Cats & Coffee: Hot Homestand Continues; Suite Sweepstakes

Good morning and welcome to "Cats & Coffee," a weekly segment presented by Community Coffee in which we get you caffeinated with an exciting look at the week ahead for the Florida Panthers.
The Florida Panthers kicked off their season-long six-game homestand last week by slaying a pair of giants in back-to-back wins against the Washington Capitals and Pittsburgh Penguins.

Evgenii Dadonov recorded the first hat trick of his NHL career on Saturday, lifting the Panthers to a 6-5 win over a Penguins team that had won six straight games and suffered only four regulation losses since Jan. 1.
"We don't like doing it that way where we give up a lead, but we stick with it," Panthers winger Jamie McGinn said after the win. "It just shows how tight this group is in here. We never say never. It was huge to get that win. It's a huge two points and it keeps us in the hunt. It feels good right now."
The road ahead doesn't get any easier for the Panthers, as they will wrap up their homestand with four games at BB&T Center this week, including three against teams currently sitting in playoff spots.
But with just a few more wins, the Panthers (28-25-6) could be on the cusp of the postseason by week's end, as they have won nine of their last 12 games and sit just five points behind the Columbus Blue Jackets for the second wild card spot in the Eastern Conference with three games in hand.
Here's everything you need to know for the week ahead…

THE GAMES

Tuesday: Toronto Maple Leafs, 7:30 p.m.
A week after a 1-0 loss in Toronto, the Panthers will host the Maple Leafs at (39-20-5) at BB&T Center on Tuesday. The Leafs have been nearly unbeatable as of late, winning four games in a row and 13 of their last 15 overall, including a 4-3 victory in Boston on Saturday. In that game against the Bruins, however, center Auston Matthews suffered a shoulder injury and could potentially miss Tuesday night's matchup in Sunrise. Matthews, 20, leads Toronto with 28 goals, while also ranking second in points (50). For the Panthers, look for Roberto Luongo to have a big night in net. The 38-year-old goaltender is 3-1-0 with a 2.76 goals-against average and a .919 save percentage in four starts since returning from a groin injury that sidelined him for more than two months.
Panthers vs. Maple Leafs: 1-1-0
TV: FSF
Radio: 560 WQAM (DADE/BROWARD); 640 WMEN (PALM BEACH); 100.3 WCTH (FLORIDA KEYS); 1370 WAXE (TREASURE COAST)
Thursday: New Jersey Devils, 7:30 p.m.
The Panthers will host the Devils (32-22-8) in the first half of a back-to-back set at BB&T Center on Thursday. New Jersey has won five of its last seven games, including a 2-1 win against the New York Islanders on Saturday. Devils winger Kyle Palmieri has found the back of the net eight times over his last 14 games and is coming off a two-goal performance against the Islanders. As for the Panthers, look for Vincent Trocheck to match Palmieri's performance in the goal-scoring department. The 24-year-old center has been on fire as of late, recording 18 points (9-9-17) over his last 18 games. He has also scored five goals in his last six games and leads Florida in both goals (24) and power play goals (11).
Panthers vs. Devils: 1-1-0
TV: FSF
Radio: 560 WQAM (DADE/BROWARD); 640 WMEN (PALM BEACH); 100.3 WCTH (FLORIDA KEYS); 1370 WAXE (TREASURE COAST)
Friday: Buffalo Sabres, 7:30 p.m.
The Panthers will snap a streak of six consecutive games against playoff teams when they close out their back-to-back against the last-place Sabres (19-33-11) at BB&T Center on Friday. Buffalo has lost four of its last six games but enters the week on the heels of a surprising 4-1 win against Boston on Sunday. The Sabres are led by forward Jack Eichel, who paces the team in goals (22), assists (31) and points (53). Florida has already beaten Buffalo twice this season while outscoring the Sabres 8-3 in those contests. In their second-to-last meeting of the season, look for defenseman Keith Yandle to generate quite a bit of offense for the Panthers from the blue line. Yandle, 31, has tallied 13 points (2-11-13) over his last 12 contests and has 38 points (6-32-38) in 59 games this season.
Panthers vs. Sabres: 2-0-0
TV: FSF
Radio: 560 WQAM (DADE/BROWARD); 640 WMEN (PALM BEACH); 100.3 WCTH (FLORIDA KEYS); 1370 WAXE (TREASURE COAST)
Sunday: Philadelphia Flyers, 3 p.m.
Florida will close out its week with an afternoon matchup against the Flyers (33-19-10) at BB&T Center on Sunday. Philadelphia has won nine out of is last 10 games, scoring four-or-more goals in six of those contests. The Flyers boast the league's 11th-ranked offense (3.02 goals per game) and ninth-ranked power play (21.3 percent), led by center Claude Giroux, who has tallied a team-high 74 points (22-52-74) in 62 games this season. On the other side of the ice, look for the Panthers to do some damage with the man advantage, where they have scored at least one goal in seven of their last 10 games. Since Feb. 1, Florida's power play is operating at the third-best rate in the NHL, going 13-for-41 (31.7 percent).
Panthers vs. Flyers: 1-1-0
TV: FSF
Radio: 560 WQAM (DADE/BROWARD); 640 WMEN (PALM BEACH); 100.3 WCTH (FLORIDA KEYS); 1370 WAXE (TREASURE COAST)

MILESTONE WATCH

• Aleksander Barkov is seven goals away from his 100th NHL goal.
  - Vincent Trocheck is eight points away from his 200th NHL point.

SUITE SWEEPSTAKES

This is your last chance to win some "suite" prizes!
You can win 16 suite tickets to watch the Panthers battle the Nashville Predators at BB&T Center on Tuesday, April 3 by entering the Community Coffee "Score a Suite Sweepstakes" from now until Feb. 28.
Learn about other prizes and enter to win HERE.

JOIN THE TERRITORY

There's never been a better time to become a Season Ticket Holder.
Join the Panthers as they celebrate their 25th anniversary during the 2018-19 season and enjoy all the benefits that come with being a Season Ticket Holder, such as merchandise discounts, exclusive savings on concessions and priority access to concerts and events.
"We're here because of your commitment," said Florida Panthers President & CEO Matthew Caldwell to season ticket holders. "Your support and passion for hockey in South Florida means the world to us and we are honored to have you as a part of our family. We look forward to having you as a part of this historic 25th anniversary season, while making exciting new memories."
If you are a current Season Ticket Holder, make sure to check out the team's exclusive renewal incentives, including Cats CA$H at early deadlines and the 30 Days of Giveaways. For a full list of prizes and renewal options, please visit Renewal Central HERE.

STANLEY'S BIG DAY

It's time celebrate everybody's favorite feline. With Stanley C. Panther's birthday right around the corner, the Panthers are having free t-shirt Friday to the first 10,000 fans that come through the doors before their matchup against the Sabres on Friday, March 2.
Happy birthday, Stanley!

CATS IN THE COMMUNITY

COLD COFFEE (IN CASE YOU MISSED IT)

• Look back at all the goals from Saturday's 6-5 win against the Penguins
  in this "5 Takeaways" article
  .
  - Alexander Petrovic talks about being #MSDStrong in the
  latest edition of Petro's Bog
  .
  - In their first game back since the MSD shooting,
  Roberto Luongo gave an emotional speech before leading the Panthers to victory over the Capitals. You can watch and read his moving words here
  .
  - The Panthers acquired forward
  Frank Vatrano from the Bruins
  .
  - All-Star
  Alex Grenier is having quite the season in the AHL
  .