from Harvey Fialkov of the SunSentinel,

“They [basically] have nine guys up from the AHL,” Panthers interim coach Tom Rowe said. “They played a very simple and effective game. We responded in spurts, but I thought we would’ve gone to the net a little more.”

For the first time this season, Rowe and his players were talking about playing for pride as they remain six points behind idle Toronto for the final wild-card playoff berth with 11 games remaining. They’d also have to leap over the New York Islanders and Tampa Bay.

“[Playing for pride is] the mentality we’re going to have to have the rest of the way,” Rowe added. “We’re not mathematically eliminated, but we’re in a hole for sure.”

more on the loss to the Penguins...