Tuesday: at Tampa Bay Lightning, 7 p.m. ET
The Panthers will pen the next chapter in the Battle for Florida when they visit the cross-state rival Lightning (37-18-4) at Amalie Arena on Tuesday. Tampa Bay enters this week looking to rebound from a 7-3 loss at Pittsburgh on Sunday. Overall, the Lightning has lost four of its last six games. Despite the Lightning taking two of three games from the Panthers this season, Florida cruised to a 7-1 win in their last meeting on Feb. 6. Nikita Kucherov leads Tampa Bay in scoring with 85 points (23 goals, 62 assists), while Brayden Point is second with 69 points, including a team-high 36 goals. Also over the 60-point mark, Steven Stamkos is third on the team with 61 points (26 goals, 35 assists). Holding things down between Tampa Bay's pipes, Andrei Vasilevskiy has posted a 28-14-2 record with a .919 save percentage and two shutouts. For the Panthers, look for Carter Verhaeghe to light the lamp in this contest. Leading the team with a career-high 31 goals, Verhaeghe is also tied for first in the NHL with 12 goals since Jan. 16.
TV & Streaming: Bally Sports Florida, Bally Sports+, ESPN+
Radio: 560 WQAM (Dade/Broward); 92.1 WZZR (Palm Beach); 100.3 WCTH (Florida Keys); SiriusXM App & Streaming Channel 932; NHL App
Thursday: vs. Nashville Predators, 7 p.m. ET
The Panthers will have revenge on their mind when they return home to host the Predators (29-22-6) at FLA Live Arena on Thursday. Nashville enters this week with wins in four of its live five games, including a 7-3 win over the Panthers at Bridgestone Arena on Feb. 18. During that five-game stretch, the Predators have averaged 5.20 goals per game. Roman Josi leads Nashville in scoring with 54 points (17 goals, 37 assists), while Matt Duchene is second with 49 points (18 goals, 31 assists). Since Feb. 1, Tommy Novak ranks tied for second on the team with 11 points (five goals, six assists) in just seven games. Shouldering the bulk of the workload in net for the Predators, Juuse Saros has gone 23-16-5 with a .916 save percentage and one shutout. For the Panthers, expect Matthew Tkachuk to crack the scoresheet in this tilt. Leading the team with 26 multi-point games in 2022-23, Tkachuk sits sixth in the NHL in both points (78) and assists (50).
TV & Streaming: Bally Sports Florida, Bally Sports+, ESPN+
Radio:560 WQAM (Dade/Broward); 1230 WBZT (Palm Beach); 100.3 WCTH (Florida Keys); SiriusXM Channel 220 / App & Streaming Channel 932; NHL App
Tickets:
Here
Saturday: vs. Pittsburgh Penguins, 7 p.m. ET
The Panthers will close out their week with a must-win matchup against the Penguins (29-21-9) at FLA Live Arena on Saturday. Entering this week owning a three-point lead over Florida in the standings, Pittsburgh has won each of its last two games, including a 7-3 win over the Lightning on Sunday. Showing no signs of aging, Sidney Crosby leads the Penguins in goals (26), assists (45) and points (71). After him, Evgeni Malkin is second in scoring with 62 points (23 goals, 39 assists). Getting back into the net recently after dealing with an injury, Tristan Jarry owns a 17-7-5 record with a .917 save percentage and one shutout this season. Pittsburgh has come out on top in each of its two previous meetings with the Panthers this season, including a 7-6 overtime win at PPG Paints Arena in the last head-to-head matchup on Jan. 24. This time around, look for Brandon Montour to make a dent on the scoresheet from the blue line for the Panthers. In the midst of a breakout season, Montour ranks eighth among NHL defensemen in scoring with a career-high 48 points (10 goals, 38 assists).
TV & Streaming:Bally Sports Florida, Bally Sports+, ESPN+
Radio:96.5 WPOW-FM HD-2 (Dade/Broward); 1230 WBZT (Palm Beach); 100.3 WCTH (Florida Keys); SiriusXM Channel 219 / App & Streaming Channel 932; NHL App
Tickets:
Here
