Panthers fall flat
Kadri pots hat trick; Florida center Trocheck injured in loss to non-playoff team
““He was our best player for a long time , so it’s tough.” Panthers forward
Jaromir Jagr,
Vincent
SUNRISE — There was some concern that the Panthers would suffer a letdown against the lowly Leafs after vanquishing the Bruins and Lightning, two of their closest pursuers in the Atlantic Division, on the road lastweek.
The concerns were justified as the Panthers’ special teams were anything but in a lackluster 5-2 loss to the youthful, rebuilding TorontoMaple Leafs on Tuesday night at BB&T Center.
ThePanthers couldn’tdowhatthe Lightning did the night before in blanking the 30th-ranked Leafs and blew an opportunity to recapture first place in the Atlantic Division from their Florida brethren. However, Detroit’s loss reduces the Panthers’ magic number to five points for a playoff berth.
To compound matters, center Vincent Trocheck, arguably the team’s most valuable player this season, took a shot onhis leg from Pierre-Alexandre Parenteau during a power play midway through the second period and didn’t return. Trocheck, who has 25 goals and 53 points, also limped off the ice after blocking a shot in Saturday’s 5-2 win in Tampa.
Trocheck will undergo an MRI today. The Panthers expect to get back center Derek MacKenzie and defenseman Erik Gudbranson for theirhomegame Thursday against the Devils.
“He was our best player for a long time , so it’s tough. Not only didwe lose this game we lost our best player,’’ Panthers forward Jaromir Jagr said. “Even when we played [inToronto] weweremore lucky than good. The league is very tight.
speaking of Trocheck
“It’s not like we’re out of the playoffs. We have to forget about it.’’
So much for a soft schedule. The Leafs were the first of seven opponents to close out the season who are playing for jobs and not playoff spots. That said, the Leafs have gone 7-4 over their last 11 games.
The Panthers allowed a rare shorthanded tally and three power-play goals to the Leafs’ 30th-ranked road unit, including two to Nazem Kadri, who notched his third career-hat trick with an empty netter with 2:39 left. Toronto had converted just three of their previous 32 chances, including an 0-for-7 in Monday’s loss to the Lightning.
“This is a game we needed to have,’’ said Panthers forward Jussi Jokinen, a linemate of Trocheck’s. “We played good enough to win 5-on-5, but special teams killed us tonight.
“He’s playing the best hockey of his career and we’re going to miss him for sure. We need guys to step up again. We’ve done it all year.’’
Trailing 3-1after two, the Leafs padded their lead on Parenteau’s screened-out wrist shot from the circle. The desperate Panthers attacked the net until fourthline center Greg McKegg swatted in the bouncing puck. It cut the deficit to 4-2 at 11:26, and was McKegg’s first NHL goal in his 17th career game.
“The win was the important thing, but any time you could score your first goal in the NHL is a dream come true and special moment,’’ McKegg said.
The Panthers could not have been sloppier in the first period, giving away the puck nine times to the Leafs’ one. After Michael Grabner couldn’t convert a shorthanded breakaway, he received a second chance on a 2-on-1 rush before depositing a layup past Roberto Luongo for a 1-0 lead that held up after one. It was Toronto’s second shorty of the season and the fifth given up by Florida.
The Panthers’ top-line trio tied it at 6:23 of the second when Jagr passed to Aleksander Barkov, who crossed it to Jonathan Huberdeau for the snap-shot through the wickets of goalie Jonathan Bernier (32 saves). It was Huberdeau’s career-high 16th goal.
Less than five minutes later with Jagr inthe penalty box, the Leafs took a 2-1 lead when Brown’s shot was deflected to Kadri, who swept it in. Kadri added another power-play goal with 1:46 left in the second period for a 3-1 lead. Kadri has 17 goals and a teamleading 44 points.
“Our special teams weren’t good tonight,’’ Panthers coach Gerard Gallant said. “They’re playing hard; they’re a quick team; they’re fast. … Our execution wasn’t good and for whatever reason we didn’t have the jump we usually have.’’
Itwas Star Wars night at the BB&T, but the force certainly wasn’t with the Panthers.
Panthers sign Downing
The Panthers signed University of Michigan junior defenseman Michael Downing to a threeyear entry-level contract Tuesday.
Downing, 20, the Panthers’ fourth-round draft pick (97th overall) in 2013, had three goals and 17 assists for the Wolverines. He has 66 penalty minutes and a solid plus-20 ice rating. Downing will join the Portland (Maine) Pirates, Florida’s AHL affiliate, on an amateur tryout offer.