The Florida Panthers’ slump continued Sunday night in Atlanta as the team dropped its 4th straight game in a 5-3 loss to the Thrashers. The Panthers were never really in the game, until the 3rd period, but the game was more or less out of their control by the time they showed up to play.

The first two periods of the game belonged to the Atlanta Thrashers who dominated play through the first 2 periods of the game. Atlanta took the lead and stole the momentum of the game with 9 seconds left in the 1st period when they scored the game’s first goal to take a 1-0 lead.

The 2nd period was a barnburner and would prove to be the demise of the Panthers. 5 minutes into the period Atlanta extended their lead to 2-0, but the Panthers answered back quickly. David Booth got Florida on the board 1:42 later with a power play goal, cutting the Thrashers lead to 2-1. Atlanta exploded over the next 10 minutes though, scoring at 10:39 and 17:00 into the period to go up 4-1. With just under 2 minutes left in the period though, Nathan Horton scored his 4th of the season to pull the Panthers to 4-2 just before intermission.

In the 3rd period the game got even more interesting. Seemingly out of it, despite Horton’s goal at the end of the 2nd, Florida came out firing and Noah Welch scored his first of the season just over 3 minutes into the period to make it 4-3. The game would remain tight through the 3rd and in the closing moments the Panthers pulled Vokoun to gain the extra skater and try to pull even. Atlanta would put the game out of reach though under 1 minute to play by getting an empty netter, finishing the game with a 5-3 win.

Florida’s problems continue to mount. Despite the 3 goals tonight, Florida is not producing enough offense to take some pressure off the defense. 3 goals should be enough to win a hockey game, however when the other team plays the majority of the game in your defensive third it is tough to win a game. No defense in the league is good enough to withstand a game-long barrage from the other team. Florida was again outshot last night, 31-21, including 15-4 in the first period. The power play finally got on the board, going a respectable 1-3 last night. Nathan Horton finally scored another goal, but more is needed from him and Stillman and the rest of the forwards if this team is going to turn things around.

Worst of all, the losing streak comes at a bad time, not that there is really a good time for a losing streak. Florida is in the midst of a 5 game road trip. Last night was game 2 of the 5 game road trip and so far this season the Panthers are 1-4-1 on the road. Something has to change, the Panthers need to find their offense and quick because the last thing they need is an early hole to have to dig themselves out of.

The Florida Panthers’ dropped their 3rd straight game Friday night in a 3-2 shootout loss to the Nashville Predators. The Panthers rough stretch lately got worse tonight as the team blew a 2-1 lead in the 3rd period and eventually lost in a shootout.

After a back and forth 1st period, Nashville struck first scoring at the 16:29 mark. Their lead was short lived however as Rostislav Olesz equalized just over a minute later at 17:32. The only goal of the 2nd period went to the Panthers. Karlis Skrastins netted his 2nd goal of the season at the 11:15 mark of the period. Florida made the lead hold up the rest of the 2nd period and were doing well in the 3rd until Nashville equalized at the 9:51 mark. Both teams shut down on defense from that point on and the game stalemated, resulting in overtime. The teams managed 5 shots on goal between them in the OT and the game then headed for a shootout.

The shootout was much like the game, short on goals. Nathan Horton went first for Florida and had his attempt saved. Backup goalie Craig Anderson saved Nashville’s first attempt, but Cory Stillman had his attempt (the team’s 2nd) saved. Nashville’s 2nd attempt found the back of the net. Florida’s hopes came down to Olesz, but his attempt sailed wide.

The problems are mounting for the Panthers these days. The team is on a 3 game losing streak, the offense is stagnant (and that is putting it nicely), and after not losing a game in which they led all season, the Panthers have blown leads in the past two games.

Florida’s biggest problem remains their stagnant offense. For all the hype around Nathan Horton and new signing Cory Stillman, they are both failing to put their team on their shoulders and lead. In tonight’s game neither forward had a shot on goal, and over the course of the team’s 3 game losing streak they have a combined 11 shots on goal, just over 1 per period. The power play for the Panthers also continues to struggle, the team was 0-3 tonight.

If Florida is going to make something out of their season, the forwards are going to have to start contributing to their team on a more consistent basis, or it will be a LONG season in South Florida. Both goals tonight were scored by defenders, and Keith Ballard has been the team’s best producer this season, leading the team in assists.

On a side note, the Panthers’ newest defender, Jassen Cullimore, made his season debut tonight against Nashville. Cullimore was on the ice for 20:48 and was a -1 with 0 shots on goal.