SUNRISE, Fla. -It's time to pour a little gasoline on the fire.
Already riding high on a season-long, four-game winning streak, the Panthers will be getting both Aleksander Barkov and Patric Hornqvist back from injury and into the lineup when they open up a crucial two-game series with the Blue Jackets at BB&T Center on Saturday night.
Preview: Barkov, Hornqvist Return as Panthers Go For 5th Straight Win
"It's going to be fun," said Panthers forward Jonathan Huberdeau, who leads the team with 42 points. "Get some guys back, get the groove of the game and go back to where we left off."
Out since March 23 with a lower-body injury, Barkov ranks second on the Panthers with 37 points (13 goals, 24 assists), while Hornqvist, who has been on the mend since March 25, is fourth on the team in goals (12), including recording a team-leading seven on the power play.
Holding down the fort in their absence, the Panthers were able to string together wins thanks to increased contributions from players like Carter Verhaeghe, Noel Acciari and Alex Wennberg, who scored the game-winning goal during Thursday's 3-2 overtime victory over the Red Wings.
Watching their record improve to an impressive 24-9-4 during their winning streak, the Panthers, who are currently tied with the Lightning for the most points in the Central Division, will now be in an even better position to fight for first place with both Barkov and Hornqvist back in the fold.
"A lot of guys had to step up and play more minutes, and I think the guys did really well," Huberdeau said. "We don't decide who's going to be out with injuries and stuff, but I think even when we were missing good players, guys stepped up. That's what we needed. That shows a lot about our team. We're having fun and have a lot of character in our room."
In other lineup news, fans will notice a new face manning the blue line against Columbus.
Only a few days removed from signing a two-year, entry-level contract with the Panthers on Thursday, Matt Kiersted will make his NHL debut tonight as the team continues to roll with seven defensemen. A coveted free agent coming out of the University of North Dakota, the 22-year-old paced the school's blueliners in scoring with 22 points (three goals, 19 assists) in 29 games this season and finished as runner-up for NCHC Defensive Defenseman of the Year.
"I think I'm ready to make that jump to the NHL," said Kiersted, who led UND's defenseman in scoring in three of his four seasons suiting up in college. "I went through the process last year and kind of had some doubts that maybe I'm not ready and decided to go back to school for my senior year, but having an extra year to develop in college now I think I'm ready to jump."
Making Kiersted feel welcome, the Panthers defensive corps plan to "be loud" on the ice.
"We're going to lead by example and be talkative on the ice," Panthers defenseman Radko Gudas said. "We want to let him know and everybody else around him know about the developing plays. Overall, just being comfortable and enjoying ourselves. If we do that, then he will as well."
Set to be honored with a pre-game ceremony for appearing in the 500th game of his NHL career late last season, Sergei Bobrovsky will man the crease for the Panthers. Sitting at 14-5-2, the 32-year-old has been on a roll, going 7-3-0 with a .917 save percentage over his last 10 starts.
In three games this season against the Blue Jackets - the organization he spent seven seasons and won a pair of Vezina Trophies with before signing with Florida - he's gone a flawless 3-0-0.
"You look back over his career, 500 games is a lot for a goaltender," Panthers coach Joel Quenneville said of Bobrovsky, who's just the 75th goalie to reach that lofty mark. "We feel that with him, with the way that he takes care of himself, that he could be playing a long time."
In sixth place in the Central Division with a record of 14-16-8, the Blue Jackets have lost five of their last six games, including a 3-2 defeat at Tampa Bay on Thursday. In that loss, Columbus led 2-1 in the third period before surrendering a pair of goals to the Lighting over a span of 1:05.
In their latest six-game stretch, the Blue Jackets have scored more than two goals just twice.
"This one is tough," defenseman Zach Werenski told the team's official website after losing to the Bolts. "We played well. … As much as it is a step in the right direction, it's one of those games we just can't lose. We have to find a way to win that hockey game."
As the Panthers look to pick up their fourth win in five tries against Columbus, the main man circled on their pre-game scouting report is likely Oliver Bjorkstrand. Leading the team with 30 points (13 goals, 17 assists), the 25-year-old has registered seven goals in his last 15 games.
In four games against Florida this season, he's recorded five points (three goals, two assists).
Just behind Bjorkstrand, Cam Atkinson ranks second on the team in points (25) and is tied for first in goals (13). In third, Jack Roslovic has 22 points (six goals, 16 assists), but is expected to be a healthy scratch and sit out tonight's matchup, according to Aaron Portzline of The Athletic.
In the opposing crease, Elvis Merzlikins will make his fifth straight start for the Blue Jackets. Owning a 6-6-2 record with a .917 save percentage, the 26-year-old has gone 1-0-1 with a 3.29 goals-against average and .896 save percentage in two games against Florida this season.
"It's one of those teams that won't stop competing," Gudas said of the Blue Jackets. "For us, playing 60 minutes, being relentless for a full 60 minutes, is going to be big for us this weekend. We've had success when everybody bought in and everybody did the little things right. I think that's what coach is looking for us to do today. We're up for the challenge tonight."
TEAM RECORDS
FLA: 24-9-4, 52 PTS
CBJ:14-16-8, 36 PTS
FLA all-time vs. CBJ: 13-14-10
PANTHERS NOTES
-- Jonathan Huberdeau leads the Panthers and ranks tied for seventh in the league in scoring with 42 points (14 goals, 28 assists). Entering tonight's matchup on a four-game point streak, he's notched three goals and three assists in that span.
-- Carter Verhaeghe ranks first on Florida in goals (17) and third in points (32). Over his last four games, he's racked up five goals and three assists, including earning at least two points in each of his last two outings. His 29 points at even-strength are tied for seventh among NHL players.
-- MacKenzie Weegar ranks tied for fifth among NHL defensemen in even-strength points with 18. Over his last 13 games, he's accumulated one goal and eight assists. Additionally, he is also tied for fist among the league's defensemen in takeaways with 26.
-- Named the "Star of the Month" for the Central Division in March, Aleksander Barkov compiled 16 points (five goals, 11 assists) in 11 games last month. He ranks second on Florida in points (37) and also leads the team in shots on goal (112) and total ice time among forwards (657:44).
-- Radko Gudas leads the Panthers and ranks first in the NHL in hits with 171.
-- Noel Acciari has tallied five points (one goal, four assists) over his last six games. In that same timeframe, he's produced a team-leading 56.6 faceoff win percentage.
PROJECTED LINEUP (SUBJECT TO CHANGE)
Forwards
Mason Marchment - Aleksander Barkov - Carter Verhaeghe
Jonathan Huberdeau - Alex Wennberg - Patric Hornqvist
Frank Vatrano - Noel Acciari - Owen Tippett
Eetu Luostarinen - Juho Lammikko
Defensemen
Gustav Forsling - MacKenzie Weegar
Keith Yandle - Radko Gudas
Riley Stillman - Markus Nutivaara
Matt Kiersted
Goaltenders
Sergei Bobrovsky
Chris Driedger
Scratches: Brett Connolly, Ryan Lomberg, Anton Stralman
Taxi squad: Kevin Connauton, Brady Keeper, Aleksi Heponiemi, Philippe Desrosiers, Spencer Knight
Injured reserve: Aaron Ekblad (lower body), Anthony Duclair (upper body)
RECENT TRANSACTIONS
- April 3: F Patric Hornqvist was activated from IR; D Matt Kiersted was recalled from the Taxi Squad; G Spencer Knight was assigned to the Taxi Squad.
- April 2: Florida acquired F Brad Morrison from Chicago in exchange for F Vinnie Hinostroza.
- April 1: The Panthers signed D Matt Kiersted to a two-year, entry-level contract.
- March 31: The Panthers signed G Spencer Knight to a three-year, entry-level contract, D Brady Keeper was reassigned from Syracuse (AHL) to the Taxi Squad and F Anthony Duclair placed on IR.
- March 30: D Anton Stralman was recalled from the Taxi Squad.
IN-ARENA ACTIVATAIONS
-
50/50 Raffle
- Reverse Retro Saturday
- Sergei Bobrovsky's 500th NHL Game Ceremony
- A limited number of fans will be admitted to BB&T Center for home games this season. Learn that have been taken as a part of the "Red Reminders" program presented in conjunction with Baptist Health South Florida at
FloridaPanthers.com/RedReminders
.
- Mobile Ordering is now available at BB&T Center for Panthers games. Visit
FloridaPanthers.com/MobileOrdering
for all the info.
HOW TO WATCH / LISTEN
When:Saturday, April 3 at 7:00 p.m. ET
Where: BB&T Center - Sunrise, FL
TV: Bally Sports Florida
Stream:
FOX Sports GO
Radio: 560 WQAM (Dade/Broward); 640 WMEN (Palm Beach); 100.3 WCTH (Florida Keys); 107.9 FM/1370 AM WZTA (Treasure Coast); SiriusXM 222 / Streaming 932
Tickets:
HERE
