The Florida Panthers are in the midst of a small New Year’s break, having played their last game Dec 31st and not playing again until Jan 3rd. Hopefully the Panthers can use the change in calendar from 2008 to 2009 to jump start their play and end their current 4 game losing streak (0-3-1).

Florida’s loss on Wednesday night, 4-2 to the New York Islanders, was their 4 straight loss and fans should be slightly concerned. It is bad enough to lose games, one at a time, back to back, or in chunks like the Panthers are at the moment. It is another thing entirely though to look lost doing so. Two major problems are plaguing the Panthers right now: a) poor defense and b) poor goaltending.

In the midst of this 4 game losing streak, the Panthers have so far allowed 18 goals while scoring 11 themselves. The blame, unlike earlier in the season, cannot be pinned on the offense for these losses. The team has scored 3, 4, 2, and 2 goals in the respective losses, but the defense has been non-existent. In the 4 losses the defense has been scattered around and appeared lost while allowing 4, 6, 5, and 4 goals in the respective games.

On top of problems in front of goal, the Panthers have issues in goal right now too. Neither Craig Anderson or Tomas Vokoun has been able (or should I say allowed?) to finish a game during this losing streak. Vokoun was pulled in the 2nd period of Wednesday’s loss to New York after allowing 3 goals on 22 shots.

Coach Peter DeBoer may be making the situation worse with his constant goalie switches. Goalies are odd creatures, often creatures of habit and fond of superstition. Constantly pulling goalies night after night when your team falls behind is not going to spark your team. Used once in awhile, goalie switches can spark a team if a goalie is just playing poorly, but at the rate DeBoer is switching goalies he’s going to send a message of confusion to his team. He is jeopardizing the confidence of both his goalies and telling his players that he isn’t sure which one is right for the job. Goals are not always the fault of the goalies, granted you can’t yank your defenders for poor play, but the goalie can’t always take the blame.

DeBoer should focus more of his energy on getting the 5 guys in front of Vokoun and Anderson to start playing better team defense and containing opponents, and less time waiting for the right moment to yank a goaltender who is under a barrage of shots.