One of the theories around the game is the significance of special teams.
The rationale is, the teams which find themselves in the Stanley Cup Playoffs are the ones who have been successful on the power play and penalty kill during the 82-game marathon. And those that weren’t, likely find themselves watching the games that matter.
So if that’s true, the Florida Panthers have two significant issues if they are to qualify for the playoffs for the first time since the first-round loss to the New York Islanders in 2015-16: The power play and penalty kill.
The Panthers’ season long special teams shortcomings cost them in their 5-2 loss to the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night in New York.