DAVE JOSEPH Staff WriterSUN-SENTINEL
A week ago they were playing like champions.
You remember, right? The Panthers had won three consecutive games on the road - including one against the Stanley Cup champion Montreal Canadiens - and were heading back to South Florida for 14 days and five home games. Things couldn't have been better.
But after a week back in town, home cooking hasn't exactly turned out to be what the Panthers had in mind.
When they hit the ice at the Miami Arena tonight against the Washington Capitals, the Panthers will be trying to snap a three-game losing streak (four games at home) and push aside a week of injuries and distractions that have left them three games under .500 and outscored 12-6.
"It's been frustrating," said defenseman Keith Brown. "The team has played well, but we've got nothing to show for it."
The Panthers have not only lost three consecutive games but leading scorer Rob Niedermayer, who separated his right shoulder against the Chicago Blackhawks Thursday and will miss approximately five weeks. The Panthers also had to wait five days until the NHL handed out rulings regarding the suspensions of veterans Mike Foligno and Brian Benning. Brian Burke, NHL director of operations, Friday suspended Benning for four games and Foligno for three.
"It's been a tough week," said Panthers coach Roger Neilson. "But the thing is we've continued to play well. You figure if you keep working hard, the breaks will eventually even out."
The Panthers hope it starts tonight. They have never lost four consecutive games. Earlier this season, they dropped consecutive games to Toronto, New Jersey and Winnipeg before a 5-2 victory over the New York Islanders.
"At this [point) last time, we kind of rallied," said Neilson. "The guys know we can do it."
Besides Niedermayer, who Friday underwent a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) procedure to help diagnose the extent of his injury, Benning and Foligno, defenseman Alexander Godynyuk may also miss tonight's game due to a pulled back muscle.
With Niedermayer out, Neilson said he may mix-and-match his lines over the next few games. Scott Mellanby and Dave Lowry, who played on the same line with Niedermayer since exhibition season, practiced Friday with Tom Fitzgerald. Jesse Belanger, who sat out Thursday's game with the flu, is expected back tonight and may play with Andrei Lomakin and Evgeny Davydov, a line that had success earlier in the season.
"We'll kick that one around a bit," Neilson said. "We may adjust the centers depending on who they're playing."
Neilson said Niedermayer, 18, who led the team with 14 points, was just beginning to play with confidence.
"He seemed to be getting more confidence every game," Neilson said. "[Thursday) he threw the three best body checks the team had and he was strong on the puck. He was starting to look like he was getting in the groove."
Neilson said Niedermayer is expected to be out five weeks, "but sometimes young kids heal quicker than others."
The Capitals continue their hot-and-cold streaks. They started the season with six consecutive losses, went on a six-game winning streak, but have now lost their past three games, the latest a 3-2 decision to Pittsburgh Thursday.
Brian Burke
Rob Niedermayer