Panthers notes: Florida hits road hungry to break into win column
The bags are packed, the sticks are stowed and the white away jerseys are off their hangers -- the Florida Panthers are hitting the road.
Embarking on a four-game, nine-day road trip that begins in Buffalo, N.Y., and ends in Glendale, Ariz., Panthers coach Gerard Gallant is hoping that some time away from home is just what the team needs to break out of their early-season slump.
"It's definitely big," Gallant said. "Guys like to get on the road. Obviously, having a little bit of a tough start, 0-2-1 in the first three games, it's going to be good to get on the road and hopefully we'll play real well."
In what will be their first of 12 scheduled back-to-back contests this season, the Panthers kick off their weekend Friday against the Buffalo Sabres (0-3-1) before hopping a quick flight to D.C. to play their former Southeast Division foes, the Washington Capitals (2-0-2).
"I like the back-to-back games," Gallant said. "It gets your team into the flow of things instead of taking two or three days off."
Still searching for their first victory of the season, Gallant believes that, outside of allowing four goals during the first period of their home opener against the New Jersey Devils, the team has played well enough to win every night.
"We talk about it all the time," Gallant said. "We've played nine periods and I thought we played eight of them pretty good, that's frustrating. Obviously, we wanted to get off to a great start."
With just three goals through their first three games -- their lowest total ever to start a season -- the Panthers will have a golden opportunity to get back to lighting the lamp in Buffalo on Friday. Through four games this season, the Sabres have allowed a staggering 4.25 goals per game.
Putting in some extra time after Wednesday's practice, veteran forward Brad Boyes is working hard to get the Panthers back on the score sheet and in the win column.
"I had work to do, I keep losing the puck and dumping it in on breakaways," said Boyes, who led the Panthers in goals last year but has yet to score in three games this season.
"I need to work on keeping it on my puck and putting it in. The last few games I've lost the puck in key areas. I just have to bear down and concentrate more."
Like Gallant, Boyes believes that an early victory on the road will go a long way in changing the mentality of the Panthers' revamped locker room.
"It's tough," said Boyes, who's tied for the team lead in shots with eight. "This is a really good group here. There are guys here that have won, and won recently. They're kind of used to it all the time. For some of the other guys, it's the opposite.
"We've got to change the mentality and philosophy here that we're coming in expecting to win. It starts at one. Once we get that going and start rolling then we can build off that and use the experience of guys that have won."
ROOKIE ON THE ROAD
For rookie defenseman Aaron Ekblad, the No. 1 overall pick in June's draft, the first road trip of the season will give the Windsor, Ontario, native a chance to not only garner more experience, but also see America.
"First tour of the states," Ekblad said. "I've never been to Colorado or Phoenix. I've been to Buffalo a couple times, but I've never been to Washington, D.C."
While he wouldn't mind taking in the sights, Ekblad doesn't plan on being a tourist, and insists that his main focus of the trip is hockey and bonding with his new teammates.
"You're going to a bunch of different cities, you've got your roommate, you're going out to dinner with the guys and you're enjoying yourself. It's all good fun," said Ekblad, who has one assist through his first three games. "Being together as a team for two full weeks and you never leave each other's sides, it's going to be fun. It's going to be long and it's going to be hard, but it's going to be a good challenge."
MONTOYA TO START
As expected, Gallant says that backup goaltender Al Montoya will make his first start for the Panthers during the upcoming road trip.
"It's just another game," said Montoya, who posted a .920 save percentage in 28 games for Winnipeg last season. "It's not going to make or break me but, at the same time, I'm going to leave it all on the ice. I'm a passionate player and my main goal is to go out there and give this team a chance to win."
Although Montoya has yet to make his first start for the Panthers, his debut with the team did come sooner than expected. Down 5-1 early in the second period of their home opener, Montoya came on in relief of starter Roberto Luongo.
A change, Montoya believes, sent an early message to his teammates.
"A goalie change is sometimes for the better," said Montoya, who has stopped all 10 shots he's faced this season. "It gives the team a little bit of a wake-up call. It sends a message. Over two periods I ended up seeing 10 shots. There were maybe one or two chances that were tough but, other than that, we simplified our game and ended up playing a better game."
While Montoya doesn't expect to be Superman in his debut -- though he admits that wouldn't hurt -- the veteran goaltender is putting no added emphasis on his upcoming start simply because it will be his first with the team.
"For me, it's about being ready every night," Montoya said. "Whether it's a game or practice, I want to be the best player out there."
WORTH NOTING
-- Out since Monday with an an undisclosed lower-body injury, forward Shawn Thornton returned to practice on Thursday. Gallant says the veteran enforcer is still considered day-to-day, although he could return to the lineup on the road.
"Feeling better today than yesterday, hopefully better tomorrow than today," Thornton said poetically. "That's the goal, anyways."
You can follow Jameson Olive on Twitter @JamesonCoop or email him at JamesonOlive@gmail.com.
