"I think we've got to play a good game defensively and play with some structure," Panthers coach Joel Quenneville said after this morning's skate. "Simplicity is part of that as well. Let's play a hard game, simple and the right way.
"We need everybody taking pride in getting the job done on their shifts. Obviously, you're missing some key pieces offensively, but you've got to make sure you're looking to play the appropriate game that gives us a chance."
Missing his third consecutive game with a lower-body injury, Barkov leads the team in both goals (13) and points (37), while Hornqvist, who will miss his first game with an injury suffered on Thursday, sits second on the team in goals (12), including scoring seven on the power play.
To replace that production, Aaron Ekblad believes it's going to take "a full-team effort."
"Irreplaceable players, no doubt about it," the Panthers defenseman said. "We're going to go out there and do our best to fill their roles and find a way to win this game. That's what it comes down to."
With Barkov out of the lineup, the Panthers have lost each of their last two games to extend their season-long skid to three contests. Shut out for just the second time this season, they enter tonight's matchup looking to rebound after a 3-0 loss to the Blackhawks on Thursday.
Firing off the second most shots per game in the NHL this season (34.9), the Panthers pelted Chicago's net with 41 shots in that defeat, but couldn't sneak the rubber past rookie goaltender Kevin Lankinen, who denied 74 of 76 shots that came his way throughout the two-game series.
In order to get the goals flowing again, the Cats will look to clog up the crease a bit more.
"I think we've got to get more net presence and take away the goalie's eyes," Panthers forward Anthony Duclair said. "We talked about that this morning, making is harder on him to make a save. I think we've got to keep putting pucks on net with screens."
Making his second consecutive start, Florida will go back to Sergei Bobrovsky in net. Owning a 12-5-2 record, the 32-year-old goaltender has gone 7-4-1 with a .913 save percentage over his last 12 starts, including stopping 37 of 39 shots during a 3-2 win over Dallas back on Feb. 25.
Holding onto seventh place in the Central Division at 11-11-8, the Stars have lost four of their last six games, but are feeling pretty good after topping the defending Stanley Cup champion Lighting by a score of 4-3 on Thursday. In that victory, Miro Heiskanen, Joe Pavelski, Jason Robertson and Roope Hintz all scored for Dallas, while rookie Jake Oettinger made 24 saves.
"We needed to get those guys," Pavelski said afterwards. "It's been a little bit too long this year."
Leading the team in goals (15), assists (17) and points (32), Pavelski enters tonight's matchup on a three-game point streak in which he's recorded one goal and four assists. In three games against the Panthers this season, the 36-year-old forward has posted one goal and two assists.
Despite ranking sixth on the team in scoring, captain Jamie Benn has typically had success in battles with the Panthers as well. In addition to recording points in each of his last five games against Florida on home ice, 31-year-old forward has tallied 13 goals in 19 career meetings.
Between the pipes, Anton Khudobin is expected to get the nod for the Stars after backing up Oettinger on Thursday. Owning a 6-9-2 record with a .910 save percentage this season, the 34-year-old netminder has gone 2-2-1 with a .899 save percentage over his last five appearances.
During a two-game series in Sunrise last month, Khudobin stopped 92 of 94 shots (.979%) while helping Dallas take one of two games from the Cats. After turning aside 49 of 51 shots during a 3-1 loss on Feb. 22, he stopped all 43 shots he faced during a 3-0 win in a rematch on Feb. 24.
Overall, Florida boasts a 2-1-0 record against Dallas this season.
"The goaltending was outstanding," Quenneville said of Khudobin's performance in that two-game set. "I thought we had some outstanding looks. I tought we had some really good looks. We couldn't get to him there that one night. He had two really solid games.
"Dallas is a dangerous team in a lot of ways. Their defense has a couple of top guys that you have to be aware of. Pavelski at the net, in and around the offensive zone, they get a number of looks… Everybody has a ton of respect for what they're capable of doing."
With Barkov and Hornqvist unable to take the ice tonight, Quenneville noted that Brett Connolly will be back in the lineup and that Riley Stillman will also likely suit up as the Panthers plan to roll with seven defensemen in Dallas.