When David Kampf – hardly an NHL blueblood – easily skated right around Florida Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad on Saturday night and then scored on goalie James Reimer … it was not a good sign for the home team.
The Panthers lost to the visiting Chicago Blackhawks 5-4 in overtime on Saturday, and the issue – again – was defense.
Florida is allowing 3.62 goals per game, which is the second-worst average in the league, better than only the Ottawa Senators.
Given that porous defense, it’s no coincidence that the Panthers (8-9-4) and Senators are the two worst teams in the Eastern Conference.