Panthers close 2023 with four-game win streak and know they’re ‘a tough team to beat’

It was just a week and a half ago that the Florida Panthers were in the midst of arguably their worst stretch of hockey this season. They had lost four of five games, scoring no more than one goal in each of the losses and getting away from the defense-first identity that got them to the Stanley Cup Final last season and had them off to a strong start this year.

Since then? The Panthers have returned to form. They closed out the 2023 calendar year with four consecutive wins, beating three playoff-caliber opponents in the Vegas Golden Knights, Tampa Bay Lightning and New York Rangers before capping this stretch with a 4-1 win over the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday.

“We played some great teams and got some huge wins,” Panthers forward Eetu Luostarinen said. “It’s a good end of the year for us.”

Luostarinen played a key role in Florida’s win on Saturday, scoring twice on the power play for his first career multi-goal game. Both of Luostarinen’s goals came on the power play, putting Florida up 1-0 4:05 into the second period and 2-1 7:34 into the second.

“Montreal played hard defensively, but he was able to drive through it,” Panthers coach Paul Maurice said. “There was a big cost for the penalty kill and the physicality that he was able to drive through, and I think that’s what he is. He is one of those guys who pushes himself every day in practice and in the games and he keeps driving. Those guys can make plays late in games because their hands aren’t wobbly and they’re not fatigued. He has just been a great force.”

Florida’s four-game win streak moved the Panthers (22-12-2) into second place in the Atlantic Division behind only the Boston Bruins (21-7-6). The Panthers have outscored their opponents 15-8 over these four wins.

Eleven players have logged multiple points in this run. Sam Reinhart has five of his team-leading 22 goals over the past four games while Carter Verhaeghe has scored three times. Aleksander Barkov has eight assists, while Matthew Tkachuk has five helpers.

And while the success is breeding confidence as the Panthers near the midway point of the season, they know there is still room to grow.

The Panthers next embark on a four-game road trip that starts Tuesday at the Arizona Coyotes, with puck drop scheduled for 9 p.m. After that, it’s a rematch against the Golden Knights on Thursday at 10 p.m, the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday at 4 p.m. and the St. Louis Blues on Jan. 9 at 8 p.m.

“We really haven’t played a perfect start-to-finish game,” Tkachuk said, “but we’re finding ways, so that’s encouraging. If we can just figure out a little bit how to play that full 60, I think we’re going to be a tough team to beat.”