Panthers still in good spot after Oilers snap win streak

Florida among a few teams vying for playoffff slot in East.

Flames at Panthers, 7:30 p.m., FSN game winning streak under new coach Bruce Cassidy T h e F l o r i d a P a n t h e r s ended as the Anaheim Ducks saw their five - game winscored t wo late goals and ning streak end Wednesday won 5-3. night, a wet blanket thrown “Boston probably loved onto the momentum gained seeing that we didn’t get any by sweeping a long road trip points,” Rowe said, “and we for the fifirst time in franchise loved that they didn’t get any. history. This thing is going to go down

Yet the 4-3 loss to the visitto the wire, and we have to ing Edmonton Oilers did little be ready, which we will be.” to temper Florida’s resolve. The Panthers won’t be

The fifive- game streak, and going on the road much for winning eight of nine, helped the next few weeks, with the Panthers crawl back into Wednesday’s game kicking the playoffff race in a muddled offff a four- game homestand. Eastern Conference. After a quick trip to Phil

They plan on making their adelphia — which coincides presence known. with the NHL trade deadline

“We’re going to be there,” — the Panthers come back for coach Tom Rowe said of the three more at home. postseason. With seven of the next nine

Florida is one of a handful games on home ice (with of teams jockeying for playone-game trips to Philly and offff position in the East, with Tampa splitting them up) the the Panthers now realistiPanthers know fifinding succally thinking about challengcess in Sunrise will be crucial ing Montreal’s season-long to their postseason hopes. stranglehold atop the Atlan“I think it’s time for us to tic Division. be good at home,” said Jon

The Panthers came into athan Marchessault, whose Thursday’s light workout at team has won just 14 of 28 BB&T Center tied with the at home and has dropped New York Islanders for the its past two. second wild card spot in the “We have a few games here, East along with Boston. and we really need to get on

Florida was six points back a roll here. Every game is of the Canadiens for fifirst and important, and tomorrow is four behind Ottawa — which another day. We need to be visits Sunrise on Sunday night better here. We want to be in — for second in the division. the playoffffs, and in the play

Although the Panthers offffs, home ice is important.” failed to pick up a point On Wednesday, Edmonagainst the Oilers, the Bruton took the lead three difins also came up empty on ferent times, with the Panthe West Coast, as their four- thers answering each time until Kris Russell scored in the third with the game-winner.

Rowe said his team made a few fifixable mistakes but was overall pleased with the effort coming off the long road trip that started in the Central Time Zone in Nashville before three games in California and a fifinale in St. Louis.

“Coming offff a road trip, you don’t want to make excuses, but we just weren’t as sharp as we were on the road,” said Keith Yandle, who had two assists Wednesday to notch his 400th point. “The good news is we get to come back (today) and redeem ourselves. The effort and the push in this group, you can never doubt that.

“We have a hardworking group. We have guys that want to win every game. It’s a pleasure to be a part of a group like that. You can never question that about our team.”

Added Rowe: “There’s a lot of good stuffff going on here. One game’s not going to get us offff track.”

Vi n c e n t Tro c h e c k l e f t Wednesday ’s game after an attempted hit on Jordan Eberle but returned for the start of the third.

Trocheck, who scored the game-winning goal in the fifinal seconds in St. Louis and leads the Panthers in goals and points, says he is fifine and is excited about what’s ahead for his team.

“That road trip was awesome for us,” he said. “We found our mojo, got back into the mix here. We have some confifidence and are ready to keep going.”