DEC. 4, 2021 VS. ST. LOUIS BLUES
FLA LIVE ARENA | 1:00 P.M. ET
Television: Bally Sports Florida | NHL Network
Radio: 790 WAXY (DADE/BROWARD); 640 WMEN (PALM BEACH); 100.3 WCTH (FLORIDA KEYS), SIRIUSXM NHL NETWORK RADIO CHANNEL 91/APP & STREAMING 932
GAMEDAY MEDIA KIT
Panthers Game Notes, NHL Daily Statistics Reports, in-game statistics, as well as line charts for home games will be available at FloridaPanthers.com/GameDay.
TONIGHT AT FLA LIVE ARENA
- Tonight is Kids Day presented by Broward Health Salah Foundation Children’s Hospital at FLA Live Arena. Families can enjoy pregame activations on the JetBlue Tarmac such as face painting, snow cone machines, photo opportunities, video games, inflatable rink, slapshot cage and more.
- Fans can bring new and unwrapped toys to the JetBlue Tarmac at FLA Live Arena as part of the Panthers & NBC 6’s ‘Caravan of Joy’ Toy Drive. These toys will benefit families in need this holiday season.
- Fans in attendance to tonight’s game will receive a cobranded Florida Panthers and Broward Health red rally towel.
- The Florida Panthers Foundation will present Broward Health Salah Foundation Children’s Hospital with a $25,000 check during the game.
- The new NHL Saturday and NHL Sunday (formerly NHL European Game of the Week) weekly broadcast windows will deliver 36 games to fans in more than 30 countries and territories across Europe. The Florida Panthers v. St. Louis Blues game will be available today in Primetime in Europe. Click here for a complete schedule.
- Contactless, Mobile Food Ordering is now available for all games at FLA Live Arena. The Florida Panthers are offering fans safe and convenient purchasing experiences while at FLA Live Arena, enabling mobile ordering through the FLA Live! mobile app, and contactless purchases and payments via self-service kiosks and user-friendly Clover devices at concession stands throughout the arena. Learn more at FloridaPanthers.com/MobileOrdering.
TONIGHT’S CITY FURNITURE MILITARY HERO: Bob Arrington
Tonight’s Hero Among Us is Vietnam War Veteran, Bob Arrington. During his six years in the US Army, Bob was deployed to Phu Bia, South Vietnam during the Vietnam War where he earned the Distinguished Flying Cross for his heroic efforts beyond the call of duty during an aerial flight.
50/50 RAFFLE
All season long fans can give back to the Florida Panthers Foundation through the 50/50 raffle while trying to win big! Fans at FLA Live Arena can purchase 50/50 raffle tickets at kiosks throughout the arena or online for fans who are within a 75-mile radius of the game at FlaPanthers5050.com and in the FLA Live! mobile application. Ticket prices are: 5 for $10, 20 for $20, 80 for $40, and 300 for $100. Fans can purchase tickets and receive double the amount of raffle tickets prior to puck drop on each home game night.
LAST GAME
Panthers 7, Sabres 4 – Dec. 2 – FLA Live Arena
FLA Goals: Carlsson (1), Reinhart (6), Ekblad (7), Ekblad (8-PPG), Lundell (4), Huberdeau (8), Lundell (5)
BUF Goals: Hinostroza (3), Cozens (7), Hinostroza (4), Mittelstadt (1)
FLA Goalie: Knight (W) – 19 Saves, Bobrovsky – 8 Saves
BUF Goalie: Dell (L) – 38 Saves
FLA Shots: 45
BUF Shots: 31
Notes: FLA overcame a 3-goal deficit to win for the second consecutive game, scoring a season-high seven goals…Jonathan Huberdeau matched his career highs in assists (4) and points (5) in a game, extending his point streak to 2 games (1-7-8)…Sam Reinhart produced a career-high 4 points (1-3-
4), extending his point streak to 2 games (2-3-5)…Aaron Ekblad recorded 3 points (2-1-3), extending his point streak to 2 games (2-4-6)…Lucas Carlsson scored his 1st NHL goal and added an assist (1-1-2)…MacKenzie Weegar logged a career-high 30:01 TOI and 6 SOG, and notched 2 assists (0-2-2), extending his assist streak to 4 games (0-5-5)…FLA PP: 1-3, FLA PK: 3-3
BAPTIST HEALTH INJURY REPORT
- F Noel Acciari | Games Missed: 23
- D Markus Nutivaara | Games Missed: 14
- F Mason Marchment | Games Missed: 11
- D Olli Juolevi | Games Missed: 8
- F Aleksander Barkov | Games Missed: 7
- F Anthony Duclair | Games Missed: 4
- D Gustav Forsling | Games Missed: 2
Total Man Games Lost Due to Injury: 109
RECENT TRANSACTIONS: - Dec. 2: D Olli Juolevi loaned to Charlotte (AHL) on a conditioning assignment
- Nov. 29: F Aleksi Heponiemi and D Matt Kiersted recalled from Charlotte (AHL)
- Nov. 28: D Gustav Forsling placed on IR | F Aleksi Heponiemi loaned to Charlotte (AHL)
- Nov. 27: F Aleksi Heponiemi recalled from Charlotte (AHL) | F Aleksander Barkov placed on IR retroactive to Nov. 16
PANTHERS vs. BLUES
ALL-TIME vs. STL: 12-21-3-2
ALL-TIME HOME vs. STL: 5-9-2-2
2019-20 vs. STL: 1-0-0
CATS STATS - Aaron Ekblad has registered seven points (4-3-7) over 10 career games vs. STL.
- Sam Bennett has produced eight points (2-6-8) over 12 career games vs. STL.
COMEBACK-TO-BACK
The Panthers have overcome a three-goal deficit to win in each of their past two games. Falling behind 4-1 on Nov. 30 vs. WSH and Dec. 2 vs. BUF, the Cats scored four unanswered goals against the Capitals and six unanswered against the Sabres to become the ninth team in league history to overcome a three-goal deficit to win in consecutive games. The Cats tallied a season-high four goals in the third period of both games. Florida has registered nine three-goal comeback wins since 2011-12, trailing only PIT (11) and WSH (11) for the most among all teams over the last 10 years.
HOME SWEET HOME
The Panthers win Dec. 2 vs. BUF marked their league-leading 13th home win of the season (13-1-0). The Cats own a league-best 26-3-0 record at home since March 13 vs. CHI, outscoring their opponents 120-62 over that span. This season, Florida has scored a league-leading 63 goals on home ice, including at least four goals in 12 of their 14 home games.
TILTING THE ICE
The Panthers lead all NHL teams with 681 shots on goal, including a league-leading 432 shots on home ice. The Cats have logged 96 shots over their past two games, including two periods with 20+ shots.
THAT’S MINE
Florida leads all NHL teams with 270 takeaways this season. MacKenzie Weegar leads Florida and ranks second among NHL skaters with 34 takeaways. Weegar logged six takeaways Nov. 30 vs. WSH, tied for the most takeaways in a single game by any NHL skater in 2021-22.
PLAY THE HITS
Florida logged 35 hits Nov. 30 vs. WSH, the fourth time this season they have posted 35+ hits in a game. They rank fifth among NHL teams with 592 hits in 2021-22. Radko Gudas leads the team and ranks second among NHLers with 100 hits.
CATS AND BLUES
The Panthers and Blues face off tonight for the first time since March 9, 2020, Florida’s final game of the 2019-20 regular season. The matchup ended in a 2-1 victory for Florida. The Cats own a 3-2-0 record against the Blues since the 2017-18 season.
HUBY SNACKS
Jonathan Huberdeau matched his career highs in assists (4) and points (5) in a single game Dec. 2 vs. BUF, becoming the first player in club history to record three-plus assists in consecutive team games. He also skated in his 614th NHL game surpassing Radek Dvorak for second-most games played in franchise history. Huberdeau’s performance against Buffalo marked the eighth time in club history that a player has recorded five-plus points in a game. Huberdeau is the only NHL player with three five-point performances since Jan. 1, 2021 (Dec. 2 vs. BUF, March 27 at NSH, Feb. 4 vs. NSH). His performance also marked the 15th time a Panther has notched four or more assists in a game. His 20 assists lead FLA and sit tied for fourth-most among league skaters, and his 28 points (8-20-28) lead the team and are tied for the fifth-most in the NHL. He has produced eight points (1-7-8) over his last two games and leads the team with 20 points (4-16-20) over 14 home games this season.
EK’S GON’ GIVE IT TO YA
Aaron Ekblad has produced six points (2-4-6) over his past two games. His performance Dec. 2 vs. BUF (2-1-3) marked his second multi-goal game of the season and the fourth of his career. Ekblad leads all NHL defensemen with 23 points (8-15-23) and 15 even-strength points (6-9-15) and his eight goals scored are the second-most among league blueliners. His plus-21 rating is tied for the second-best among NHL skaters, and his eight power-play points (2-6-8) are tied for the third-most among NHL defensemen. The Windsor, Ontario native has posted a team-leading six multi-point games this season, including three in his past five games. He leads Florida defensemen in goals, assists and points. All eight of his goals have been scored at FLA
Live Arena.
HOME IS WHERE THE ‘HART IS
Sam Reinhart registered a career-high four points (1-3-4) Dec. 2 vs. BUF. Reinhart has amassed five points (2-3-5) over his past two games, including the game-winning goal with 15 seconds remaining to cap Florida’s prior comeback Nov. 30 vs. WSH. He has produced six points (3-3-6) over his past four contests. His 17 points (6-11-17) this season are tied for third-most among Florida forwards.
YOU’RE ON THE CASE, BOBROVSKY
Sergei Bobrovsky earned his 10th win of the season Nov. 30 vs. WSH to improve to 8-0-0 at FLA Live Arena in 2021-22, becoming the the first goaltender in Panthers history to win each of his first eight decisions on home ice to start the season. He was the only goaltender in club history with points in each of his first 10 or more decisions in a season. Bobrovsky owns a .923 save percentage and has won each of his past nine decisions at FLA Live Arena dating back to May 8 vs. TBL.
RETURN OF THE MACK
MacKenzie Weegar set career highs in time on ice (30:01) and shots on goal (6) and added two assists Dec. 2 vs. BUF. He has notched at least one assist in eight of his past 10 games (0-9-9). Weegar’s six takeaways Nov. 30 vs. WSH are tied for the most takeaways in a single game by any NHL skater in 2021-22. His 14 assists this season (0-14-14) are the second-most among FLA d-men. The 27-year-old native of Ottawa, Ontario ranks second on FLA with 69 hits this season and he leads the team with 52 blocked shots, which are tied for the second-most among league skaters. He also leads the team with 34 takeaways, the second-most of any NHLer this season.
BENNY AND THE CATS
Sam Bennett scored his team-leading third power-play goal and logged six hits Nov. 30 vs. WSH. Bennett leads FLA forwards with 68 shots on goal and 42 hits this season. He has amassed 28 points (14-14-28) over 29 total regular season games as a Panther. His three game-winning goals are tied with Eetu Luostarinen for the most on the Panthers this season. Seven of his eight goals this season have been scored at FLA Live Arena.
FINNISH PHENOM
Anton Lundell recorded his first NHL multi-goal game (2-0-2) Dec. 2 vs. BUF. He has taken the most faceoffs of any NHL rookie this season (264) and leads all NHL forwards in shorthanded time on ice per game (2:56). Four of his five goals this season have been scored in the third period, tied for second-most third-period tallies on the team.
AGENT CARTER
Carter Verhaeghe recorded two assists Dec. 2 vs. BUF, both at even strength. 17 (7-17-17) of his 18 points have come at even strength this season, the second-most even-strength points on FLA. Verhaeghe has logged nine points (4-5-9) over his past 11 games. He leads Panthers forwards in total even-strength time on ice (347:52).
A JUMBO ACHIEVEMENT
Joe Thornton tallied his second goal of the season Nov. 30 vs. WSH. His goal represented his 1,533rd NHL point, tying Mark Recchi for 12th-most points in NHL history. Thornton has produced a point in two of his past three games (1-1-2).
MOST CAREER POINTS — NHL HISTORY
- Ray Bourque – 1,579
T-12. Mark Recchi – 1,533
T-12. Joe Thornton – 1,533 - Paul Coffey – 1,531
KNIGHT TIME
Spencer Knight stopped all 19 shots he faced in relief Dec. 2 vs. BUF, helping Florida secure its second consecutive comeback victory. This season at FLA Live Arena, Knight owns a 5-1-0 record and a .925 save percentage.
THE LOMBERGHINI
Ryan Lomberg recorded his first career multi-point game (1-1-2) Nov. 30 vs. WSH. He leads FLA forwards with 21 PIM this season, and has posted a career-high five points (2-3-5). He ranks third among FLA forwards with 34 hits.
ET TU, EETU?
Eetu Luostarinen scored his first career shorthanded goal and added an assist for his second career multi-point performance Nov. 30 vs. WSH. Luostarinen’s eight points (7-1-8) match his career high from 2020-21 and he is tied for the team lead with three game-winning goals.
