Cats Forecast: Plenty to still play for; Playoff tickets on sale

Even with their place in the playoffs secure, the Panthers aren't taking their foot off the gas.
"It's nice, but we just keep going," captain Aleksander Barkov said after the Panthers became the first team in the NHL to punch their ticket to the postseason with a 5-3 win at Buffalo on Sunday. "I don't even know how many points we have right now, but I know we have a lot because we've been playing really well. Our focus now is just getting our game better."
Having already set a franchise record for wins in a season, the Panthers enter this week sitting atop the Atlantic Division with a record of 48-15-6. Their 102 points is just one fewer than their franchise record, and also gives them a strong nine-point cushion for first place in the division.
With a 28-6-0 record at FLA Live Arena, securing home-ice advantage is now the task at hand.

"The rest of the season is really important as well," Panthers forward Jonathan Huberdeau said. "We've got to play well. We want to finish first [in the division] and get home-ice advantage."
Winners in 13 of their last 16 games, the Panthers will look to stay hot and continue pocketing crucial points this week with three key matchups. After hosting the Maple Leafs and Sabres in Sunrise on Tuesday and Friday, respectively, they'll visit the Predators in Nashville on Sunday.
One goal has been accomplished, but there's plenty of bigger games ahead.
"We've got eyes on a bigger prize this year," Panthers interim head coach Andrew Brunette said. "Again, [clinching a playoff spot] is a nice accomplishment and well deserved. We should celebrate it a little bit, but we've got Toronto on Tuesday."

THE GAMES

Tuesday: Toronto Maple Leafs, 7 p.m. ET
The Panthers will have a little bit of revenge on their mind when they host the Maple Leafs (44-19-5) at FLA Live Arena on Tuesday. Meeting for the first time this season a little over a week ago on March 27, the Maple Leafs secured a 5-2 win over the Panthers at Scotiabank Arena. Incredibly, that loss was just the second regulation defeat the Panthers have suffered against a divisional opponent this season. Still, even with that win, the Maple Leafs trail the Panthers by nine points with a game in hand for first place in the Atlantic Division. Overall, Toronto has picked up wins in each of its last four games, including a 6-3 win at Philadelphia on Saturday. Up front for the Maple Leafs, Auston Matthews leads the team in goals (51) and points (88), while Mitch Marner is second in points (81) and first in assists (53). In net, Jack Campbell just returned from an injury should be the main man in the crease for Toronto. In 41 appearances this season, he's posted a 25-9-4 record with a .914 save percentage and four shutouts. For the Panthers, Aleksander Barkov is a good player to keep a close eye on in this matchup. Leading the team with 33 goals, the team's superstar captain was named the NHL's second star of the week on Monday after recording eight points (five goals, three assists) in four games last week.
TV & Streaming:Bally Sports Florida, ESPN+ (Out of Region)
Radio: 560 WQAM (Dade/Broward); 640 WMEN (Palm Beach); 100.3 WCTH (Florida Keys); SiriusXM Channel 221 / App & Streaming 932
Friday: Buffalo Sabres, 7 p.m. ET
The Panthers will look to complete a season sweep of the Sabres (25-34-11) when the two divisional foes clash at FLA Live Arena on Friday. With their playoff-clinching 5-3 win at Buffalo on Sunday, the Panthers improved to 3-0-0 against the Sabres this season. In those three games, Florida outscored Buffalo by a margin of 18-8. On an eight-game point streak prior to their most-recent loss to the Panthers, the Sabres have gone 5-1-3 over their last nine games. Tage Thompson paces the team in goals (31) and points (54), while Rasmus Dahlin has tallied the most assists (43). Second on the team in scoring, Jeff Skinner has racked up 50 points (28 goals, 22 assists). Between the pipes, Craig Anderson and Dustin Tokarski have each suited up in 24 games. Anderson has gone 13-9-2 with a .901 save percentage, while Tokarski is 7-10-5 with an identical .901 save percentage. As for the Panthers, Anthony Duclair is always a safe bet to light the lamp. After notching a pair of goals against the Sabres on Sunday, the speedy forward shot right up into second place on the team's goal-scoring list with a career-high 28.
TV & Streaming:Bally Sports Florida (TBD),Bally Sports App, ESPN+ (Out of Region)
Radio: 560 WQAM (Dade/Broward); 640 WMEN (Palm Beach); 100.3 WCTH (Florida Keys); SiriusXM Channel 219 / App & Streaming 932
Saturday: at Nashville Predators, 6 p.m. ET
Hopping a quick flight to the Music City, the Panthers will wrap up a back-to-back set with a matchup against the Predators (39-25-4) at Bridgestone Arena on Saturday. Trying to hold onto a wild-card spot in the Western Conference, Nashville has dropped three of its last five games, including a 4-3 loss at Buffalo on Friday. A contender for the Norris Trophy, Roman Josi leads the Predators and ranks first among NHL defensemen in scoring with 81 points (18 goals, 63 assists). After him, Matt Duchene is second in scoring with 70 points (35 goals, 35 assists), while Filip Forsberg is third with 67 points, including a team-leading 38 goals. Standing tall in the blue paint, Juuse Saros has posted a 33-21-3 record with a .920 save percentage and three shutouts. In their lone previous meeting this season, Forsberg racked up three points (one goal, two assists) to lead the Predators to a 6-4 win over the Panthers in Sunrise on Feb. 22. This time around, look for Jonathan Huberdeau to have a big game against Nashville. Third in the NHL in scoring with a franchise-record 97 points (24 goals, 73 assists), the all-star winger has produced 27 points (13 goals, 14 assists) in 22 career games against the Predators.
TV & Streaming: Bally Sports Sun, NHL Network (Out of Region)
Radio:560 WQAM (Dade/Broward); 850 WFTL (Palm Beach); 100.3 WCTH (Florida Keys); SiriusXM App & Streaming 932

MILESTONE WATCH

• Sam Bennett is one goal away from his 100th NHL goal.
  - Sam Bennett is one assist away from his 100th NHL assist.
  - Sam Bennett is two points away from his 200th NHL point.
  - Brandon Montour is three assists away from his 100th NHL assist.

GRATEFUL DEAD NIGHT

It's time to get groovy.
Back by very popular demand, the Panthers will host their annual "Grateful Dead Night" on Tuesday, April 12 when the Ducks make their lone visit of the season to FLA Live Arena.
Unlimited Devotion will be performing from the songbook of the Grateful Dead as well other classic rock songs pre-game, post-game and during both the first and second intermissions.
Additionally, the first 300 fans who purchase the exclusive "Grateful Dead Night" ticket package will receive an eye-popping, limited-edition Grateful Dead Night Tie-Dye Jersey free of charge.
To see the jersey and purchase the ticket package, click HERE.

PLAYOFF TICKETS ON SALE

There's nothing quite like playoff hockey.
With the Panthers punching their ticket to the postseason, fans can officially begin purchasing single-game tickets for the first round of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs on Friday at 10 a.m. ET.
Fans that would like to receive exclusive presale access for tickets are encouraged to join the Panthers official email newsletter '93 Society. Subscribers to this newsletter will be the first to receive ticket promotions and presale access for many upcoming events at FLA Live Arena.
To join the newsletter, visit
FloridaPanthers.com/93Society
.
As for playoff tickets, they can be purchased at
Ticketmaster.com
or FloridaPanthers.com.

TERRITORY MEMBERSHIPS

There's no better time to support the Panthers and rep the shield.
By becoming a Territory Member, fans can receive exclusive access, unparalleled savings and memorable experiences for the 2022-23 season. With both regular and premium memberships currently available, benefits include everything from discounted merchandise to special gifts.
Territory Members also receive priority access for playoff tickets, access to members-only events and presale access to buy tickets to the 2023 NHL All-Star Game in South Florida.
To learn more about Territory Memberships, click HERE.

PROSPECT SPOTLIGHT

Aleksi Heponiemi continues to dish the biscuit well in the AHL.
Tied for third on the Checkers with 24 assists, the 23-year-old forward recorded a pair of primary helpers to help lead Charlotte to a 3-1 win over the Hershey Bears on Saturday.
Over his last nine games, he's produced three multi-point performances.
Taken by the Panthers in the second round (40th overall) in the 2017 NHL Draft, Heponiemi, who suited up in four games in the NHL this season, has already set new career-high marks in goals (9), assists (24) and points (33) in 48 games during his second full season in the AHL.

CATS CLIP OF THE WEEK

Need a shot of adrenaline? Check out Gustav Forsling's game-winning goal from last week in New Jersey.

CATS IN THE COMMUNITY

TERRITORY TALK

Bill Lindsay helped preview the home stretch on the latest episode of Territory Talk.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

-
Pucks & Pints is coming back to FLA Live Arena on April 24 
-
5 TAKEAWAYS: Panthers set wins record, punch ticket to playoffs 
-
5 TAKEAWAYS: Forsling scores in OT to cap off epic comeback in New Jersey
-
Sergei Bobrovsky Named NHL's 'Third Star' of the Month for March 
- '
Heroes Among Us' highlights contributions of women in the military