FLORIDA PANTHERS vs. COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS
JANUARY 15, 2022
FLA Live Arena – Sunrise, Fla.
| FLORIDA PANTHERS | COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS |
| 9 | 2 |
PANTHERS POSTGAME QUOTES
Defenseman MacKenzie Weegar
On success in the last few games:
“We feel great. I think we kind of established that dominance at home and we are just having fun with it every single day. When we come to the rink, everyone is having fun and I think we realized how good we are and how fast we can skate. We just really established that at home and it’s a great feeling.”
On scoring his 100th NHL Point:
“I think looking back on the short period I have had in the NHL right now. When I was playing in the East Coast League, I don’t think I would have ever thought that I would get 100 points in the NHL. It’s a great milestone. Like I said in between periods, I am really happy that we got the two points along with it. Getting that PK [penalty kill] goal] was big. I am glad I can contribute to winning out there on the PK as well.
On the home crowd at Fla Live Arena:
“They have been absolutely unbelievable. It is so much fun playing behind them every single night. They are loud, having fun with it, as much fun as they have been having, I really wish I could have gave them 10 goals there with the breakaway, but unfortunately I couldn’t. A little disappointing, but I am glad they are having fun and we can really hear it. It gives us a lot of energy out here so we’ve just got to keep it going, get people in here, if they are watching TV get in here and see it first- hand. It’s been a lot of fun.
Forward Anton Lundell
On tonight’s game:
“It was really special, special game again. We started very good [in] the first period. We were ready to play. We believe in our game… Just play as a team and we did a very good job from the first shift to the very last shift.”
On Florida’s offensive production:
“We score pretty good from our chances. We move the puck, we move with the puck–pretty basic, pretty simple stuff, but we do it very well. We are enjoying playing together right now and we are just having fun. Fun doesn’t mean only playing offense, but to play very good defense. The better we play defense, the more we play offense and get scoring chances. I think our overall game is very good and it is something we need to keep building as a team.”
Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky
On team confidence and having fun:
“The guys have been rolling, definitely. It’s fun to watch and it’s fun to be a part of this incredible atmosphere on home ice. The fans create a great atmosphere as well. It’s fun to be part of it overall.
On the fan energy:
“You have to feel that energy, it’s tough to describe—you have to be part of it. It’s so much fun to play. It’s so much fun to be in the building and to have that Panthers jersey on your chest. The fans are great, they support us, and we try to play our best for them.”
Interim Head Coach Andrew Brunette
On this special Florida Panthers group:
“No, [I’ve never seen anything like this]. I mean, I’ve seen the Oilers back in the day, but in my time of playing and coaching, no, it’s been a while. I guess you could say Detroit at different times, or Colorado in that stretch in the late 90s. We’re rolling. All four lines are going, D are going. Again, tribute to the group—the joy that they’re playing with right now is contagious throughout the bench, throughout the lineup. They’re having fun and they’re really enjoying each other’s company. They’re a pleasure to be around right now. We know it’s going to get tougher but we also want to enjoy the different moments, and I think they’re having a lot of fun right now.”
On the team enjoying playing together:
“This group is an extremely tight group. I’ve had people that just watch them on TV—who aren’t even around them every day—telling me, ‘Hey, you can tell your group loves to play together.’ And that’s a huge compliment for a coach, for an organization, and for a fanbase to pick up on the love they have for each other. The joy—I think it just builds. When you’re as connected as a group as they are, they bring it upon themselves to get better. And obviously winning and scoring does a lot to bring that. It’s been a real tribute to how much they care about each other right now that’s been fun to see.”
CATS STATS
- The Panthers improved to 21-3-0 at home this season, and have won seven straight games at FLA Live Arena. Over the seven game streak, Florida has scored at least five goals six times and have outscored their opponents 45-15.
- Only the 1929-30 Boston Bruins (22 GP, 21-1-0) required fewer games in a season to record 21 home wins, per NHL PR.
- Florida has earned at least one point in nine straight games (8-0-1), tied for the fourth-longest point streak in franchise history. The Cats have outscored their opponents 54-23 over the course of the point streak.
- The Panthers scored nine goals in one game for the second time in their past eight games and the third time in franchise history. Florida is the third team in the past 10 seasons to score nine or more times twice in a single season (TBL, 2019-20 and CGY, 2018-19). Only PIT (1995-96, 5x) and DET (1995-96, 3x) have produced more nine-goal outings in a single season in NHL history.
- Florida scored at least six goals on consecutive days for the first time in franchise history.
- The Cats have tallied 16 goals over the past two nights, tied for the second-most goals scored over a two-night span in NHL history. They are just the second team in the past 25 years to accomplish the feat (WSH, Jan. 10-11, 2003).
- Florida has scored 114 goals on home ice through 24 home games. Only 8 times since 1989 has a team had more in their first 24 home games of a season.
- MacKenzie Weegar (1-3-4) became the second FLA defenseman in club history to record multiple four-point games, joining Bryan McCabe. Weegar’s goal came shorthanded, the first of his career, and marked his 100th NHL point, becoming the 11th defenseman in franchise history to surpass the 100-point mark.
- Weegar’s shorthanded goal marked Florida’s sixth of the season, currently tied for the most SHG among NHL teams. Weegar became the 10th defenseman in club history to score a shorthanded goal.
- Jonathan Huberdeau (1-1-2) logged his team-leading 11th multi-point game of the season, extending his assist/point streaks to a career-long eight games (5-15-20). Huberdeau’s eight-game assist streak is tied with Olli Jokinen (2005-06) for the longest such run in franchise history, and his eight-game point streak is the longest of his career.
- Huberdeau’s 20 points are the most over an eight-game span in franchise history, surpassing Aleksander Barkov (19, 2018-19) and Pavel Bure (19, 2000-01).
- Anton Lundell scored two goals for the second time this season and recorded a career-high eight shots on goal. Lundell has produced at least one point in seven straight home games, the second-longest such run in franchise history (Aleksander Barkov 8 games, Dec. 10, 2013 – Jan. 14, 2014).
- Carter Verhaeghe recorded his third multi-goal game of the season, the seventh of his career and sixth as a Panther. He has scored three goals over his past two games.
- Aaron Ekblad matched his career high with three assists, a feat he has accomplished three times this season.
- Sam Bennett scored his fourth goal over his past two games, following his four-point outing Jan. 14 vs. DAL, and added an assist. He has logged six points (4-2-6) over his last two contests, posting back-to-back
- Anthony Duclair (1-1-2) recorded his second straight multi-point game and his third in four games. He has produced seven points (3-4-7) over his past four games.
- Sam Reinhart notched two assists, his third multi-point performance over his past four games.
- Ryan Lomberg (1-1-2) produced his second career multi-point game.
- Sergei Bobrovsky stopped improved his record at FLA Live Arena this season to 15-1-0. He is the ninth goaltender in NHL history to earn 15 wins through 16 home decisions.
- Bobrovsky has won each of his past six games on home ice, the third-longest home win streak by a Panthers goaltender in club history.
- Nine different Panthers recorded multiple points tonight. Four different Panthers have scored at least 15 goals this season.
