FEB. 4, 2021 vs. NASHVILLE PREDATORS
BB&T Center | 7 P.M.
Television: Fox Sports Florida
Radio: 560 WQAM | 640 WMEN | 100.3 WCTH | 107.9/1370 WZTA | SIRIUSXM Streaming 932
PANTHERS vs. PREDATORS
ALL-TIME vs. NSH: 15-9-3-5
ALL-TIME HOME vs. NSH: 9-3-1-3
STREAKS: FLA has won its last two games against NSH (2-0-0)
2019-20 vs. NSH: 2-0-0
LAST HOME WIN vs. NSH: Nov. 30, 2019 (3-0 W)
TEAM STATS
| FLORIDA (5-0-1) | NASHVILLE (4-5-0) | |
| GOALS FOR | 21 (T-25th) | 21 (T-25th) |
| GOALS AGAINST | 15 (30th) | 29 (T-15th) |
| POWER PLAY % | 36.8 (4th) | 11.1 (28th) |
| PENALTY KILL % | 81.0 (12th) | 64.9 (31st) |
| SHOTS FOR PER-GAME | 31.3 (T-10th) | 32.2 (T-5th) |
| SHOTS AGAINST PER-GAME | 30.0 (15th) | 28.8 (20th) |
| 5-on-5 SHOT ATTEMPT % | 53.3 (7th) | 52.3 (9th) |
| FACEOFF WIN % | 50.3 (16th) | 53.0 (5th) |
CATS STATS
- The Panthers enter tonight’s game with a 5-0-1 record over their first six games of the season. The Cats’ six-game point streak marks their second-longest point streak to start a season in franchise history and longest since the institution of a shootout tiebreaker and elimination of ties in 2005-06.
- The Panthers have not lost a game in regulation this season. They are the only remaining team in the NHL without a regulation loss.
- Tonight Sergei Bobrovsky is expected to make his 500th NHL start. The 32-year-old goaltender has earned wins in all three of his starts this season (3-0-0), making him only the second Panthers goaltender in franchise history to have registered wins in each of his three starts to begin a season (Scott Clemmensen, 2011-12, 3-0-0).
- Per NHL Stats, with a win tonight vs. NSH, Bobrovsky could become the first goaltender in franchise history to earn a win in each of his first four starts to a season.
- In the span of their last four games, the Panthers own a 93.8 penalty kill percentage (15/16).
- Carter Verhaeghe has recorded a team-leading (tied) five goals and seven points (5-2-7) over his first six games with the Cats. All five goals and seven points for Verhaeghe have been registered at even-strength, the most on the Panthers in both categories.
- Patric Hornqvist enters tonight’s game with a team-leading (tied) seven points (5-2-7) over Florida’s first six games. The 34-year-old has produced a team-high three power play goals and is tied for the team lead in power-play points (5).
- Aleksander Barkov has recorded a team-leading (tied) seven points (2-5-7) over his first six games of the season, including three points (1-2-3) over his last two games. His goal on Jan. 30 at DET tied Scott Mellanby for second on the Panthers franchise goals list.
- Jonathan Huberdeau has registered 10 points (5-5-10) over 13 career games vs. NSH
RECENT TRANSACTIONS
– Feb. 3: F Owen Tippett assigned to FLA Taxi Squad
– Jan. 30: F Aleksi Heponiemi, F Owen Tippett added to active roster, F Ryan Lomberg assigned to FLA Taxi Squad, D Gustav Forsling placed on IR
– Jan. 28: D Markus Nutivaara added to active roster, F Owen Tippett assigned to FLA Taxi Squad
– Jan. 23: D Brady Keeper and D Riley Stillman assigned from FLA Taxi Squad to Syracuse (AHL)
– Jan. 22: F Juho Lammikko added to active roster
FLA-NSH CONNECTIONS
- FLA forward Patric Hornqvist was selected by the Predators in the seventh round (230th overall) of the 2005 NHL Draft. He played 363 games for Nashville (2008-09 to 2013-14), recording 216 points (106-110-216). Hörnqvist also played in 24 playoff games with the Predators (2009-10 to 2011-12), notching eight points (3-5-8).
- NSH forward Erik Haula played seven regular season games and four playoff games for FLA (2019-20), producing two assists in the regular season and one goal in the Stanley Cup Qualifiers.
- NSH forward Rocco Grimaldi was selected by the Panthers in the second round (33rd overall) of the 2011 NHL Draft. He played 27 games for Florida (2014-15 to 2015-16), recording six points (4-2-6). He also played two playoff games for the Panthers in 2015-16.
- FLA Special Advisor to the General Manager Roberto Luongo and NSH forward Matt Duchene played together for Team Canada at the 2014 Olympics Games in Sochi, Russia, earning Gold Medals.
- FLA forward Aleksander Barkov and NSH forward Mikael Granlund were teammates on Team Finland at the 2014 Olympics, earning Bronze medals. Barkov, Haula, and Granlund and NSH goaltender Pekka Rinne were also teammates at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.
- FLA defenseman Anton Stralman, FLA forward Patric Hörnqvist, NSH defenseman Mattias Ekholm, and NSH forward Filip Forsberg were teammates on Team Sweden at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.
- FLA defenseman Aaron Ekblad and NSH forward Matt Duchene were teammates on Team Canada at the 2015 IIHF World Championships, earning Gold Medals.
- FLA forward Brett Connolly, NSH forward Ryan Johansen, and NSH defenseman Ryan Ellis were teammates on Team Canada at the 2011 IIHF World Junior Championships, earning Silver Medals.
- FLA defenseman MacKenzie Weegar and NSH defenseman Mark Borowiecki share the hometown of Ottawa, Ontario.
- FLA defenseman Markus Nutivaara and NSH forward Mikael Granlund share the hometown of Oulu, Finland.
- NSH defenseman Matt Benning is the older brother of FLA prospect Michael Benning.
- FLA Senior Advisor to the General Manager Paul Fenton spent 20 years with the Predators organization, serving as Director of Player Personnel (1998-99 to 2005-06), Assistant General Manager (2006-07 to 2017-18), and General Manager of the Milwaukee Admirals (2013-14 to 2017-18).
- FLA Assistant to the General Manager Blake Geoffrion was raised in Nashville and was selected by the Predators in the second round (56th overall) of the 2006 NHL Draft. He played 42 games for the Predators (2010-11 to 2011-12), producing 11 points (6-5-11).
- FLA Director of European Amateur Scouting Jari Kekalainen’solder brother Janne has served as a scout for Nashville since 1999-00.
- FLA Assistant Coach Andrew Brunette played 77 games for Nashville (1998-99), registering 31 points (11-20-31).
CHASING FRANCHISE HISTORY
| Franchise Goals | Franchise Assists | Franchise Points |
| 1. Olli Jokinen (188) | 1. Jonathan Huberdeau (295) | 1. Jonathan Huberdeau (444) |
| T-2. Scott Mellanby (157) | 2. Aleksander Barkov (257) | 2. Olli Jokinen (419) |
| T-2. Aleksander Barkov (157) | 3. Stephen Weiss (249) | 3. Aleksander Barkov (414) |
| 4. Pavel Bure (152) | 4. Olli Jokinen (231) | 4. Stephen Weiss (394) |
| 5. Jonathan Huberdeau (149) | 5. Robert Svehla (229) | 5. Scott Mellanby (354) |
PANTHERS LEADERS
Games Played: 14 Players (6)
Goals: Hornqvist/Verhaeghe (5)
Assists: Duclair/Huberdeau (6)
Points: Barkov/Huberdeau/Hornqvist/Verhaeghe (7)
Power-Play Goals: Hornqvist (3)
Power-Play Points: Hornqvist/Huberdeau/Yandle (5)
Shorthanded Goals: –
Shorthanded Points: –
Shots: Barkov (24)
PIM: Yandle (10)
+/-: Duclair/Verhaeghe (+5)
Faceoff Win %: Barkov (60.7)
Blocked Shots: Acciari (9)
Hits: Gudas (22)
TOI/GP: Ekblad (25:49)
PP TOI/GP: Yandle (3:22)
SH TOI/GP: Acciari (3:45)
Wins: Bobrovsky (3)
Shutouts: –
ACTIVE STREAKS
Goal Streak None
Assist Streak Huberdeau (2 Games, 3 Assists), Barkov (2 Games, 2 Assists)
Point Streak Yandle (2 Games, 1-2-3), Barkov (2 Games, 1-2-3), Huberdeau (2 Games, 0-3-3), Ekblad (2 Games, 1-1-2), Hornqvist (2 Games, 1-1-2)
APPROACHING MILESTONES
Juho Lammikko…1st NHL Goal
Brett Connolly…2 Goals Away…100th NHL Goal
Radko Gudas…5 Assists Away…100th NHL Assist
Jonathan Huberdeau…5 Assists Away…400th NHL Assist
RECENT MILESTONES
Aleksi Heponiemi…1st NHL Game/1st NHL Goal…Jan. 30 at DET
Brett Connolly…500th NHL game…Jan. 28 at CBJ
TONIGHT AT BB&T CENTER
- Tonight, fans will be able to give back to the Florida Panthers Foundation through the 50/50 raffle. Fans at BB&T Center can purchase 50/50 raffle tickets at select kiosks throughout the arena or online for fans who are within a 75-mile radius of the game at FlaPanthers5050.com and in the Florida Panthers mobile application. Ticket prices include: 5 for $10, 20 for $20, 80 for $40 and 300 for $100.
- Tonight is ‘Thirsty Thursday’ at BB&T Center. Fans can purchase domestic beers for $5 at select concession stands and bars and are available through mobile ordering.
- The BB&T Center is the first National Hockey League Building to Achieve Well Health-Safety Certification. The WELL Health-Safety Rating is an evidence-based, third-party verified rating for all new and existing building and space types focusing on operational policies, maintenance protocols, stakeholder engagement and emergency plans to address a post-COVID-19 environment now and into the future. The Florida Panthers & BB&T Center guests can expect:
- WELL Certified and improved cleaning procedures throughout the building
- Routine maintenance and improved air filtration through arena
- Emergency response plan and protocols
- Robust safety plans for employee health and wellness
PANTHERS COMMUNITY HEROES
- City Furniture Military Hero: Dave Riska
Tonight’s Hero Among Us is US Army veteran, Dave Riska. Dave was deployed to Iraq and Panama during his 23 years of service. The National Defense Medal with Bronze Star and Army Commendation medal are just a few of the medals he earned while serving in the US Army.
- BB&T (Now Truist) Territory Teammate: Pamela Ludwick
GREAT MOMENTS IN PANTHERS HISTORY
Feb. 4, 2016: During a 6-3 win over the Detroit Red Wings, Jaromir Jagr recorded his 1,100th career assist, a feat only achieved by five other NHL players. Roberto Luongo earned his 424th career win, which sent him past Tony Esposito (423) into the no. 7 position on the NHL’s all-time wins list. Luongo also set a franchise record for nine consecutive home wins.
