Cats & Coffee: Homestand Rolls On; Star Wars Night

Good morning and welcome to "Cats & Coffee," a weekly segment, presented by Koffee Kult, in which we serve up an exciting look at what's on deck for your Florida Panthers. Like our friends at Koffee Kult, this forecast serves up only the best -- so sit back, sip and enjoy our latest brew of news, notes and information!
The Florida Panthers enter the week looking to snap out of a three-game losing streak after kicking off their season-long, eight-game homestand with a 5-4 overtime loss to the Chicago Blackhawks at BB&T Center on Saturday night.

The Panthers (8-9-4) have lost five of six games after winning five straight earlier in the month, but remain only seven points out of wild card spot with three games in hand and 61 left to play this season. So, although they are going through a rough patch, there's time to turn things around.
"Tonight, we sort of beat ourselves," Panthers coach Bob Boughner said after Saturday's loss. "It hurts. It's something we're going to have to deal with as a team. We're going to have to look at it, we're going to have to learn from it and we're going to have to get better."
With four games on the docket this week, the Panthers will look to right the ship at home against New Jersey, Anaheim, Tampa Bay and Buffalo. Of those teams, two are holding a playoff spot.
Here's everything you need to know for the week ahead…

THE GAMES

Monday: New Jersey Devils, 7:00 p.m.
Like the Panthers, the Devils (9-10-3) have struggled as of late. New Jersey has lost four of its last five games, including a 5-2 defeat in Tampa on Sunday. Given that Cory Schnieder got the nod against the Lightning, Florida will likely get its second crack at goaltender Keith Kinkaid this season. In their only previous matchup this season, Kinkaid stopped 35 of 37 shots to lead the Devils to a 3-2 win over the Panthers on Oct. 27. That said, look for Mike Hoffman to help his team get this better of New Jersey's goaltender this time around, as the Panthers winger has four goals in his last five games and leads the team in goals (11) and points (22) this season.
TV: FSF
Radio:560 WQAM (Dade/Broward); 640 WMEN (Palm Beach); 100.3 WCTH (Florida Keys); 1370 WAXE (Treasure Coast)
In-Arena Events: 50/50 Raffle, Foundation Mystery Ornaments
Tickets:
HERE
Wednesday: Anaheim Ducks, 7:00 p.m.
The Ducks (10-10-5) will make their lone flight to South Florida this season when they visit BB&T Center on Wednesday. Anaheim has won two of its last three games after enduring a three-game losing streak. With no player posting more than 17 points, the Ducks offense has struggled mightily and currently ranks dead-last in the league with 2.16 goals per game. With that in might, look for a big night from Florida's defense, especially the team's bottom-pairing of MacKenzie Weegar and Bogdan Kiselevich. So far, the physical duo has combined for 54 hits and 36 blocked shots this season, while also chipping in six assists.
TV: FSF
Radio: 560 WQAM (Dade/Broward); 640 WMEN (Palm Beach); 100.3 WCTH (Florida Keys); 1370 WAXE (Treasure Coast)
In-Arena Events: Student Rush, 50/50 Raffle
Tickets:
HERE
Friday: Buffalo Sabres, 7:00 p.m.
An early-season surprise, the red-hot Sabres (16-6-2) will visit the Panthers for the first time this season on Friday. Buffalo enters the week in the midst of a nine-game winning streak, with six of those victories coming in either overtime or the shootout. At first glance, this matchup appears as if it will come down to the special teams battle, as it pits Florida's eye-popping power play against the Sabres' fifth-ranked penalty kill (82.6 percent). Since Nov. 1, the Panthers own the second-best power play in the league, going 15-for-42 (35.7 percent) during that span.
TV:FSF
Radio: 560 WQAM (Dade/Broward); 640 WMEN (Palm Beach); 100.3 WCTH (Florida Keys); 1370 WAXE (Treasure Coast)
In-Arena Events: Hockey Fights Cancer, Flashback Friday, Fanny Pack Giveaway (first 10,000), 50/50 Raffle
Tickets:
HERE
Saturday: Tampa Bay Lightning, 7:00 p.m.
The Panthers will get already their third look at their cross-state rival this season when the Lightning (17-6-1) visit BB&T Center on Saturday. Tampa has won five of its last six games - including a 7-3 win over Florida on Nov. 21 - and enters the week sitting in first place in the Atlantic Division. The Lightning currently boast two of the top-five scorers in the league, as Nikita Kucherov (32 points) and Brayden Point (31 points) are both off to hot starts. For the Panthers, look for Aleksander Barkov to attempt to shutdown that dynamic duo, as the Selke Trophy candidate leads the league in both takeaways (40) and average ice time among forwards (22:39).
TV:FSF
Radio: 560 WQAM (Dade/Broward); 640 WMEN (Palm Beach); 100.3 WCTH (Florida Keys); 1370 WAXE (Treasure Coast)
In-Arena Events:Star Wars Night, 50/50 Raffle (Guaranteed $25,000 pot!), Star Wars T-Shirt Giveaway
Tickets:
HERE

MILESTONE WATCH

• Jonathan Huberdeau is one goal away from his 100th NHL goal.
  - Mark Pysyk is one game away from his 300th NHL game.
  - Keith Yandle is three assists away from his 400th NHL assist.

Holiday Pack

Give the gift of Panthers hockey this holiday season.
On sale now, the Labatt Blue Holiday Pack is a perfectly customizable gift for that special hockey fan or fans your life. This limited-time offer features two tickets to three games, parking for each game, one hotdog and one Labatt Blue beer per ticket.
Of course, an alternate beverage will be provided for fans under 21.
With this online-only offer, you can choose from any home games from January through April, excluding Florida's matchup with the Toronto Maple Leafs on Jan. 18. Ticket packages start at $147 for upper goal zone, $225 for club ends and $279 for lower goal zone.
If you want to add some slap shots to your holiday shopping, tickets can be purchased HERE.

Hockey Fights Cancer

Who do you fight for?
In an effort to raise awareness for a disease that truly touches us all, the Panthers will host their annual Hockey Fights Cancer Night alongside the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center on Friday when the Buffalo Sabres visit BB&T Center on Nov. 30.
With 100 percent of the proceeds going to the Florida Panthers Foundation to positively impact the South Florida community, specialty jerseys, pucks and pins will be available for sale throughout the game. Jerseys can also be bid on from Nov. 23-Dec. 1 at
NHLAuctions.com
.

Additionally, the first 10,000 fans through the doors will receive a lavender fanny pack.

Star Wars Night

As Anakin Skywalker once said, sand is "coarse and rough and irritating and it gets everywhere."
With that in mind, skip this beach this weekend and spend your Saturday night at BB&T Center, where the Panthers will take on the Tampa Bay Lightning during the organization's fourth-annual Star Wars night.
In addition to having Jedi, Sith Lords and Stormtroopers parading around the plaza level for fun photo opportunities, the first 10,000 fans through the doors will receive an exclusive Star Wars Night T-shirt - no special ticket package purchase necessary!

Tickets for Star Wars Night can be purchased HERE… no Republic Credits, please!

CATS CLIP OF THE WEEK

In the spirit of giving, the Panthers recently teamed up with Harvest Drive Inc. to provide essentials for local families in need.

CATS IN THE COMMUNITY

Tweet from @StanleyCPanther: Brought tears to some fellow South Floridians eyes today at the #HarvestDrive. Getting families in need a Thanksgiving meal with @FlaPanthersCARE. 🦃🍗🍁 #OneTerritory pic.twitter.com/fnmyRYhSb3

COLD COFFEE (IN CASE YOU MISSED IT)

-- Don't miss this season's "Cyber Monday" deal!

--
With the help of the Panthers, you can ice skate outdoors this holiday season
.
--

--
Jonathan Huberdeau has joined forces with IT'SUGAR to create "Huby Snacks."
--
Vincent Trocheck is out of the lineup indefinitely after undergoing surgery to repair his fracture ankle.
--
Prospects Aleksi Heponiemi and Grigori Denisenko are impressing on the international stage.
-- With Trocheck sidelined, who could step up for the Panthers? Listen to last week's Territory Talk to find out!