Cats Forecast: Big points up for grabs before All-Star break

The Florida Panthers are trying to close the gap.
Owning a 7-2-1 record over their last 10 games, the Panthers enter this week sitting just three points out of the second wild card spot in the Eastern Conference with a record of 23-20-5.
Hoping to gain some more ground in the standings before the All-Star break, the Panthers will kick off this week with a crucial back-to-back on the road. After visiting the New York Rangers in the Big Apple on Monday, they'll battle the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Steel City on Tuesday.
"We think there's an opportunity for us to get back into the game here," Panthers head coach Paul Maurice said when asked about the importance of this current stretch. "These next two games are obviously important. When I looked at this schedule, I looked at this last part of January as by far the toughest stretch we'll have all year, and we've handled it well."

Heading back to FLA Live Arena to close out the week, the Panthers will host the Los Angeles Kings on Friday and the Boston Bruins on Saturday. After that, they'll enjoy a well-deserved rest before continuing their push with a matchup against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Feb. 6.
To see what's going on this week and beyond for the Panthers, continue reading below.

THE GAMES

Monday: at New York Rangers, 7 p.m. ET
The Panthers will open up their back-to-back on the road with a matchup against the Rangers (25-14-7) at Madison Square Garden on Monday. Sitting third in the Metropolitan Division, New York has won three of its last five games, but enters this week looking to rebound from a 3-1 loss to Boston on Thursday. Artemi Panarin leads the Rangers in scoring with 47 points (12 goals, 35 assists), while Mika Zibanejad sits second with 46 points, including a team-high 20 goals. The backbone of New York's fifth-ranked defense, which is allowing just 2.63 goals per game, Igor Shesterkin, the NHL's reigning Vezina Trophy winner, has posted a 20-8-6 record with .917 save percentage. In their lone previous meeting this season, the Rangers beat the Panthers 5-3 at FLA Live Arena on Jan. 1. This time around, look for Sam Reinhart to make his way onto the scoresheet. Earning at least one point in each of his last seven games, he's tallied 10 points (three goals, seven assists) while averaging 19:51 of ice time during that hot streak.
TV & Streaming:Bally Sports Florida, Bally Sports+, ESPN+
Radio: 560 WQAM (Dade/Broward); 1230 WBZT (Palm Beach); 100.3 WCTH (Florida Keys); SiriusXM App & Streaming Channel 932; NHL App
Tuesday: at Pittsburgh Penguins, 7 p.m. ET
In what will likely be their most-important game to date, the Panthers will close out their back-to-back with a battle against the Penguins (23-15-8) at PPG Paints Arena on Tuesday. Entering this week holding on to a slim three-point lead over the Panthers for the second wild card spot in the Eastern Conference, Pittsburgh has lost 10 of its last 14 games, including a 2-1 overtime loss at New Jersey on Sunday. During that 14-game stretch, the Penguins have been outscored 47-37. Showing no signs of slowing down at 35 years old, Sidney Crosby leads Pittsburgh in goals (22), assists (32) and points (54). Not too far behind, Evgeni Malkin has logged 44 points (16 goals, 28 assists), while Jake Guentzel has notched 43 points (20 goals, 23 assists). Handling most of the work in net, Tristan Jarry has gone 16-5-5 with a .921 save percentage. For the Panthers, it's a safe bet that the captain will come up big in this contest. Flying into this week on a seven-game point streak, Aleksander Barkov has registered 10 points (three goals, seven assists) in that stretch. In 24 career games against Pittsburgh, he's posted five goals and 15 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 App & Streaming Channel 932; NHL App
Friday: Los Angeles Kings, 7 p.m. ET
In the penultimate game before the All-Star break, the Panthers will return home to host the Kings (26-17-6) at FLA Live Arena on Friday. Snapping out of a three-game skid, Los Angeles enters this week looking to build off a 2-1 win at Chicago on Sunday. Kevin Fiala leads the Kings in assists (33) and points (49), while Adrian Kempe has scored the most goals (19). Second in scoring, Anze Kopitar, a two-time winner of the Selke Trophy, has posted 37 points (12 goals, 25 assists). Starting seven of the last nine games for Los Angeles, Pheonix Copley owns a 13-3-0 record this season despite posting a .896 save percentage. In their previous meeting this season, the Kings secured a 5-4 win over the Panthers on Nov. 5 at Crypto.com Arena. With a chance to split the season series, keep an eye on Anton Lundell in this tilt. Finding a lot of success since moving up and over to left side of the top line, he's lit the lamp in three of his last four games.
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 App & Streaming Channel 932; NHL App
Tickets:
Here
Saturday: Boston Bruins, 6 p.m. ET
In their final game before getting a well-deserve rest for the All-Star break, the Panthers will host the Bruins (37-5-4) at FLA Live Arena on Saturday. The toast of the Eastern Conference, Boston has won nine of its last 10 games and enters this week looking to build off a five-game winning streak after shutting out the Sharks 4-0 on Sunday. During that impressive 10-game stretch, the Bruins have allowed more than two goals in just two games while also posting three shutouts. Strong at both ends of the ice, Boston ranks first in the NHL on defense (2.02 goals allowed per game) and offense (3.80 goals scored per game). David Pastrnak leads the Bruins in scoring with 65 points, including a team-high 36 goals. Brad Marchand is second in scoring with 44 points (15 goals, 29 assists), while Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci have 37 points apiece. A 2023 NHL All-Star, Linus Ullmark owns a 25-2-1 record with a .938 save percentage between the pipes. For the Panthers, let's go with Sam Bennett as a potential gamebreaker in this tilt. Always bringing his A-game in Sunrise, he's scored 29 goals over 62 career home games with Florida.
TV & Streaming:Bally Sports Florida, Bally Sports+, NHL Network
Radio: TBD
Tickets:
Here

MARGARITAVILLE NIGHT

Calling all Parrotheads!
On Friday, Jan. 27, the Panthers will host "Margaritaville Night "against the Kings.
Right now, fans can purchase a special ticket package that includes a limited-edition Margaritaville bucket hat while supplies last. Throughout the game, fans can also enjoy Margaritaville beach tunes live in the Coors Light Cold Zone by Jimmy Stowe & the Stowaways.
To purchase tickets, click
HERE
.

WELL GROOMED CATS

The field is down to just four in HairClub's "Well Groomed Cats" bracket challenge.
Click
here
to cast your vote for the chance to win an autographed Panthers jersey.

FLYAWAY TRIP CONTEST

Want to catch the Cats on the road?
Presented by our friends at Yuengling Flight, fans that are 21 years or older can enter to win two tickets to watch the Panthers take on the Predators at Bridgestone Arena on Feb. 18.
The prize also includes two round-trip plane tickets and a two-night stay at a local hotel.
To enter, click
HERE
.

PROSPECT SPOTLIGHT

Josh Davies closed out last week with a bang.
Flying down the ice on a 2-on-1 rush in overtime, Davies, who assisted on the game-tying goal late in the third period, kept the puck himself and wired a laser from the right circle into the back of the net to lift the Swift Current Broncos to a 4-3 win over the Medicine Hat Tigers on Sunday.

In the midst of his fourth season in the WHL, Davies, a sixth-round pick (186th overall) by the Panthers in the 2022 NHL Draft, ranks tied for third on the Broncos with 13 goals in 2022-23.
Heating up, the 18-year-old has tallied three goals and two assists in his last three games.

CATS CLIP OF THE WEEK

Check out Ryan Lomberg's recent interview on NHL Tonight.

CATS IN THE COMMUNITY

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