• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

DeBoer getting fed up with struggling Panthers

Nov 8, 2008 - 3:05 PM Florida (4-7-1) at Phoenix (5-6-0) 9:00 p.m. EST

GLENDALE, Arizona (Ticker) -- The Florida Panthers are not winning and coach Peter DeBoer's patience is wearing thin.

The Panthers try to snap a five-game winless streak on Saturday when they visit the Phoenix Coyotes.

Florida dropped to 0-4-1 during its slide when it endured a 3-2 loss to the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday. The Panthers managed six shots on goal over the first two periods against the Kings before finding the back of the net early in the third and in the final minute of the contest.

DeBoer, who is in his first year behind an NHL bench, was clearly unhappy.

"It's inexcusable and you'll have to ask the leadership group in the room and we're just not good enough bottom line," DeBoer said. "Six shots through two periods is not enough. ... You have to win puck battles and get your nose dirty, and we don't have a lot of guys that want to do that."

DeBoer said he has no reservations about sitting players who he believes don't deserve ice time.

"It's our job to make them do it and we're at the point in the season now where you have to earn your ice time or you're not going to play," he said. "Unfortunately, there were too many guys to sit (Thursday) to use benching as a motivation to them."

The Coyotes will also be looking to bounce back from a loss after dropping a hard-fought 1-0 decision to the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday. The setback was Phoenix's third in the last five games.