from George Richards of Florida Hockey Now,

The Florida Panthers have played three games against the Washington Capitals in this first-round playoff series and have looked liked the team which ended with the best record in the NHL for about two-plus periods of them.

In saying that, it is little surprise that they go into Monday night’s Game 4 trailing the best-of-7 series 2-1.

The Panthers, simply put, have not been the Panthers.

Give the Capitals plenty of credit for that.

Their forechecking, backchecking, clog-up-the-middle style has stymied the Panthers for much of Games 1 and 3 as well as the first 15 minutes of Game 2.

But the Panthers need to take a look at themselves in the mirror.

After Game 1, some players said there was nervousness in opening up the playoff series.

Jonathan Huberdeau alluded to that after the Game 3 loss, Andrew Brunette bringing it up on Sunday.

Following the 6-1 loss on Saturday, Brandon Montour said the Panthers “weren’t really ready to play, I think. The energy level, we can say what we want in the room, but we get on the ice and I don’t think we were on it.”

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