The lead-up to the NHL All-Star Break was promising. Three wins against three playoff-caliber teams before an 11-day break. A 13-5 scoring margin in those wins. A sense that, finally, the Florida Panthers might be living up to their potential.
Florida Panthers general manager Dale Tallon hopes its enough to fuel a turnaround.
The Panthers are in a similar spot as last season coming out of the All-Star Break. Florida rebounded from a slow start in the 2017-18 season to finish with 96 points — the third-most in franchise history but one shy of a playoff berth.