Panthers' Slump: Lacking Confidence Amid Injury-Depleted Roster

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The Florida Panthers, two-time Stanley Cup champions, are struggling with confidence after a four-game losing streak. Their last five home games have been defeats, including a 2-1 overtime loss to Nashville on Thursday night. The team faces Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday, hoping to turn their fortunes around. Panthers' defenseman Niko Mikkola acknowledged the team's confidence issue, attributing it to the puck not going in their favor. The team is dealing with injuries to key players, including Aleksander Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk. Barkov is one of the NHL's top two-way centers, while Tkachuk excels in scoring, passing, and disrupting opponents. Coach Paul Maurice is working to find the solution to unlock his team's potential, despite the injury setbacks. Maurice emphasizes that confidence can only be earned through wins. Meanwhile, Columbus Blue Jackets, who have won their last two games, are coming off a thrilling 6-5 shootout victory over Detroit. Columbus' leading scorer, Zach Werenski, has been instrumental in the team's recent success. Werenski, a top defenseman, produced career highs in goals and points last season and finished second in the Norris Trophy voting. The Blue Jackets' goaltending duo, Elvis Merzlikins and Jet Greaves, have been crucial in their victories. Columbus' forwards, Adam Fantilli and Kirill Marchenko, have been standout performers, each contributing 11 and nine goals, respectively.