The task at hand is tough. The Panthers sit fourth in the Eastern Conference with a 21-7-4 record and 46 points, trailing the conference-leading Washington Capitals by just two points. In terms of points percentage, they're second only to the Carolina Hurricanes in the league standings with a .719%. They lead all Eastern teams in goals scored this season, netting 122 through 32 games, and have the fourth-best goal differential in the conference at +27.
They've been exceptional on home ice, leading the NHL with a 17-3-0 record and 87 goals scored at FLA Live Arena.
"They play their 21st game at home (tonight). They've played 12 on the road and 21 at home. There are a lot of discrepancies in the league this year because of what's gone on, in terms of the schedule. That's half their schedule at home," Sutter said. "They've played 11 more home games us, or 10 after (tonight). They're a .500 team on the road and they're good at home.
"You come to Florida now and play these two teams and you're playing the Stanley Cup Champions and a team that's got a rivalry with the Stanley Cup Champions. They're trying to keep pace with them."
On the flip side, the Flames are the best road team in the NHL, going 13-4-2, posting 28 points in opposition rinks, and leading all teams with 67 goals scored away from home.
"I think this is a good test for us," Johnny Gaudreau said after Monday's skate in Sunrise. "We've obviously had a lot of success on the road so hopefully we can bring that with us in these next three games, get off to an early lead, and play well."
Given the Panthers success through the first half of the regular season, tonight's contest offers up a measuring stick of sorts, a chance to evaulate where this Flames team stands.
"We're all excited to play. It's exciting that they have a good team here," Mikael Backlund noted. "It will be a fun challenge. The whole rest of this trip are the top three teams in the East probably, so it's going to be a good challenge for us as a group and for me, too. These are the games you get up for the most and we don't come here as often as well, so a big two points every night for us and hopefully we can keep this road trip going on a winning note.
"We know we have to keep improving and get better. These last two haven't been our most complete games and we know we have to get better and keep improving the rest of this trip."
The Panthers will be without a handful of key assets this evening: former Flame Sam Bennett is serving a three-game suspension, while forwards Mason Marchment and Sam Reinhart entered the NHL's COVID-19 Protocol yesterday. The trio have combined for 53 points this season.
The Panthers will still ice a dangerous offensive group, with Jonathan Huberdeau (41 points), Carter Verhaeghe (24 points), Anthony Duclair (22 points), and Aleksander Barkov (21 points) leading the way.
On the blueline, they've received plenty of offensive contributions from Aaron Ekblad (25 points), MacKenzie Weegar (19 points), and Gustav Forsling (15 points).
"It's fun. They have a lot of firepower up front and they have good mobility on the defence as well," Oliver Kylington said. "They have a good team, but we have to focus on ourselves and focus on what we have to do to beat them. We're a good team as well, so we're looking forward to tonight."
