previewweb1-27-22

The Cats are back.
After wrapping up a long road trip, the Panthers will return to the friendly confines of FLA Live Arena to kick off a two-game homestand with a battle against the Golden Knights on Thursday.
Holding onto first place in the Atlantic Division with a record of 29-9-5, the Panthers picked up six out of a possible 10 points on their five-game trek through the Western Conference, which they closed out with an impressive 60-minute effort during a 5-3 win over the Jets on Tuesday.

In Winnipeg, Mason Marchment registered the first two-goal game of his career, Anton Lundell, Carter Verhaeghe and Sam Bennett also touched twine, and Sergei Bobrovsky made 32 saves.
What's the key to building off that strong performance tonight?
"Just get back to our home ways here a little bit," Panthers interim head coach Andrew Brunette said following this morning's skate. "These are always hard games after a trip, so we really have to bear down and give that effort that we gave last game and feed off our crowd tonight."
Fueling their team to victory, the crowds have certainly been rocking in Sunrise.
Owning a league-best 21-3-0 record on home ice, the Panthers have won each of their last seven games in their own barn. Serenaded by fans with chants of "We want 10," they lead the league in goals (114), goals per game (4.75) and shots per game (38.9) at home this season.
On home ice, Jonathan Huberdeau leads the league with 39 points (eight goals, 31 assists), while Aaron Ekblad paces the league's defensemen with 27 points (10 goals, 17 assists).
Heading to the 2022 NHL All-Star Game, Huberdeau, who's posted at least one point in 11 of his last 13 games, enters tonight's tilt tied for second in league-scoring with 58 points overall.
"It's fun to be on the ice with him at all times because you might be on the receiving end of one of those silky passes," Ekblad said of Huberdeau. "When you pass back to him, you know he's going to score. … He's an all-star, he's a superstar and he's an MVP in this league."
In terms of lineup changes for the Cats, Gustav Forsling could return to the blue line tonight after sitting out the last four games while in COVID protocols. In 34 games this season, the smooth-skating defenseman has amassed 19 points (one goal, 18 assists) and 28 takeaways.
Between the pipes, rookie Spencer Knight will draw in against the Golden Knights. Deemed "exceptional" by teammates after his last outing, the 20-year-old made 27 saves - not including a pair of clutch stops in the shootout - to lift the Panthers to a 2-1 win at Vancouver on Jan. 21.
In 16 appearances this season, Knight owns an 8-5-2 record.
Winning 11 of 14 games since returning from the NHL's brief pause due to COVID-19 in late December, Brunette said he's really liked how players have looked since getting back to work.
"I thought the group came back ready to prove even more," the all-star bench boss said. "They started off really well, and hopefully we can continue this, especially at home. Home has really dictated and kind of set our game in place. We've got to continue that. It's huge for our team."
In first place in the Pacific Division, the Golden Knights, who sit at 25-15-3, enter tonight's matchup riding a three-game point streak after a 4-3 overtime loss at Carolina on Tuesday.
After Brett Howden and Nicolas Hague scored for Vegas in the third period to force overtime, Sebastian Aho buried the game-winning goal for the Hurricanes. Making his first start since Jan. 2, Laurent Brossoit stopped 26 shots for Vegas, while Frederik Andersen made 26 saves for Carolina.
"Over a long season, it's important to find a way to get a point in games like this," Golden Knights head coach Peter DeBoer said after the loss.
Chandler Stephenson leads the Golden Knights in assists (26) and points (38), while Jonathan Marchessault has netted the most goals (19). Entering into COVID protocols on Tuesday, Reilly Smith, who ranks fourth on the team in scoring with 29 points, isn't expected to suit up tonight.
Likely manning the blue paint for Vegas, Robin Lehner, who has started six of the team's last seven games, has posted a 17-11-1 record on top of a .907 save percentage this season.
With the Golden Knights owning a 12-5-1 record on the road, the Panthers, who have taken two of three games from Vegas at home since 2017-18, are expecting another tough test tonight.
"They're going to be rested," Ekblad said. "We know we're going to get a good start out of them. It's important for us to weather that storm and counterattack as best we can. We're going to try and find some energy early, and then continue it for a full 60 minutes."

PANTHERS PROJECTED LINEUP (SUBJECT TO CHANGE)

Forwards
Carter Verhaeghe - Aleksander Barkov - Maxim Mamin
Jonathan Huberdeau - Sam Bennett - Anthony Duclair
Mason Marchment - Anton Lundell - Sam Reinhart
Ryan Lomberg - Eetu Luostarinen - Owen Tippett
Defensemen
MacKenzie Weegar - Aaron Ekblad
Gustav Forsling - Radko Gudas
Lucas Carlsson - Brandon Montour
Goaltenders
Spencer Knight
Sergei Bobrovsky

WHO'S HOT

Panthers: Jonathan Huberdeau has 11 points (three goals, eight assists) over his last seven games. … Anthony Duclair has 11 points (five goals, six assists) over his last nine games. … Sam Bennett has nine points (seven goals, two assists) over his last six games. … Aaron Ekblad has 13 points (one goal, 12 assists) over his last 10 games. … Anton Lundell has 13 points (four goals, nine assists) over his last 13 games.
Golden Knights: Jonathan Marchessault has six points (three goals, three assists) over his last seven games. … Shea Theodore has five points (one goal, four assists) over his last four games. … Mark Stone has five points (three goals, two assists) over his last six games.

THEY SAID IT

"He's a very a confident, mature kid that really wants to be a great player in this league. He's taken steps every game to get there." -- Panthers interim head coach Andrew Brunette on rookie forward Anton Lundell.
"We just have to hang in there these next couple of games. It's going to be a tough trip." -- Golden Knight forward Mark Stone following Tuesday's overtime loss at Carolina.

FIVE CATS STATS

  • The Panthers lead in the NHL with 4.75 goals per game at home this season.
    - Aleksander Barkov has notched seven points (two goals, five assists) in five career games against Vegas.
    - Aaron Ekblad ranks third in the NHL in total time on ice (1,063:26).
    - Jonathan Huberdeau leads the Panthers with 12 multi-point games this season.
    - Carter Verhaeghe has scored five goals over his last seven games.

PANTHERS TRANSACTIONS

  • Jan. 27: D Matt Kiersted loaned to Taxi Squad
    - Jan. 25: D Chase Priskie recalled to active roster from Taxi Squad
    - Jan. 21: D Chase Priskie reassigned from Charlotte (AHL) to Taxi Squad; G Evan Fitzpatrick reassigned to Charlotte (AHL)
    - Jan. 20: F Maxim Mamin and D Matt Kiersted recalled to active roster
    - Jan. 17: F Owen Tippett recalled from Charlotte (AHL); F Aleksi Heponiemi and F Maxim Mamin reassigned to Taxi Squad

PANTHERS NEWS

HOW TO WATCH / LISTEN

When:Thursday, Jan. 27 at 7:00 p.m. ET
Where:FLA Live Arena - Sunrise, FL
TV: Bally Sports Florida
Stream:Bally Sports App, ESPN+ (Out of Region)
Radio:560 WQAM (Dade/Broward); 850 WFTL (Palm Beach); 100.3 WCTH (Florida Keys); SiriusXM Channel 222 / App & Streaming 932
Tickets:
HERE

IN-ARENA ACTIVATIONS

  • The Panthers will hold their annual Military Appreciation Night at FLA Live Arena. Prior to puck drop, fans can show their support by participating in the Florida Panthers Foundation Baby Product Drive with UKG from 5 p.m. to 7:15 p.m. The items collected from this drive will benefit 22 expectant military mothers and additional military families throughout South Florida.
    On the ice, the Panthers will be wearing exclusive military jerseys during warm-ups, with select autographed, warm-up worn jerseys being made available at Inside the Boards for purchase.
    - Throughout the 2021-22 season, the Panthers have worn special helmet stickers honoring former U.S. Army Gen. Raymond T. Odierno -- the organization's chairman and alternate governor since 2017 -- after he died at age 67 in October following a battle with cancer.
    "He was an integral part of the daily operations with the team," Ekblad said. "I didn't have a ton of opportunities to speak with him, but he was an important part of our team. Wearing those stickers on our helmets is obviously an honor."
    - For a limited time, fans that spend $20 before puck drop through the FLA Live! App will receive $5 Panthers Perks for a future order. To download the FLA Live! App, click HERE.
    - Even if you're watching from home, you play the 50/50 Raffle by clicking HERE.