MARCH 18, 2021 vs. NASHVILLE PREDATORS
BB&T Center | 7 P.M. ET
Television: Fox Sports Florida
Radio: 560 WQAM| 640 WMEN | 100.3 WCTH | 107.9/1370 WZTA | SIRIUSXM CH. 222/STREAMING CH. 932
PANTHERS vs. PREDATORS
ALL-TIME vs. NSH: 18-9-3-6
ALL-TIME HOME vs. NSH: 10-3-1-4
STREAKS: FLA has won each of its last three games against NSH, has earned points in each of its last six games against NSH (5-0-1) and has earned
points in each of its last three home games against NSH (2-0-1)
2020-21 vs. NSH: 3-0-1
TEAM STATS
| FLORIDA (19-5-4) | NASHVILLE (12-16-1) | |
| GOALS FOR | 98 (5th) | 69 (26th) |
| GOALS AGAINST | 79 (T-19th) | 97 (5th) |
| POWER PLAY % | 27.1 (7th) | 20.2 (T-17th) |
| PENALTY KILL % | 79.8 (13th) | 68.0 (31st) |
| SHOTS FOR PER-GAME | 34.1 (2nd) | 31.2 (T-8th) |
| SHOTS AGAINST PER-GAME | 31.0 (12th) | 30.2 (T-14th) |
| 5-on-5 SHOT ATTEMPT % | 52.2 (8th) | 52.8 (6th) |
| FACEOFF WIN % | 50.2 (T-16th) | 51.1 (T-11th) |
CATS STATS
- The Panthers have topped the Predators in each of their last three matchups. Three of Florida’s four contests against Nashville this season have ended as one-goal games. The Panthers have scored five power-play goals this season against NSH, owning a 35.7 PP% (5-14).
- Jonathan Huberdeau leads FLA with five goals and nine points (5-4-9) over the four games vs. NSH. His 10 goals and 19 career points against NSH is the most by any Panthers player vs. NSH in franchise history.
- Florida currently stands as the only NHL club with six players who have scored at least 10 goals: Barkov (12), Hornqvist (11), Verhaeghe (11), Ekblad (10), Huberdeau (10), Vatrano (10).
- The Panthers continue their four-game homestand tonight (2-0-0), owning a 9-3-3 home record this season and a 3-0-2 mark over their last five home games. Florida’s last seven home victories have all been won in regulation.
- Aleksander Barkov has recorded a team-best 18 points on home ice (7-11- 18). Barkov and Frank Vatrano have scored a team-leading seven goals at BB&T Center. Sergei Bobrovsky has posted a 6-1-2 record at home.
- The Panthers own a 6-1-0 record over their last seven games and have won each of their last four games. Through the Panthers seven-game span, the Panthers have registered a league-leading 32 goals (tied), while owning a sixth-ranked 32.0 PP% and 87.0 PK%. Over those seven games five different Panthers have scored at least three goals: Noel Acciari, Aleksander Barkov (4), Aaron Ekblad (4), Frank Vatrano and Carter Verhaeghe (4).
- Panthers Captain Aleksander Barkov has recorded three points in each of his last two games (3-3-6) and has scored goals in each of his last three games (4G). Barkov enters tonight’s game with 15 points (5-10-15) over his last 10 games. Barkov ranks tied for first on FLA in points (34), while leading the Cats in goals (12), shots (100), takeaways (22-T), total ice time among forwards (592:40) and faceoff win percentage (53.8).
- Barkov (114) is two even-strength goals away from passing Olli Jokinen (115) for the second-most even-strength goals in franchise history. He is one game-winning goal shy of joining Jokinen (36) as one of only two Panthers to have registered 30 game-winning goals with the club.
- Jonathan Huberdeau enters tonight’s game with 10 points (2-7-10) over his last seven games. The eighth NHLer to reach 30 points this season, Huberdeau is tied for the team lead in points (34), while leading the Cats in assists (24) and power-play points (15). With 10 goals on the season, Huberdeau’s 19.6 shooting percentage ranks first on Florida.
- Aaron Ekblad has recorded four goals and nine points over his last seven games (4-5-9). Florida’s franchise leader in goals (81) and power-play goals (29) scored by a defenseman, Ekblad stands at second in the NHL this season for goals by defensemen (10) and first in power-play goals by D-men (6). With his goal on March 15 vs. CHI, Ekblad reached 10 goals in a season for the sixth time in his seven-season career.
- Sergei Bobrovsky enters tonight’s game on a season-high six-game win streak, his longest as a Panther. Bobrovsky has earned points in each of his last eight starts (7-0-1). Over that span, among goalies who have played in at least eight games, Bobrovksy’s .919 SV% ranks fourth while tied for second in wins. His 12 wins on the season are tied for seventh in the NHL.
- MacKenzie Weegar enters tonight’s game on a career-high five-game point streak (1-6-7). All 17 (2-15-17) of Weegar’s points this season have been recorded at even strength. Leading the Cats with 550:18 EV-TOI, Weegar’s 16 even-strength points lead all Panthers defensemen.
- Carter Verhaeghe enters tonight’s game on a four-game point streak (3-2-5) and two-game multi-point game streak (1-1-2). Verhaeghe owns a teamleading 11 even-strength goals and +13 rating.
- Defenseman Radko Gudas leads FLA with 128 hits. Over his last 21 games, from Feb. 4 to March 15, Gudas logged an NHL-leading 106 hits. Gudas has recorded assists in two of his last three games and is one assist shy of his 100th NHL assist.
- Frank Vatrano has scored game-winning goals in two of his last three games. He has produced three goals and four points over his last six games and six goals over his last 10 games. Vatrano leads the Panthers with four game-winning goals and ranks second on the club in even-strength goals (10).
- Patric Hornqvist enters tonight’s game ranking second on the Panthers in goals (11). The 34-year-old forward has notched 23 points (11-12-23) over 28 games in his first season with FLA. Two games shy of his 800th NHL game, the two-time Stanley Cup Champion has recorded four goals and eight points over his last 10 games.
- Owen Tippett owns a career-high four-game point streak (3-1-4) heading into tonight’s game. Over his last four games, the 22-year-old has logged 11 shots and a 27.3 shooting percentage, while registering two power-play goals, an even-strength goal and a game-winning goal.
- Noel Acciari has registered six points (3-3-6) over his last six games. Acciari’s 24 blocked shots leads all FLA forwards, while his 44 hits is ranked tied for first on the club.
- Gustav Forsling has produced three points (1-2-3) over his last four games. Forsling scored his first goal as a Panther on March 15 vs. CHI and produced his first multi-point game of the season (1-1-2).
- With a win against CHI on March 15, the Panthers occupied first place in the NHL beyond their second game of the season for the first time since Dec. 28, 1996 (20-8-9, 49 points).
RECENT TRANSACTIONS
– March 13: F Anthony Duclair activated from IR, D Riley Stillman loaned to Taxi Squad
– March 9: D Markus Nutivaara activated from IR, F Owen Tippett recalled from Taxi Squad
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). Hornqvist 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 Hornqvist, 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 (313) | 1. Jonathan Huberdeau (471) |
| 2. Aleksander Barkov (167) | 2. Aleksander Barkov (274) | 2. Aleksander Barkov (441) |
| 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) |
PANTHERS LEADERS
Games Played: 10 Players (28)
Goals: Barkov (12)
Assists: Huberdeau (24)
Points: Huberdeau/Barkov (34)
Power-Play Goals: Hornqvist/Ekblad (6)
Power-Play Points: Huberdeau (15)
Shorthanded Goals: Barkov (1)
Shorthanded Points: Barkov/Acciari/Weegar (1)
Shots: Barkov (100)
PIM: Yandle (26)
+/-: Verhaeghe (+13)
Faceoff Win % (Min. 100 faceoffs): Barkov (53.8)
Blocked Shots: Weegar (35)
Hits: Gudas (128)
TOI/GP: Ekblad (25:08)
PP TOI/GP: Yandle (3:57)
SH TOI/GP: Acciari (2:58)
Wins: Bobrovsky (12)
Shutouts: –
ACTIVE STREAKS
Goal Streak Barkov (3 Games, 4 Goals), Verhaeghe (2 Games, 2 Goals)
Assist Streak Weegar (4 Games, 6 Assists), Verhaeghe (3 Games, 3 Assists), Barkov (2 Games, 3 Assists)
Point Streak Weegar (5 Games, 1-6-7), Verhaeghe (4 Games, 3-3-6), Tippet (4 Games, 3-1-4), Barkov (3 Games, 4-3-7)
TONIGHT AT BB&T CENTER
- Tonight is $5 Beer Thursday at BB&T Center. Fans can purchase domestic beers for $5 at select concession stands and bars and are available through mobile ordering.
- 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.
- Contactless, Mobile Food Ordering is now available for all games at BB&T Center. The Florida Panthers are offering fans safe and convenient purchasing experiences while at the BB&T Center, enabling mobile ordering through the NHL league-wide 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.
- 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: Ramiro Chambers
Tonight’s Hero Among Us is veteran Ramiro Chambers. Ramiro served a total of 10 years in the US Army and Florida Army National Guard. During his service in the US Army, he was deployed to Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Ramiro has spent his post-military career as a deputy for the Broward Sheriff’s Office since 2005.
- BB&T (Now Truist) Territory Teammate: Liz McMenamin
GREAT MOMENTS IN PANTHERS HISTORY
March 19, 2015: Jaromir Jagr recorded his 718th career goal as the Panthers defeated the Detroit Red Wings, 3-1. The goal placed Jagr fifth on the NHL’s all-time goals list, surpassing Phil Esposito.
