Florida Panthers on the brink of elimination after 4-2 loss to Islanders

The Florida Panthers are on the brink of elimination after a 4-2 loss in Game 2.

After the heartbreaking loss on Saturday, I figured I’d be coming in to write up this article with shouts of joy and news that the Florida Panthers tied up the series and would be fighting to see another day. Now, while they are going to fight to see tomorrow, it will be with their backs against the net.

The Panthers today lost 4-2 in a game that until the middle of the second period looked like it was theirs for the taking. Before I get into the rundown of the game, there are two statistics I’d like to point out. The first one is that the team that has scored first in these play-in rounds have won 13 out of 16 games. The second statistic is an abysmal one. Out of all teams that have ever played in a best of five series, there’s only been one team to come back after being down 2-0 in a series.

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That’s how it’s looking for the Panthers right now, unfortunately. At the end of the game, the Panthers headed down the tunnel with their heads down, despondent. They know what they’re facing tomorrow, and that’s an elimination game.

As much as I hate to say it, I have to give some credit to the Islanders. Varlamov has been playing extraordinarily well as a goalie. Bobrovsky has played great as well but unfortunately not as well as Varlamov.

The Panthers started out the scoring with Hoffman scoring the first goal. Things were looking good. Matt Martin scored early in the second to tie up the game for the Islanders. Barkov quickly took back that lead though as he scored on the power play. Things were looking good again. It looked like they had a spark and their energy was high. Their chemistry was on point.

Then Ryan Pulock scored on the power play for the Islanders to tie the game again. Then Jordan Eberle got in on the action to score the final two goals of the game to give the Islanders the win and the 2-0 series lead.

After the third goal by the Islanders, the Panthers looked like they had completely ran out of energy. They looked gassed and lifeless. I really don’t like saying these things about my team because I’m an eternal optimist, but sometimes these things just need to be said. It’s unfortunate, but it’s true.

The Panthers also didn’t help themselves out by committing seven penalties! There were a few missed calls by the refs that should’ve been called on the Islanders, but I’m not about to pin this loss on them. The Panthers started out great, and then they just lost control.

Tomorrow is the only chance that the Panthers have left to keep themselves alive and fight another day. Will it happen? Like I said, I’m an eternal optimist, but even this optimist is hanging her head down and ready to weep. I don’t want to see my team’s chances of getting into the playoffs end tomorrow afternoon but the Panthers have a lot to fix if they want to fight to live another day. We shall see.

They’ve got less than 24 hours. The clock is ticking, the ice is waiting, and the Islanders are chomping at the bit and salivating for a sweep. Will it happen? We shall see but I really, truly hope not. Well, that’s all I’ve got for now Panthers fans. Let’s hope these Cardiac Cats live to fight another day. Enjoy the rest of your day everyone, and as always, Let’s Go Cats!