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Atlantic Division-leading Panthers were ‘pathetic’ over the weekend

Gerard Gallant

Florida Panthers head coach Gerard Gallant asks the referee to review the game winning goal in overtime by Pittsburgh Penguins’ Evgeni Malkin during an NHL hockey game in Pittsburgh, Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2015. The goal was allowed, and the Penguins won in overtime 3-2. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

AP

Panthers coach Gerard Gallant didn’t show his team much love on Valentine’s day weekend.

It’s hard to blame him after the two performances they put together.

Florida gave up five goals in each game and only managed to score three times all weekend.

“We took it on the chin,” Gallant said of his team’s performance in the last few games. “No one was any good.”

He also added: “our team was pathetic the last couple of games.”

Their six-game home stand didn’t get off to a great start on Friday, as they were thumped, 5-3, by the St. Louis Blues.

Starter Roberto Luongo didn’t factor into the decision, but he was given the hook after allowing three goals in the first period.

The Panthers goalie followed that up by allowing five goals on 28 shots in a 5-0 loss to Nashville the next night.

“He hasn’t been as sharp as he was,” Gallant said of Luongo, per The Herald. “But it has been our team the last couple of games.”

Things seem to have gone down hill since they lost center Aleksander Barkov to an upper-body injury on Feb. 8 (they lost to Detroit 3-0 that night).

They managed to win an ugly 7-4 game against the Sabres in their first full game without Barkov, but things have fallen apart since.

Florida will finish its crucial home stand with games against the Penguins, Sharks, Jets and Coyotes.

The Panthers need to figure things out quickly because their lead atop the Atlantic Division has gone from eight points down to just three.

atlantic

Maybe a special celebration will get them back on the right track: