"This is what it comes down to, playing important games down the stretch," Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad said of the homestretch. "Every team in this league is good. No games can be taken for granted at any time -- no period, no shift. It's a fun situation to be in."
It's likely that no one has been having more fun in recent weeks than Florida's superstar duo of Matthew Tkachuk and Aleksander Barkov. Tkachuk enters tonight's matchup with at least one goal in each of his last six games, while Barkov is riding an impressive nine-game point streak.
On pace to surpass the career-high 104 points he posted in 2021-22 with the Calgary Flames, Tkachuk, who has already tied the franchise record for multi-point games in a season with 31, leads the Panthers and ranks fourth in the NHL in scoring with 97 points (35 goals, 62 assists).
In 10 career games against New York, he's recorded 14 pints (five goals, nine assists).
"He's taken control," Ekblad said of Tkachuk's impact. "He's a born leader. Everything he does on the ice shows that. He's taken the game by the reins and is doing all the right things, saying all the right things and backing it up. It's amazing to watch. He's so good at what he does."
After missing each of the last two games with an injury, Sam Bennett is expected to be a game-time decision against the Rangers. Bennett, who's racked up 40 points (16 goals, 24 assists) and 150 hits this season, skated with the team on Thursday, but did not hit the ice on Friday.
Bennett is expected to test his injury on the ice this morning.
"Every team's got players in their lineup now that are banged up, but we just don't want to have this situation come back again," Panthers head coach Paul Maurice said of Bennett's status following Friday's practice. "We'll be mindful of that. We're hopeful. There's a chance he plays tomorrow."
Set to make his 14th start in the last 15 games, Sergei Bobrovsky will man the crease in tonight's tilt. Over his last 18 appearances, the veteran netminder has posted a 12-5-1 record with a .910 save percentage. In his career against the Rangers, he's recorded a 2.88 goals-against average.
In third place in the Metropolitan Division with a record of 42-20-10, New York has won seven of its last nine games, including a 2-1 win at Carolina on Thursday. During that nine-game stretch, the Rangers have outscored their opponents 33-16 while producing a pair of shutout victories.
Artemi Panarin leads New York in scoring with 82 points (24 goals, 58 assists). Not far behind, Mika Zibanejad is second with 65 points (11 goals, 54 assists). In third, Adam Fox, who took home the Norris Trophy in 2021, has tallied 65 points (11 goals, 54 assists) from the blue line.
Joining the Rangers prior to the NHL Trade Deadline, Vladimir Tarasenko and Patrick Kane have both been chipping in steadily up front. Kane has posted seven points (three goals, four assists) in 11 games, while Tarasenko has accumulated 14 points (five goals, nine assists) in 21 games.
Fresh off a Vezina Trophy-winning campaign in 2021-22, Igor Shesterkin owns a 33-15-5 record with a .914 save percentage and two shutouts. Heating up over his last 10 appearances, the 27-year-old goaltender has gone 8-2-0 on top of a sparkling .931 save percentage during that span.
Facing off for the third and final time this season, New York has come out on top in each of the two previous meetings thanks to a two-goal performance from Zibanejad in both tilts. That being said, Florida owns a 3-1-1 record over its past five games against the Rangers in Sunrise.
With an early puck drop, the Panthers know they'll have to be at their best from the start.
"We can prepare as best as we can for what they're going to do, but at the end of the day it's all about us and how we counter," Ekblad said. "It's important that we take control of the game early. A bit of an early start. It's important to get a strong first period in and create sense of control and momentum in our game."
