<p>On Tuesday’s edition of <em>Daily Faceoff Live</em>, hosts Frank Seravalli and Mike McKenna discussed the dominant 7-1 drubbing that the Florida Panthers handed to their hated rivals the Tampa Bay Lightning.&nbsp;Seravalli and McKenna wondered if Monday night’s big win could represent a turning point in what has been an inconsistent first year under Paul Maurice.</p>



<p><strong>Frank Seravalli: </strong>The Battle of Florida on Monday night was really a lopsided affair with the Florida Panthers coming away with a 7-1 win over the Lightning, who looked a little bit disjointed to say the least.&nbsp; From a Florida Panthers perspective, when you look at the standings, we knew a push was needed in this unofficial second half of the season.&nbsp; Is it too far to say that this was a statement win for the Cats?</p><div class="injected-ad injected-video" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="0" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="132"></div>



<p><strong>Mike McKenna: </strong>It’s obviously a big win coming back and it looks good on paper, but this was a little bit closer of a game than it looked.&nbsp; Bobrovsky was really good, Vasilevskiy was flat-out bad; it’s only the second time in his career he’s been dinged for 7 goals against.&nbsp; That was surprising.&nbsp; When I think about the Panthers, they have one X-factor on their club named Matthew Tkachuk.&nbsp; Over the past two seasons, he’s third in the NHL in scoring.&nbsp; He’s fifth in the NHL this year.&nbsp; When the Panthers have their full lineup when Barkov is there- he left the game last night after blocking a shot with his hand, which is worrisome- I think they could contend.&nbsp; The problem that they’re going to run into, Frank, is that teams have games in hand on them.&nbsp;The Panthers and Islanders are both at 53 games, the teams that they’re contending with have much fewer. Washington and Pittsburgh are in the mix, Buffalo is as well.&nbsp; </p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="1" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="168"></div>



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<p>The bottom line is that the Panthers are going to have to go on a heater to make the playoffs. They’re going to have to win like 8 out of 10 games at some point and really run the table.&nbsp;With Matthew Tkachuk maybe that could happen.&nbsp; Without Barkov, I still think it’s going to be difficult for this Panthers team.&nbsp; They’re definitely in the mix and you cannot write them off yet, I would just be surprised if they finally get over the hump to make the Stanley Cup Playoffs.</p>



<p><strong>Frank Seravalli:&nbsp; </strong>Such a tough blow for Barkov. You watch that play over and it was so close to hitting him in the shin pad instead of catching him on the hand.&nbsp;When you watch Barkov this season, what’s wrong with him?&nbsp; I know he’s still over a point-a-game with 47 points in 43 games, but he just doesn’t look like the same threat this year.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="2" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="155"></div>



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<p><strong>Mike McKenna: </strong>I just think across the board the Panthers have looked a little bit out of sync.&nbsp;I’m not sure if that comes just from having a new coach or a different voice.&nbsp;Obviously, Barkov was pretty good for Brunette, he was pretty good for Gerard Gallant before that, he’s been good under a lot of coaches.&nbsp; I haven’t seen him really have the same speed and take over games with his quickness like I have in the past, that’s where I’m curious whether he’s where he needs to be physically.&nbsp; He’s still an unbelievable player and I just wonder whether we’ll see Barkov and Tkachuk team up more.&nbsp; It’s been a lot of Bennett and Tkachuk, do we see more of Barkov and Tkachuk when Tkachuk has performed so well alongside Bennett?&nbsp; It’s a tough call.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="3" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="136"></div>



<p><strong>Frank Seravalli: </strong>If they can get everyone healthy depending on the Barkov injury, Duclair’s rehab from the Achilles, and what’s going on with Patric Hornqvist’s concussion, they may have a decision to make about salary cap compliance as well. One-word answer: do the Florida Panthers get in?</p>



<p><strong>Mike McKenna: </strong>No.</p>



<p><strong><em>You can</em></strong> <strong><em>watch the entire episode here…</em></strong></p>



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