It's amazing how Florida was able to play some of its best and worst hockey of the season on the same night

The Florida Panthers closed out Saturday’s night road game in Chicago with 40 minutes of incredibly impressive hockey.

Unfortunately, it came after what may end up being Florida’s worst period of the season.

Chicago was all over the Panthers right from the start, jumping out to a 4-0 lead before ultimately skating away with a 5-2 victory.

Once Florida found its footing, the Panthers actually controlled the game for the majority of the final two periods, and the advanced metrics back that up.

But about that start…

Poor First Period

Over their past several games, the Panthers had done well to begin games strong. That did not happen against the Blackhawks.

Florida was outscored 3-0 during the opening 20 minutes. They were outshot 14-6

While yes, they did do a complete 180 after that, it doesn’t erase that seemingly uncharacteristic stinker of a period.

“We'll play 246 periods, hoping that one was our worst,” Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice said after the game. “That’s probably as dominant two periods after as we've had. After the first period, there's nothing left for us to do but find a way out of it and not so much make amends, just…you're going to have a tough period in this league every once in a while. We had one. But I love the way they played after that. We were desperate and determined and strong and dominant.”

Centers Performing Well Under Difficult Circumstances

Another game, another strong night for Florida in the faceoff circle.

The Panthers were the better team taking draws on each of the three games during their road trip.

During Saturday’s loss in Chicago, Florida won 56% of the faceoffs, led by Sasha Barkov going 11-for-16 from the dot.

Considering how much responsibility the Panthers center’s carry in Maurice’s systems, and the areas Florida has been shorthanded roster-wise, it’s no surprise the coach singled the unit out for how the way they’re performing.

“Right now, there's a lot of pressure in some ways on our center icemen,” Maurice said. “With Sam (Bennett) out, and with the D out, we spent a lot of time down low.”

Maurice Very Happy With How Panthers Are Defending

Asked to evaluate his team 10 games into the season, the first words out of his mouth were praise for how Florida is defending.

That is especially impressive considering two of the Panthers best blueliners have yet to suit up for a game this season.

It’s also a testament to the job done by Florida GM Bill Zito and his staff – to being in players who not only fit Maurice’s systems, but also fit under the cap – and Panthers assistant coach Sylvain Lefebvre, who spends much of his time working with the team’s defensemen on the ice and in the video room. 

“We're better than we've ever been defensively,” said Maurice. “I will not produce the first period (against Chicago) as evidence of that for you. But we are right now better defensively than we have ever been. We're learning how to win and battle in tight games until some of the hands kind of loosen up – God, we had some chances, just a little snakebit around the net – but I'm not worried about the hands or the offense, it’s there. I know it is. The defense is the thing we're most proud of, and we'll have an opportunity to show it in game 11.”

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