Cats Forecast: Defending home ice, Stache Dash 5K and more!

The Florida Panthers are finally home.
After playing six of their last seven games on the road, the Cats will kick off a five-game homestand with a tilt against the Carolina Hurricanes at FLA Live Arena on Wednesday.
Following that contest, they'll then host the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday, the Washington Capitals on Nov. 15, the Dallas Stars on Nov. 17 and the Calgary Flames on Nov. 19.
"It's always good to be home," Sam Reinhart said. "We love playing there."

Ending their four-game road trip on a high note, Reinhart scored a pair of goals to help lead the Panthers to a 5-3 win over the Anaheim Ducks at Honda Center on Sunday. Sitting at 7-5-1, the Panthers have gone 3-0-1 and earned a point in all four of their games at home this campaign.
Sidelined by injuries, Patric Hornqvist (upper body) and Aaron Ekblad (lower body) are both expected to return to the lineup sooner rather than later, while Matthew Tkachuk has one game remaining on his two-game suspension for a high-stick during Saturday's loss in Los Angeles.
Tkachuk leads the Panthers in scoring with 17 points, but it's Carter Verhaeghe and Brandon Montour that are carrying the hottest sticks at the moment. Verhaeghe has scored six goals in his last five games, while Montour has nine points (three goals, six assists) in his last seven.
Entering this week, Montour's 12 points are fifth among NHL defensemen.
"With Aaron going down, Monty's stepped up defensively, too," Panthers coach Paul Maurice said. "He and Forsling play against the other team's best. I think he's building a patience into his game to find the right time to jump in and the right time to get active. He'll find his points increase doing it that way."
To see what's going on this week and beyond for the Panthers, continue reading below.

THE GAMES

Wednesday: Carolina Hurricanes, 7 p.m. ET
The Panthers will play their first game on home ice since Oct. 29 when they kick off their five-game homestand with a matchup against the Carolina Hurricanes (8-3-1) at FLA Live Arena on Wednesday. Closing out last week, the Hurricanes saw their four-game winning streak snapped with a 3-1 loss to the Maple Leafs on Sunday. Martin Necas leads Carolina in assists (10) and points (17). Sebastian Aho is second in points (15) and Andrei Svechnikov is third in points (14) and first in goals (8). Earning the bulk of the starts in net, Frederik Andersen has gone 5-3-0 with a .891 save percentage. Last season, the Panthers won all three of their matchups against the Hurricanes by a combined score of 12-7. This time around, look for Carter Verhaeghe to stay hot and possibly push his goal-scoring streak to a career-high four games. Leading the Panthers with eight goals, he has two goals and six assists in 12 meetings with Carolina.
TV & Streaming: Bally Sports Florida, Bally Sports+, ESPN+
Radio:560 WQAM (Dade/Broward); 1230 WBZT (Palm Beach); 100.3 WCTH (Florida Keys); SiriusXM NHL Network Radio Ch. 91 / App & Streaming Ch. 932; NHL App
Saturday: Edmonton Oilers, 4 p.m. ET
The Panthers will get their first look at two-time Hart Trophy winner Connor McDavid this season when the Edmonton Oilers (7-5-0) roll into FLA Live Arena on Saturday. After winning five straight games, the Oilers have dropped each of their last two, including a 6-2 loss to the Stars on Saturday. Eying his fifth Art Ross Trophy, McDavid leads the NHL in scoring with 25 points (12 goals, 13 assists) and enters this week riding a six-game point streak in which he's logged seven goals and eight assists. Behind McDavid, Leon Draisaitl is second both on the team and in the NHL in scoring with 23 points (seven goals, 16 assists). In net, Jack Campbell has started eight of 13 games and posted a 5-3-0 record with a .874 save percentage. For the Panthers, look for Aleksander Barkov to go off in this battle between superstars. Third on the Cats in scoring with 10 points (two goals, eight assists), the former Selke Trophy winner has recorded 12 points (five goals, seven assists) in 14 career head-to-head battles with McDavid.
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 NHL Network Radio Ch. 91 / App & Streaming Ch. 932; NHL App

VALUE PACK

The Value Pack is back!
On sale now for the 2022-23 season, the Value Pack includes four Panthers tickets as well as a hot dog, popcorn and soda with each ticket.
This family-friendly ticket offer is valid for all Panthers home games at FLA Live Arena -- subject to availability -- and is available for purchase online only through FEVO starting at $159 per package in the upper level and $259 per package in the lower bowl.
To purchase a Value Pack, click
HERE
.

TIME TO DASH

Presented by Baptist Health Cancer Care, the Panthers will host their third-annual 'Stache Dash 5K' on Saturday to help raise awareness and funds for men's cancer research and prevention.
Participants can register to walk or run in the 5K and One-Mile Fun Run/Walk at FLA Live Arena or support from a distance by committing to a virtual run. The 5K race will begin promptly at 7:30 a.m. with the One-Mile Fun Run/Walk starting shortly after at 8:15 a.m. Parking lots will open at 5:30 a.m. with check-in beginning at 6 a.m.
To sign up, check pricing or to view more information, click
HERE
.
Following the 5K, the Panthers will host their annual Hockey Fights Cancer Night during their matchup against the Edmonton Oilers at 4 p.m. ET.
For tickets, click
HERE
.

LUUU!

It's been too long since we've had a good "Luuu!" chant at FLA Live Arena.
Set to be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in just a few weeks, the Panthers will celebrate Roberto Luongo's illustrious career during their matchup against the Dallas Stars on Nov. 17.
Additionally, the first 10,000 fans through the doors will receive a commemorative mini goalie stick.
To purchase tickets, click
HERE
.

PROSPECT SPOTLIGHT

It's time to check in on Mike Benning.
Still riding high after being named the "Most Outstanding Player" in the Frozen Four during Denver's run to the 2022 NCAA Championship, the 20-year-old ranks tied for first in scoring among Pioneers blueliners with six points (two goals, four assists) in nine games this season.
Entering this week on a three-game point streak, he's produced four points in that stretch, including showing of his offensive skills with a highlight-reel goal against St. Cloud State on Friday.

Originally selected by the Panthers in the fourth round (95th overall) of the 2020 NHL Draft, Benning, the son of former Cats defenseman Brian Benning (1993-95), has accumulated 55 points (20 goals, 35 assists) in 71 games over parts of three seasons at Denver.
"For me individually, I just need to get stronger," Benning, who measures up at 5-foot-9 and 176 pounds, said during development camp in South Florida this summer. "I'm a smaller guy, so strength doesn't hurt. Get faster and just have that mindset of trying to get to the next level."

CATS CLIP OF THE WEEK

Colin White on the mic!

CATS IN THE COMMUNITY

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
- The Kids Club is back! 
- 5 TAKEAWAYS: Panthers 5, Ducks 3
- Panthers Announce 2022 Hockey Fights Cancer Night 
- Panthers 2022-23 adidas Reverse Retro Jersey Unveiled
- Panthers to Kick Off 10th Anniversary Season of 'Heroes Among Us'