5 TAKEAWAYS: Point Streak Snapped as Panthers Fall to Flames

After setting the NHL on fire over the past few weeks, the Panthers finally saw their imposing point streak snapped at nine games with a 5-1 loss to the Flames at Scotiabank Saddledome on Tuesday.
Despite the loss, Florida is still sitting pretty at 26-8-5 on the season.

"As nice it would be to go 82-0, you have ups and downs throughout the season," Panthers forward Ryan Lomberg said after the team was handed just its eighth regulation loss in 39 games played so far this season. "It's about how you respond. I think as a group we're going to put that one behind us."
Failing to score first for the first time since Dec. 29, the Panthers found themselves behind the eight ball early when Rasmus Andersson jumped on his own rebound in the slot and ripped the puck past Spencer Knight into the twine on the man advantage to give the Flames a 1-0 lead just 4:36 into the first period.
At 11:36, Blake Coleman then scored to increase Calgary's lead to 2-0 heading into the first intermission.
"We weren't prepared to pay the price tonight," Panthers interim head coach Andrew Brunette said. "It's going to happen, games like this. We had opportunities to get our game back, and it didn't happen."
Getting on the board in his first game back in his old barn, Sam Bennett, who was sent from Calgary to Florida at last year's trade deadline, halved the deficit for the Panthers in the second period when he took a pass from Mason Marchment and beat Jacob Markstrom on the doorstep to make it 2-1 at 12:36.
Converting on the power play for a second time, the Flames then regained their two-goal lead when Sean Monahan re-directed a long shot from Johnny Gaudreau into the cage to make it 3-1 at 16:03.
"The losses are definitely a good learning experience for us," Marchment said. "We're going to take that one with a grain of salt and then move on and try to come out with a better effort in our next game."
In the third period, the good bounces continued for the Flames as Matthew Tkachuk extended the lead to 4-1 when he deflected a centering pass from Gaudreau past Knight from the slot at 3:47. Netting his second goal of the game, Monahan, zooming up ice after a turnover, then scored at 6:43 to make it 5-1.
Making his first start since Dec. 30, Knight finished with 26 saves, while Markstrom made 28.
"I thought he really got his game going in the second period," Brunette said of Knight. "In the third period, I was a little disappointed in the chances we gave up against him. I thought he was solid. He gave us a chance to be right there, a 2-1 hockey game, and then we sort of self-destructed there a bit."
Here are five takeaways from Tuesday's loss in Calgary…

1. BENNETT'S BACK

You know this one felt good.
Facing off against his former team for the first time, Bennett found the back of the net in the second period when he banged home a backdoor pass from Marchment on the doorstep to make it a 2-1 game.
Taken by the Flames with the fourth-overall pick in the 2014 NHL Draft, Bennett suited up in 402 games over parts of seven seasons Calgary before being acquired by the Panthers at last year's trade deadline.

"It was exciting," Bennett said of going back to where it all began. "It's a little different going into the away dressing room for the first time. It's a cool feeling. I have lots of great memories in this building."
On fire ever since he arrived to South Florida, Bennett has accumulated 39 points (22 goals, 17 assists) in 40 games since joining the Panthers and is currently tied for the team-lead in goals this season with 16.

2. MARCHMENT RETURNS

After missing the last five games with an injury, Marchment returned to action tonight.
In addition to earning an assist on Bennett's goal in the second period, the hard-working forward also posted two hits while flanking Anton Lundell on the third line over 13:08 of ice time against the Flames.
"It felt great," Marchment said. "I just wanted to bring some energy and try to play hard."
Contributing at both ends of the ice, Marchment, who scored a pair of goals during last year's playoffs, has been playing arguably the best hockey of his young career when he's been in the lineup this season.
Appearing in just 14 games, he's already set new career-highs in assists (9) and points (11).
"He's a unique player," Brunette said. "We don't have a lot of him."

3. HORNQVIST EXITS EARLY

After sustaining an upper-body injury near the midway point of the second period, Patric Hornqvist headed down the tunnel to the locker room and didn't return for the Panthers against the Flames.
Following the game, no immediate updates on the veteran forward's status were available.
"We'll find out tomorrow," Brunette said.
An important piece of the puzzle for the Panthers both on the ice and in the locker room, Hornqvist has tallied 18 points (seven goals, 11 assists) this season, including scoring three goals in his last five games.

4. A LOOK AT THE NUMBERS

While the final score was lopsided, the numbers paint the picture of a much closer game.
Per NaturalStatTrick.com, the Panthers finished with advantages over the Flames in shot attempts (58-50), scoring chances (36-31) and expected goals (3.20-2.42) in all situations. With that in mind, a lot of credit has to go to Markstrom's play between the pipes for helping keep momentum in Calgary's favor.
Of the six high-danger shots that the Panthers fired in his direction, just one slipped through.
"He's a good goalie," Lomberg said of Markstrom. "We have to do a better job of getting in front of him and making his life a little tougher. Just like any goalie in this league, if they can see the puck they're going to stop it more often than not."

5. ROAD TRIP ROLLS ON

When one point streak ends another one can begin.
With four games left to go on their road trip, the Panthers will now head to Edmonton for a matchup against the Oilers on Thursday. After that, they'll wrap up their back-to-back with a battle against the Canucks in Vancouver on Friday before traveling down to Seattle for a date with the Kraken on Sunday.
Looking to improve their record away from home, tonight's loss should be a learning experience.
"We'll watch the video, put it behind us and then onto the next one," Lomberg said confidently.