Blake Wheeler trashed the Panthers' ice surface after loss to Florida

BarDown Staff

AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee

The Winnipeg Jets' Eastern Conference road trip hasn't gone according to plan thus far.

On Tuesday, the Jets got crushed by the Red Wings 5-1 and Thursday night, they lost 6-4 to the Florida Panthers and in the Sunshine State.

#NHLJets nearly tie it in the dying seconds but #Panthers come out with 6-4 victory in Florida. Trocheck 2G, MacKenzie 2A. #NHL https://t.co/rq9Zp215vT pic.twitter.com/fzyZ1awkPO
— SportsCentre (@SportsCentre) December 8, 2017

After the loss, Jets captain Blake Wheeler sounded off on the ice surface at the BB&T Center and suggested a different version of hockey that would be better to play than having to play hockey on that ice:

@NHLJets Blake Wheeler on ice conditions tonight @FlaPanthers "We'd be better off going out to the parking lot and playing roller hockey." #NHL
— Brian Blessing (@BrianBlessing) December 8, 2017

As much as we'd love to see hockey players trade in their skates for roller blades and battle it out on the concrete, it's much more enjoyable to watch them battle on the ice.

The poor ice conditions can be attributed to the hot climate in Florida, so it's not like this problem can be fixed, but Wheeler and the Jets can head home after facing Tampa Bay Saturday knowing they don't have to go back to the Sunshine State this season, unless they face Tampa or Florida in the Stanley Cup Final.

(H/T: Brian Blessing)