Panthers Pregamer 3.11.21 at CBJ

MARCH 11, 2021 at COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS

Nationwide Arena | 7 P.M. ET
Television: Fox Sports Florida

Radio: 560 WQAM| 640 WMEN | 100.3 WCTH | 107.9/1370 WZTA | SIRIUSXM STREAMING 932

PANTHERS vs. BLUE JACKETS

ALL-TIME vs. CBJ: 12-14-0-10

ALL-TIME ROAD vs. CBJ: 5-10-0-5

STREAKS: FLA has earned points in each of its last four games at CBJ (2-0-2)

2020-21 vs. CBJ: 2-0-1

LAST ROAD WIN vs. CBJ: March 9, 2021 (4-2 W)

TEAM STATS

	FLORIDA (16-5-4)	COLUMBUS (10-12-5)
GOALS FOR	83 (T-6^th)	70 (T-20^th)
GOALS AGAINST	70 (19th)	87 (T-4^th)
POWER PLAY %	26.0 (T-9^th)	15.5 (26^th)
PENALTY KILL %	78.1 (17^th)	72.7 (27^th)
SHOTS FOR PER-GAME	34.0 (1^st)	28.9 (T-23^rd)
SHOTS AGAINST PER-GAME	31.0 (T-9^th)	31.1 (8^th)
5-on-5 SHOT ATTEMPT %	52.1 (7^th)	46.3 (31^st)
FACEOFF WIN %	48.4 (22^nd)	45.6 (29^th)

CATS STATS

With a 4-2 win on March 9, FLA has earned points in all three matchups against CBJ this season (2-0-1). Carter Verhaeghe has produced a team-leading three goals and four points against CBJ in the season series, while Sergei Bobrovsky has earned wins in each of his two starts against his former club.
Against the Blue Jackets in 2020-21, the Cats own a 25.1 power play percentage (2-8) and a 91.7 penalty kill percentage (11-12). Each of Florida’s last five games against CBJ have been played at Nationwide Arena (2-1-2).
Florida owns a 9-2-1 record on the road this season, registering an 8-2-0 record over their last 10 road games. Florida’s .792 road points percentage leads all NHL teams as of March 9.
On the opposition’s ice this season, the Panthers have logged a 30.0 PP% (12/40) and 90.2 PK% (37/41). On March 9 at CBJ, the Panthers scored twice on the PP and thwarted all three CBJ power play opportunities.
Jonathan Huberdeau (5-11-16) and Aleksander Barkov (4-11-15) lead the Cats in road scoring while four different Panthers players have scored five goals on the road (Ekblad, Hornqvist, Huberdeau, Verhaeghe).
Over Florida’s last 12 games (Feb. 17-March 9), the club has accumulated a league-leading 448 shots on goal. In that span, Patric Hornqvist (43) and Aleksander Barkov (42) lead the Panthers in shots on goal.
Panthers Captain Aleksander Barkov enters tonight’s game with eight points (1-7-8) over his last seven games. Over Florida’s five games in March, Barkov has produced a team-leading six assists.
Jonathan Huberdeau enters tonight’s game on a four-game point streak (2-4-6) and has amassed 14 points (6-8-14) over his last 13 games . The eighth NHLer to reach 30 points this season, Huberdeau leads the Cats in points (30), assists (20) and power-play points (13), while tied for first on the club in goals (10).
Aaron Ekblad has recorded three goals and seven points over his last four games (3-3-6). Of his three goals in that span, he has scored twice on the power play. He registered a career-best four points (2-2-4) on March 4 at NSH, tying the franchise record for points in a game by a defenseman.
Sergei Bobrovsky enters tonight’s game on a season-high (tied) three-game personal win streak owning a .924 save percentage through those three games. Bobrovsky has earned points in each of his last five starts (4-0-1) owning a .927 save percentage and .936 even strength save percentage.
Over five career appearances against his former club, Sergei Bobrovsky owns a 3-1-1 mark, 2.18 goals against average and .935 save percentage.
Noel Acciari has produced four points over his last three games (3-1-4). He registered his first three goals of the season on March 6 at NSH, recording his third career hat trick (all with FLA).
Patric Hornqvist enters tonight’s game tied for the Panthers lead in goals (10). The 34-year-old forward has notched 21 points (10-11-21) over 25 games in his first season with FLA.
Mason Marchment enters tonight’s game with five points (2-3-5) over his last seven games. The 25-year-old scored his first NHL goal on March 4 at NSH. Marchment’s 16 hits over his last seven games leads all FLA forwards.
Among all of FLA’s rookies this season, Eetu Luostarinen has played a team-leading 25 games and ranks second on FLA with 19 takeaways. Owen Tippett tallied the Panthers game-winning goal on March 9 at CBJ, scoring his first career power play goal. He is the third Panthers rookie this season to score a game-winning goal.
MacKenzie Weegar enters tonight’s game with three points (1-2-3) over his last two games. All 13 (2-11-13) of Weegar’s points this season have been recorded at even strength.
Radko Gudas leads all NHL defensemen in hits (118) and leads FLA in plus/minus (+10), ranking second in blocked shots (25).

RECENT TRANSACTIONS

– March 9: D Markus Nutivaara activated from IR, F Owen Tippett recalled from Taxi Squad
– March 8: D Riley Stillman recalled from Taxi Squad, F Grigori Denisenko, D Kevin Connauton loaned to Taxi Squad
– March 7: F Owen Tippett loaned to Taxi Squad
– March 6: F Owen Tippett and F Grigori Denisenko recalled from Taxi Squad, D Riley Stillman loaned to Taxi Squad

FLA-CBJ CONNECTIONS

FLA goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky played seven seasons for CBJ (2012-13 to 2018-19), posting a .921 save percentage, 2.41 goals against average, and 33 shutouts over 374 appearances. He won the Vezina Trophy as the NHL’s best goaltender in 2012-13 and 2016-17.
FLA forward Alex Wennberg played six seasons for CBJ (2014-15 to 2019-20), producing 201 points (40-161-201) over 415 games. Wennberg was originally selected by CBJ in the first round (14th overall) of the 2013 NHL Draft.
FLA defenseman Markus Nutivaara played four seasons for CBJ (2016-17 to 2019-20), notching 60 points (17-43-60) over 244 games. He was originally selected by CBJ in the fifth round (189th overall) of the 2015 NHL Draft.
FLA defenseman Anton Stralman played two seasons for CBJ (2009-10 to 2010-11), recording 52 points (7-45-52) over 124 games.
FLA forward Anthony Duclair played 53 games for CBJ (2018-19), registering 19 points (11-8-19).
FLA defenseman Kevin Connauton played two seasons for CBJ (2014-15 to 2015-16), recording 27 points (10-17-27) over 81 games.
FLA General Manager Bill Zito served in CBJ’s front office for seven seasons (2013-14 to 2019-20), finishing his tenure as Senior Vice President of Hockey Ops., Associate General Manager and Alternate Governor.
FLA Vice President of Player Personnel & Development Gregory Campbell played 82 games for CBJ in 2015-16, recording 11 points (3-8-11). He also served as development coach for CBJ and their AHL affiliate, the Cleveland Monsters for three seasons (2017-18 to 2019-20).
FLA Senior Advisor to the General Manager Paul Fenton served one season (2019-20) as a scout for CBJ.
FLA Assistant to the General Manager Blake Geoffrion served four seasons with CBJ as a scout (2013-14 to 2015-16, 2019-20) and three seasons as Assistant General Manager for CBJ’s AHL affiliate, the Cleveland Monsters (2016-17 to 2018-19).
FLA Assistant to the General Manager Tom Bark served five seasons (2015-16 to 2019-20) in CBJ’s front office as an analyst and Special Assistant to the General Manager.
FLA Assistant Coach Derek MacKenzie played seven seasons (2007-08 to 2013-14) for CBJ and the club’s AHL affiliate at the time, the Syracuse Crunch. He amassed 69 points (31-38-69) in 279 games for CBJ.
FLA forward Aleksander Barkov and CBJ forward Patrik Laine are both from Tampere, Finland and both played for Tappara in Liiga.
CBJ forward Nick Foligno’s father Mike Foligno played his final NHL season with FLA in 1993-94, posting nine points (4-5-9) over 39 games.

CHASING FRANCHISE HISTORY

Franchise Goals	Franchise Assists	Franchise Points
1. Olli Jokinen (188)	1. Jonathan Huberdeau (309)	1. Jonathan Huberdeau (467)
2. Aleksander Barkov (163)	2. Aleksander Barkov (271)	2. Aleksander Barkov (434)
3. Jonathan Huberdeau (158)	3. Stephen Weiss (249)	3. Olli Jokinen (419)
4. Scott Mellanby (157)	4. Olli Jokinen (231)	4. Stephen Weiss (394)
5. Pavel Bure (152)	5. Robert Svehla (229)	5. Scott Mellanby (354)