The Florida Panthers put in an all together mediocre performance last night at home, resulting in a 4-1 loss to the Dallas Stars. Florida netted the games 1st and only goal in the opening period, but were dominated from there on out giving up 2 goals in each of the next 2 period to fall 4-1.

The Panthers out shot the Stars 10-5 in the 1st period, but had only Karlis Skrastins goal at 12:41 to show for it. The Panthers were up 1-0 after the 1st period, but that would be all the offense they would must for the game. Dallas came out in the 2nd period and outshot the Panthers 11-8. Dallas tied the game on the power play at 12:33, and with 32 seconds left in the period scored to take a 2-1 lead.

The 3rd period was a closer affair, and Florida actually outshot Dallas 10-9, but the Stars would be the only team to find the back of the net. Dallas’ Mike Ribeiro would score a true hat trick, getting 2 goals in the 3rd to go with his go ahead goal late in the 2nd period. 3:45 into the 3rd Ribeiro scored, and then added an empty netter with 26 seconds left in the game to finish off his hat trick.

For the Panthers, last nights game was an unfortunate way to head into the All Star break. Last night’s loss was the first game in January in which the Panthers did not pick up at least 1pt, dropping their record to 5-1-3 in the month of January. The Panthers have no reason to be too down though, they had gone 8 straight games with at least a point and enter the All Star break in a tie for 9th place in the Eastern Conference, just 1pt behind the Carolina Hurricanes for 8th. Look for Florida to come out of the All Star break fighting, their playoff lives depend on it.