoints) and coach Bob the Panthers to claim sisted on two others. His Boughner have leaned on Niemi on waivers from shot off Blue Jackets goalie Reimer to be a stalwart in Pittsburgh after a disasSergei Bobrovsky’s pad net while they wait on Lutrous start with the Penserved up a perfect reongo’s return from an inguins. When Niemi arrived bound for Mark Pysyk to jury suffered Oct. 20. in Florida, no goalie in the score. He began the cycle Reimer started off his stint NHL had a worse save perthat ended with Ian Mcas the No. 1 goaltender centage or goals against avCoshen punishing a puck strongly. erage. He allowed three from the blue line for his When the Panthers beat goals against Columbus on second career goal. He Washington, he posted his Thursday night. chased down a loose puck first game with at least 40 After Monday’s loss to while shorthanded and saves since joining Florida Tampa Bay, the Panthers dribbled a shot past Bolast season. He made at held a players-only meetbrovsky for his second least 30 saves in the following in the dressing room, shorthanded goal of the ing three games as Florida called by captain Derek season. went 1-1-1. But then the MacKenzie. Defenseman

It didn’t change the end Lightning dented him for Aaron Ekblad spoke to reresult. five and the Blue Jackets porters about the need for

Josh Anderson and Olbeat him for four. The Panmore reliable defensemen iver Bjorkstrand each thers lost both games. and the requirement for scored two goals for CoLuongo’s return is unmore passion. lumbus. The Blue Jackets certain. He’s missed six On Wednesday, the Pan(9-4-0, 18 points) scored a games, and Thursday thers held a defense-cenpower-play goal for the first morning Boughner detric practice, drilling that time in eight days when scribed the 38-year-old as end of the ice for 50 minBjorkstrand erased Tro“week-to-week.” Luongo utes. Defensemen stayed check’s shorthanded goal has participated in practice after practice to work on after just 28 seconds. They with the rest of the team the ice. Thursday offered a added another on the manthis week, including mornchance to alter the results. advantage in the third peing skate Thursday, but They looked similar. riod. hasn’t been cleared to play.