Sunrise, FL – Here we go! The Florida Panthers finally got their 1st win of the season yesterday, as they defeated the Washington Capitals, 6-5 in overtime in D.C.! The Panthers did almost try and give it away, though. They did what they’ve been doing this season – taking an early lead and letting it slip away. The Cats, at one point, were up 4-1! In the 3rd period, they allowed Washington to tie it up, 5-5, and force an overtime shootout, where Florida eventually prevailed. But, why do the Panthers keep letting leads slip away? That has, without a doubt, been the theme this season, and it reared its ugly head tonight, once again, vs. the Detroit Red Wings.

The Panthers took the early lead in the 1st period. Less than eight minutes into the game, Evgenii Dadonov, the Cat Daddy, assisted Keith Yandle for his 1st goal of the season! Yandle is usually on the other side of that transaction. However, the Red Wings immediately answered back, only to have their goal called off for Goaltender Interference. Later, with less than four minutes remaining in the 1st period, Nick Bjugstad gave the Panthers a 2-0 lead. Now, it’s too early in the season to say, “the Panthers gonna Panther”, but it’s not too early to recognize patterns.

In the 2nd period, Mike Matheson was penalized for Hooking, and that joke will never get old. Anyway, the Red Wings capitalized, twice, off that power-play, and scored back-to-back goals, eighteen seconds apart, to even things up. Talk about 0-100 real quick… The Panthers, once again, lost a lead. Bad habits are easy to create, but hard to break. If the Cats don’t nip this in the bud soon, it’ll have the potential to ruin their season before it even begins! Less than two minutes later, the Red Wings scored again to officially flip this game on its head. The Cats went from heroes to nightmare victims, and it only took two minutes and three seconds.

The @DetroitRedWings capitalize, TWICE, off a power play, and score back-to-back goals, less than a minute apart to even things up in ththe 2nd period. The @FlaPanthers have, once again, lost a lead. #BadHabits. 2-2#FlaPanthers #OneTerritory pic.twitter.com/y3veLQKZp1 — Lemon City Live (@LemonCityLive) October 21, 2018

In the 3rd period, the Panthers earned a penalty, but Aleksander Barkov couldn’t capitalize. The Cats trailed the Red Wings 2-3 early in the 3rd period, but they somehow still found a way to make it interesting. With less than two minutes left in the game, Mike Hoffman found the back of the net, assisted by Keith “Iron Yands” Yandle! It was a party in the BB&T, 3-3!

Florida just beat Washington in an overtime shootout, so there’s no reason to doubt their ability to take this W from Detroit’s grasp. The Panthers had some good moments, including some shots that hit off the post, but it wasn’t meant to be. The overtime Cats turned over the puck on their side of the ice, leaving two Red Wings players alone with James Reimer, who hasn’t been stellar this season and is in danger of losing his “Optumis Reims” nickname. In the end, it was Gustav Nyquist, stealing my name and my happiness, as he scored the game-winning shot for Detroit on a takeaway and assist by Dylan Larkin. The Panthers lose in OT 3-4 to the Red Wings…

Next up, the Panthers travel on a three-game road trip, first facing the New York Rangers on Tuesday, Oct. 23rd at 7 PM. They return home on Thursday, November 1st for an early puck drop of 2 PM! See you in the month of Thanksgiving, you jive turkeys! Hopefully, we’ll some Panthers wins to be grateful for by then.

The Florida Panthers coach, Bob Boughner after their loss to the Detroit Red Wings. Posted by Lemon City Live on Saturday, October 20, 2018

📷Credit: Geoff Burke – USA TODAY Sports

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