The Florida Panthers had a rough start to their road schedule this season.

It is not getting any easier.

Florida opens up a three-game trip this afternoon in Washington and, once it wraps up in Columbus on Tuesday, the Panthers will have played 13 of their first 19 away from Sunrise.

If the season ended today, Florida would squeak into a wild-card playoff spot.

Yet, of Florida’s 16 games played to date, only four have been against teams currently in a playoff position: Carolina (OT win), Seattle (W), Ottawa (L), and Minnesota (L).

Their losses to an improved Ottawa team and a struggling Pittsburgh team on the last road trip were lopsided affairs.

Atlantic Division leader Boston will be the toughest opponent in the upcoming three-game journey, but Washington and Columbus cannot be ignored. 

Washington and Boston are on successive afternoons which is a break of sorts because it allows them to arrive in Boston at a reasonable hour and get a full night’s rest.

“It’s prime time in Finland so everybody – friends and family – can watch it a little bit easier,’’ he said before Friday’s flight. “I really like those games.”

The upcoming schedule is so tight that it leaves little time between games for rest or practice.

That is a whopping thirteen days between practices.

Lineup adjustments will have to be rehearsed at the morning pregame skates.

For today, Maurice will probably not make any lineup changes after the Chicago win.

“Not planned as of now,’’ he said. “I’ve got a couple of game-timers. We’ll see.”

Washington is in the top half of the NHL in offensive production while Columbus is near the bottom.

Of the top dozen offensive teams in the NHL, Florida has only played one to date: Carolina.

Florida, with a relatively weak schedule to now, is mid-pack, averaging 3.25 goals for per game.

A point earned early in the season is just as valuable as a point earned later. The Panthers will have to stockpile as many points as they can now because while travel might ease up the opposition will be tougher as the season progresses.