Florida Panthers

Panthers Pregamer 3.20.21 vs. NSH

March 20, 2021
smorganroth

MARCH 20, 2021 vs. NASHVILLE PREDATORS

BB&T Center | 2 P.M. ET
Television: Fox Sports Florida

Radio: 560 WQAM| 640 WMEN | 100.3 WCTH | 107.9/1370 WZTA | SIRIUSXM CH. 223/STREAMING CH. 932

PANTHERS vs. PREDATORS

ALL-TIME vs. NSH: 18-10-3-6

ALL-TIME HOME vs. NSH: 10-4-1-4

2020-21 vs. NSH: 3-1-1

TEAM STATS

 FLORIDA (19-6-4)NASHVILLE (13-16-1)
GOALS FOR99 (5th)71 (T-26th)
GOALS AGAINST81 (21st)98 (T-7th)
POWER PLAY %26.1 (7th)19.6 (T-17th)
PENALTY KILL %80.5 (11th)69.0 (31st)
SHOTS FOR PER-GAME34.3 (2nd)31.1 (T-7th)
SHOTS AGAINST PER-GAME30.9 (13th)30.6 (14th)
5-on-5 SHOT ATTEMPT %52.5 (6th)52.3 (8th)
FACEOFF WIN %50.2 (T-16th)51.1 (13th)


CATS STATS

  • The Panthers have defeated the Predators in three of their past four matchups. Four of Florida’s five 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 29.4 PP% (5-17).
  • Expected to play in his 800 NHL game tonight, Patric Hornqvist enters tonight’s game on a two-game assist streak (0-2-2). He will become the 32nd native of Sweden to play at least 800 games in the NHL. He has produced four points (2-2-4) over his past five outings. Hornqvist is tied for second on the Panthers in goals (11). The 34-year-old forward has notched 24 points (11-13-24) over 29 games in his first season with FLA.
  • Jonathan Huberdeau leads FLA with six goals and 10 points (6-4-10) over the five games vs. NSH. His 11 goals and 20 career points against NSH is the most by any Panthers player vs. NSH in franchise history.
  • The Panthers continue their four-game homestand tonight (2-1-0), owning a 9-4-3 home record this season. 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 owns a 6-2-2 home record while Chris Driedger owns a .931 save percentage and 2.00 goals against average over six home appearances.
  • The Panthers have not allowed a power-play goal against over their past three games (11-11), and have allowed just one PPG against in their past five games (16-17, 94.1%).
  • Over their past eight games (since March 4), Florida owns a 88.5 PK% (23-26), ranking fourth among all NHL teams over that span.Aleksander Barkov tallied Florida’s first short-handed goal of the season March 15 vs. CHI.
  • Florida currently stands as the only NHL club with six players who have scored at least 10 goals: Barkov (12), Hornqvist (11), Verhaeghe (11), Huberdeau (11), Ekblad (10), Vatrano (10)
  • The Panthers own a 6-2-0 record over their last eight games and have won four of their past five games. Their six wins from March 4 – March 18 are tied for second-most among NHL teams over that span, and their 4.13 goals per game lead the NHL. Over those eight games seven different Panthers have scored at least three goals: Noel Acciari, Aleksander Barkov (4), Aaron Ekblad (4), Jonathan Huberdeau, Owen Tippett, Frank Vatrano and Carter Verhaeghe (4).
  • Panthers Captain Aleksander Barkov has recorded six points (3-3-6) over his past three games. He has registered five shots in each of those games. Barkov enters tonight’s game with 15 points (5-10-15) over his last 11 games. Barkov ranks second on FLA in points (34), while leading the Cats in goals (12), shots (105), takeaways (23-T), total ice time among forwards (611:08) and faceoff win percentage (53.7).
  • 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. He is one short-handed goal away from tying Jokinen and Bill Lindsay (8 each) for fourth-most SHG in club history.
  • Jonathan Huberdeau has produced three points (1-2-3) over his past two games, and 11 points (3-8-11) over his past eight contests. Huberdeau leads Florida in points (35), assists (24) and power-play points (15). With 11 goals on the season, Huberdeau’s 20.4 shooting percentage ranks first on Florida.
  • Aaron Ekblad has recorded four goals and nine points over his last eight 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).
  • Chris Driedger has earned wins in four of his last seven starts (4-2-1) and owns a .920 even-strength save percentage over those games. Driedger owns a 7-3-2 record this season, and his .920 save percentage is tied for ninth-best among goalies with at least 12 appearances.
  • MacKenzie Weegar enters tonight’s game on a career-high six-game point streak (1-7-8), tied for the second-longest point streak by a Panthers defenseman in franchise history, behind Keith Yandle’s seven-game point streak (2-6-8, Oct. 24 – Nov. 11, 2018). His five-game assist streak and six-game point streak are each tied for the longest by a Panther this season. Weegar’s 17 even-strength points (2-15-17) ranks tied for second among NHL defensemen.
  • Carter Verhaeghe has amassed five points (3-2-5) over his past five games. Verhaeghe owns a team-leading 11 even-strength goals, tied for fourth-most in the NHL. His +12 rating ranks tied for first on Florida with Radko Gudas. Verhaeghe’s 22 points this season have all been recorded at even strength and is tied with Aleksander Barkov for most on the club.
  • Radko Gudas leads FLA with 134 hits. Over his last 22 games, from Feb. 4 to March 18, Gudas logged an NHL-leading 112 hits. Gudas has recorded assists in two of his last four games and is one assist shy of his 100th NHL assist.
  • Owen Tippett has produced four points (3-1-4) over his past five games. Over his last five games, the 22-year-old has logged 14 shots and a 21.4 shooting percentage, while registering two power-play goals, an even-strength goal and a game-winning goal.
  • Noel Acciari tied Florida’s season-high for blocked shots in a game (4) March 18 vs. NSH. He has registered six points (3-3-6) over his last seven games. Acciari leads all FLA forwards in blocked shots (28), ranking second with 44 hits.


RECENT TRANSACTIONS
– March 19: F Grigori Denisenko reassigned to Syracuse (AHL)
– March 13: F Anthony Duclair activated from IR, D Riley Stillman loaned to 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’s older 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 GoalsFranchise AssistsFranchise Points
1. Olli Jokinen (188)1. Jonathan Huberdeau (313)1. Jonathan Huberdeau (472)
2. Aleksander Barkov (167)2. Aleksander Barkov (274)2. Aleksander Barkov (441)
3. Jonathan Huberdeau (159)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 (29)

Goals: Barkov (12)

Assists: Huberdeau (24)

Points: Huberdeau (35)

Power-Play Goals: Hornqvist/Ekblad (6)

Power-Play Points: Huberdeau (15)

Shorthanded Goals: Barkov (1)

Shorthanded Points: Barkov/Acciari/Weegar (1)

Shots: Barkov (105)

PIM: Yandle (28)
+/-: Verhaeghe/Gudas (+12)

Faceoff Win % (Min. 100 faceoffs): Barkov (53.7)

Blocked Shots: Weegar (36)

Hits: Gudas (134)

TOI/GP: Ekblad (25:13)

PP TOI/GP: Yandle (3:57)

SH TOI/GP: Acciari (2:54)

Wins: Bobrovsky (12)

Shutouts: –

ACTIVE STREAKS

Goal Streak        None

Assist Streak      Weegar (5 Games, 7 Assists), Hornqvist (2 Games, 2 Assists)

Point Streak       Weegar (6 Games, 1-7-8), Huberdeau (2 Games, 1-2-3), Hornqvist (2 Games, 0-2-2)

TONIGHT AT BB&T CENTER

  • Today the Florida Panthers are celebrating Pride Day at BB&T Center. Throughout the night, the club will honor various South Florida people and organizations who support the LGBTQ+ community. The South Florida Gay Men’s Chorus soloist will sing the National Anthem prior to the game and a Pride hat will be available for purchase at FlaTeamShop.com and at Pantherland.
  • Today is a Reverse Retro Saturday at BB&T Center. The Panthers will wear their adidas Reverse Retro jerseys six times this season. The team’s crest is featured front and center, while palm tree graphics on the shoulders and pointed sleeve stripes add considerable design details that nod to the South Florida region. The ’96 on the collar honors the Florida Panthers 1996 team who reached the Stanley Cup Final in only their third season in the National Hockey League. Fans can purchase these jerseys by visiting FLATeamShop.com.
  • Today, 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: Umut Dursun


In honor of Pride Day, today’s Hero Among Us is Sergeant Umut Dursun. Umut served in the United States Marine Corps from 2000-2004. He is the recipient of the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, and Meritorious Mast (5). Umut continues to serve the Trans community as the Executive Director of Education for YES Institute.

  • BB&T (Now Truist) Territory Teammate: Dr. Shelley Slapion-Foote

GREAT MOMENTS IN PANTHERS HISTORY
March 21, 2015: Shawn Thornton played his 600th NHL game as the Panthers defeated the Bruins 2-1 in a shootout. Thornton became just the third player to play 600 games in both the NHL and AHL. Thornton was also the first player to have played 600 games in the AHL before playing 600 in the NHL.

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