Forecast-16x9-12-27-21

The Panthers are getting back to work.
After having four games postponed due a spike in COVID-19 cases around the NHL, the Cats will return from the league's mandated pause with three games at FLA Live Arena this week.
Sitting in third place in the Atlantic Division with a record of 18-7-4, the Panthers will kick off a back-to-back set with a matchup against the Rangers on Wednesday. After that, they'll host the Lightning on Thursday and then continue their homestand against the Canadiens on Saturday.

Given that it's New Year's Day, that meeting with Montreal will start at 1 p.m. ET.
As of Monday, Jonathan Huberdeau, Eetu Luostarinen, Owen Tippett and MacKenzie Weegar remain in COVID-19 protocols for the Panthers, while Aleksander Barkov, Mason Marchment and Maxim Mamin are all on track to return from various injuries sustained prior to the pause.
Poised to continue their hot start, the Panthers are itching to get going once again.
"You could feel that they're ready to go," Panthers interim head coach Andrew Brunette said after Sunday's practice. "This is unusual for us, this kind of long break, especially around Christmas. It's a really different feeling right now, so it's good to get back on the ice again."
From big games at home to the World Juniors, here's what's on the agenda for this week.

THE GAMES

Wednesday: New York Rangers, 7 p.m. ET
The Panthers are scheduled to resume their season with a matchup against the Rangers (19-7-4) at FLA Live Arena on Wednesday. In third place in the Metropolitan Division, New York went into the pause on the heels of a 3-2 shootout loss against Vegas on Dec. 17. Following a seven-game winning streak, the Rangers have lost four of their last six games. Led by stalwart defense and goaltending, New York is surrendering the fifth-fewest goals per game in the NHL (2.53). In net, Igor Shesterkin, who has started 17 of the team's 31 games, has registered a 13-3-2 record with a 2.05 goals-against average, .937 save percentage and one shutout. Leading the offense, Artemi Panarin has posted a team-high 33 points (nine goals, 24 assists), while reigning Norris Trophy winner Adam Fox has chipped in 31 points (five goals, 26 assists) from the blue line. In their previous meeting on Nov. 8, the Rangers defeated the Panthers by a score of 4-3 -- their first regulation loss of the season -- behind a 42-save performance from Shesterkin. This time around, look for Anthony Duclair to light the lamp for the Panthers. Tied for third on the team in goals (9), the speedy forward has scored five times in 14 career games against the Rangers.
TV & Streaming: Bally Sports Florida, ESPN+ (Out of Region)
Radio: 99.9 WKIS-FM HD-2 (Dade/Broward); 640 WMEN (Palm Beach); 100.3 WCTH (Florida Keys); SiriusXM Channel 219 / App & Streaming 932
Tickets:
HERE
Thursday: Tampa Bay Lightning, 7 p.m. ET
The Panthers will welcome the Lightning (20-6-4) to Sunrise for the first time this season when the two cross-state rivals clash at FLA Live Arena on Thursday. Owning a four-point lead over Florida for first place in the Atlantic Division, Tampa Bay has won eight of its last nine games, including a 4-3 win at Vegas in the team's last outing before the pause. With both Brayden Point and Nikita Kucherov missing large portions of the season due to injuries, Steven Stamkos leads the Lightning in goals (14) and points (35), while Victor Hedman sits first in assists (24). Splitting the first two games of their season series, the Panthers won their first meeting with the Lightning, 4-1, back on Oct. 19, and then lost the next meeting, 3-2, in overtime on Nov. 13. Likely to play a big role at both ends of the ice, look for Aaron Ekblad to come up big in this tilt. Ranking eighth among NHL defensemen in scoring with 24 points (eight goals, 16 assists), the two-way rearguard has tallied five goals and 14 assists in 30 career games against Tampa Bay.
TV & Streaming: Bally Sports Florida, ESPN+ (Out of Region)
Radio: 560 WQAM (Dade/Broward); 850 WFTL (Palm Beach); 100.3 WCTH (Florida Keys); SiriusXM Channel 91 / App & Streaming 932
Tickets:
HERE
Saturday: Montreal Canadiens, 1 p.m. ET
In what has long been a staple of the holidays in South Florida, the Panthers will welcome the Canadiens (7-21-3) to FLA Live Arena for a matinee matchup on Saturday. Less than a year removed from their appearance in the Stanley Cup Final, the Canadiens sit in last place in the Atlantic Division and have lost seven of their last eight games. That being said, they did head into the pause with a 3-2 shootout win against the Flyers. Averaging the second-fewest goals in the league as a team (2.13), Montreal is led up front by Nick Suzuki (18 points), Tyler Toffoli (17 points) and Jonathan Drouin (16 points). Always bringing his A-game against the Canadiens, there's a good chance that Aleksander Barkov, who is expected to return from an injury coming out of the pause, finds the back of the net in this contest. In addition to being tied for first on the Cats with 10 goals this season, he's lit the lamp 16 times in 24 career games against Montreal.
TV & Streaming: Bally Sports Florida, ESPN+ (Out of Region)
Radio:560 WQAM (Dade/Broward); 850 WFTL (Palm Beach); 100.3 WCTH (Florida Keys); SiriusXM Channel 220 / App & Streaming 932
Tickets:
HERE

MILESTONE WATCH

  • Anthony Duclair is two goals away from his 100th NHL goal.
    - Joe Thornton is two games away from his 1,700th NHL game.
    - Aleksander Barkov is eight assists away from his 300th NHL assist.
    - MacKenzie Weegar is eight points away from his 100th NHL point.

VALUE PACK

With the season starting back up, there's no better time to plan your next trip to the rink.
That's where the Feltman's Value Pack comes in.
Available for purchase online only through Fevo, this ticket package includes tickets for four people as well as a Feltman's all-natural hot dog, popcorn and soda for each ticketed person.
Starting at $149 per ticket package, click HERE to purchase your plan now.

ALL-STAR FAN VOTE

Let's send some Panthers to the 2022 NHL All-Star Game.
With voting open until 11:59 p.m. ET on Jan. 8, fans are permitted to select a maximum of four players per ballot, with the maximum number of ballots cast per 24 hours for each fan being 10.
If you're crunching the numbers, that means you can cast 40 votes for the Panthers each day.
Click HERE to start filling the ballot box.

NHL 22 TOURNAMENTS

We've got more NHL 22 tournaments coming at you this week.
For an opportunity to win a puck autographed by Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad, fans can head over to
rivalgames.com/panthers
to register for these events on their preferred consoles.
With puck drop set for 7 p.m. ET, the PlayStation 5 and XBOX One events will take place on Tuesday, with the PlayStation 4 and XBOX Series X/S events then following on Wednesday.
Winners will be crowned on each console, so good luck to everyone!
For more gaming news, follow @FlaPanthersGame on Twitter.

PROSPECT SPOTLIGHT

The World Juniors are officially off and running.
And just one day into the tournament, Panthers prospects are already producing highlights.
Helping lead the United States to a 3-2 win over Slovakia on Sunday, Mackie Samoskevich, who Florida selected with the 24th overall pick in the 2021 NHL Draft, had fans from all over the world smashing the "like" button on Twitter when he found the back of the net in the first period.
In the clip below, you can watch the 19-year-old forward settle down the puck before ripping a wicked wrist shot over the goaltender's glove from the left circle to put the United States up 2-0.

To learn more about Cats prospects at the World Juniors, click HERE.

CATS CLIP OF THE WEEK

Earlier this month, the Panthers participated in the Salah Foundation Children's Hospital's holiday party. This is what the holidays are all about!

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      Broward Health Holiday Party 2021

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