The Florida Panthers hold a full team skate at the Scotiabank Saddledome on Dec. 18. You may be starting to notice a frustrating trend with the Florida Panthers. While they don’t lose very often these days, many of the games that do end in defeat are nights where Florida was arguably, if not obviously, the better of the two teams on the ice. That again appeared to be the case on Monday in Calgary, with the Panthers controlling the majority of the even strength play but coming up short where it counts, losing to the Flames 3-1 thanks to a pair of third period shorthanded goals. Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjAwNjE3OTM2NjIzMjQ4NDky/img_6014.jpg] Despite the Panthers spending several early shifts inside the Calgary zone, it was the Flames that got on the board first thanks to a funky backhand by Martin Pospisil that eluded Anthony Stolarz. A late first period power play would provide the Panthers an opportunity to tie the game, and they would not pass it up. Just as the interference penalty to Rasmus Andersson was expiring, Sam Reinhart knocked a rebound over the glove of Jacob Markstrom for his team-leading 18th goal of the season. The score remained knotted at one until early in the third period when Florida was given a power play. A touch pass on a zone entry from Sam Reinhart to Matthew Tkachuk was intercepted by Noah Hanifin at the Flames blue line, and he sprung Mikael Backlund on a shorthanded breakaway. Backlund beat Stolarz with a quick backhand to give the Flames a 2-1 lead. That’s how the score would remain until the final minutes, with Florida once again the power play. This time, the Panthers net was empty and Florida was enjoying a 6-on-4 advantage. A furious Florida rally would come up empty thanks to a couple big saves by Markstrom and a lucky bounce sending Blake Coleman on a breakaway with nobody to stop him from scoring. After over a week away from South Florida, the Panthers will return home on Tuesday. Here are some thoughts and observations from Monday’s game in Calgary: Florida finished 1-for-5 on the power play, but gave up the pair of shorties. On the flip side, the Panthers were a perfect 5-for-5 on the penalty kill, allowing Calgary just two shots while on the man advantage. Florida defenseman Dmitry Kulikov played in his 900th NHL game, 488 of which have come with the Panthers. Reinhart’s goal was his first since Dec. 6, a span of five games. That’s the longest he’s gone between goals this season. LATEST STORIES FROM THE HOCKEY NEWS - FLORIDA Panthers place Anton Lundell on IR, recall Justin Sourdif from Charlotte [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/latest-news/panthers-place-anton-lundell-on-ir-recall-justin-sourdif-from-charlotte] Former Panthers defenseman MacKenzie Weegar thriving in Calgary following blockbuster trade [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/features/former-panthers-defenseman-mackenzie-weegar-thriving-in-calgary-following-blockbuster-trade] Panthers in Calgary looking to wrap up road trip on high note [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/latest-news/panthers-in-calgary-looking-to-wrap-up-road-trip-on-high-note] Three takeaways: Brandon Montour, Sam Bennett rounding into form, Bob steals the show [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/features/three-takeaways-brandon-montour-sam-bennett-rounding-into-form-bob-steals-the-show] Nine years ago Florida won the longest shootout in NHL history [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/features/nine-years-ago-florida-won-the-longest-shootout-in-nhl-history] Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjAxNjQxMjA5NjI4NzMxMDIz/unnamed.jpg]
