Panthers Pregamer 3.27 at DAL

MARCH 27, 2021 at DALLAS STARS

American Airlines Center | 8 P.M. ET
Television: Fox Sports Florida

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

PANTHERS vs. STARS

ALL-TIME vs. DAL: 19-18-3-1

ALL-TIME ROAD at DAL: 9-7-2-0

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

TEAM STATS

	FLORIDA (20-9-4)	DALLAS (11-11-8)
GOALS FOR	106 (T-7^thmost)	84 (25^thmost)
GOALS AGAINST	92 (14^thfewest)	75 (T-4^th fewest)
POWER PLAY %	24.5 (8^th)	23.8 (T-11^th)
PENALTY KILL %	80.2 (T-12^th)	77.2 (18^th)
SHOTS FOR PER-GAME	34.9 (2^ndmost)	29.3 (T-21^st most)
SHOTS AGAINST PER-GAME	30.1 (17^thfewest)	27.0 (3^rd fewest)
5-on-5 SHOT ATTEMPT %	52.7 (6^th)	52.7 (7^th)
FACEOFF WIN %	49.9 (T-18^th)	50.5 (15^th)

CATS STATS

The Florida Panthers visit American Airlines Center for the first time this season having won two of their three matchups against DAL in their 2020-21 season series and owning a 3-1-0 mark over their last four contests against DAL dating back to Dec. 20, 2019. Through FLA’s three contests this season against DAL, Aleksander Barkov (2-0-2) and MacKenzie Weegar (0-2-2) lead the club with two points.
In their first meeting of the season on Feb. 22, the Panthers logged a season-high 52 shots on goal and set a franchise record for shots in a period (29 – 2nd period). The Cats topped the Stars 3-2 in their last matchup on Feb. 25 after staging a comeback with a three-goal third period. Florida scored three unanswered goals in 3:11 of the final 6:21 of regulation to erase a 2-0 deficit, marking the fifth time in franchise history that the Panthers overcame a multi-goal deficit in the third period to win in regulation when entering the period without a goal.
Tonight, Keith Yandle is expected to extend the NHL’s longest active “Ironman” streak to 900 consecutive games played. The longest consecutive games played streak by a defenseman and the third-longest overall in NHL history, Yandle is the third player ever to play 900 consecutive regular season games. The 34-year-old’s streak began on March 26, 2009. Yandle played in his 1,000th NHL game on March 7 at CAR. His 14 power-play points ranks tied for fourth among NHL defensemen. Yandle is eight points shy of becoming the 10th U.S.-born defenseman to reach 600 NHL points and 10 assists away from becoming the 8th U.S.-born defenseman to reach 500 NHL assists.
The Panthers own a 28.6 road power play percentage (ranking third in the NHL) and an 85.5 road penalty kill percentage (ranking fifth in the NHL). Jonathan Huberdeau‘s 19 road points (5-14-19) lead the Cats.
Over 13 of Florida’s games in the month of March, Aleksander Barkov (5-11-16) leads the Cats in points, while Aaron Ekblad (4-5-9) and MacKenzie Weegar (1-8-9) lead Florida’s defense. Barkov and Carter Verhaeghe (5-5-10) lead the club with five goals in March. Verhaeghe has notched a team-leading +8 rating through the 13 games. Over nine appearances in March, Sergei Bobrovsky owns a 6-3-0 mark.
The Panthers have accumulated 198 shots on goal over their past five games, reaching at least 40 shots three times. Over that span, Aaron Ekblad and Jonathan Huberdeau lead the team with 22 shots on goal, while Owen Tippett notched a career-high nine shots on goal on March 25 at CHI. Through those five games, eight different Panthers have scored at least one goal.
The Panthers are tied for the third-highest win percentage in games where they have surrendered the first goal (.571), while standing tied with TBL for the most wins in the NHL when scored against first (12). Florida has scored 39 goals in the third period this season, tied for the third-most in the NHL.
Jonathan Huberdeau has recorded four points (1-3-4) over his last six games. Huberdeau ranks second on the team in points (36), while leading Florida in assists (25) and power-play points (16). The native of Saint-Jerome, Quebec leads FLA with 11 multi-point performances this season.
Aaron Ekblad has recorded four goals and nine points over his last 12 games (4-5-9). Florida’s franchise leader in goals (81) and power-play goals (29) scored by a defenseman, Ekblad stands tied for second in the NHL this season for goals by defensemen (10) and first in power-play goals by D-men (6).
Noel Acciari enters tonight’s game with three assists over his last six games. Over his last six games, Acciari has produced a 53.3 faceoff win percentage and team-leading 19:01 shorthanded time on ice. The 29-year-old native of Johnston, R.I., leads all FLA forwards with 33 blocked shots and ranks second among FLA forwards with 54 hits. Over 13 games in March, Acciari has posted eight points (3-5-8).
Sergei Bobrovsky owns a 7-3-1 record over his last 11 appearances. Over that 11-game span, Bobrovsky has posted a .913 even-strength save percentage.
Chris Driedger‘s .924 save percentage is tied for fifth-best among goalies with at least 13 appearances. On March 20 vs. NSH, he recorded his second career shutout and first shutout of the season.
MacKenzie Weegar has registered nine points (1-8-9) over his last 10 games played. He recorded the team’s longest assist (six games) and point streaks (seven games) this season from March 7-20. His seven-game point streak tied Keith Yandle‘s franchise record for longest point streak by a defenseman (2018-19). Weegar’s 18 even-strength points (2-16-18) ranks third among NHL defensemen.
Carter Verhaeghe has amassed seven points (4-3-7) over his past nine games. Verhaeghe owns a team-leading 12 even-strength goals, the seventh-most (tied) in the NHL. His +14 rating ranks first on Florida and is tied for eighth among NHL forwards. Verhaeghe’s 24 points this season have all been recorded at even strength and is tied with Aleksander Barkov for most on the club.
Alex Wennberg has notched four points (2-2-4) over his last six games. Over his last six games, Wennberg has produced a team-leading 55.3 faceoff percentage and has totaled 17:55 of shorthanded ice time, the second-highest on the club. On March 23 at CHI, he recorded his seventh goal and second power-play goal of the season. Wennberg’s 16.3 shooting percentage leads FLA.
On March 23 at CHI, Radko Gudas logged a career-high 11 hits, the most recorded in a single game by a Panther since the NHL began tracking hits (2005-06). Gudas stands as FLA’s leader with 154 hits this season. Over his last 26 games, from Feb. 4 to March 25, Gudas logged an NHL-leading 132 hits. The native of Prague, Czech Republic, is one assist shy of his 100th NHL assist.

RECENT TRANSACTIONS
– March 25: F Eetu Luostarinen recalled from FLA Taxi Squad, F Brett Connolly loaned to FLA Taxis Squad, D Noah Juulsen assigned to Syracuse

(AHL) on conditioning loan
– March 23: F Brett Connolly recalled from FLA Taxi Squad, F Eetu Luostarinen loaned to FLA Taxi Squad
– March 19: F Grigori Denisenko reassigned to Syracuse (AHL)

FLA-DAL CONNECTIONS

FLA defenseman Kevin Connauton played 44 games for DAL (2013-14 to 2014-15), producing 10 points (1-9-10).
FLA goaltender Philippe Desrosiers was selected by DAL in the second round (54^th overall) of the 2013 NHL Draft.
DAL defenseman Mark Pysyk played 292 games (2016-17 to 2019-20) for FLA, registering 62 points (17-45-62).
FLA goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky and DAL forward Blake Comeau were teammates on CBJ from 2012-13 to 2013-14.
FLA forwards Patric Hornqvist and Alex Wennberg were teammates with DAL defenseman John Klingberg on Team Sweden at the 2019 IIHF World Championship.
FLA goaltender Philippe Desrosiers and DAL forward Jason Dickinson were teammates on Team Canada at the 2013 IIHF U18 World Championship, earning Gold Medals.
FLA forward Patric Hornqvist and DAL forward Alexander Radulov were teammates on NSH (2011-12).
FLA forward Vinnie Hinostroza and DAL defenseman Stephen Johns were teammates at the University of Notre Dame (2013-14).
FLA forward Frank Vatrano and DAL defenseman Joel Hanley were teammates at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst (2013-14).
FLA Amateur Scout Bill Ryan and DAL goaltender Ben Bishop were teammates at the University of Maine (2005-06 to 2007-08).
FLA forward Aleksander Barkov and DAL forward Roope Hintz share the hometown of Tampere, Finland.
FLA forward Carter Verhaeghe and DAL forward Ty Dellandrea share the hometown of Toronto, Ontario.
FLA Chief Commercial Officer Shawn Thornton was teammates with DAL forward Tyler Seguin and DAL Director of Player Development Rich Peverley on the 2011 Stanley Cup Champion Boston Bruins.
FLA Director of Amateur Scouting Shane Churla served as an amateur scout for DAL for seven seasons (2005-06 to 2012-13). He also played 366 games (1988-89 to 1995-96) for MNS/DAL, recording 60 points (24-36-60).
DAL Senior Advisor Marty Turco played for FLA Head Coach Joel Quenneville on CHI (2010-11). Turco was also teammates with FLA Chief Commercial Officer Shawn Thornton on BOS (2011-12).
FLA Director of Professional Scouting Al Tuer played six games (1987-88) for MNS, notching one assist.
FLA Professional Scout Patrick Eaves played 160 games (2014-15 to 2016-17), registering 81 points (46-35-81).
FLA Professional Scout Les Jackson spent 31 seasons (1985-86 to 1997-98, 2001-02 to 2019-20) in the MNS/DAL organization as a Scout, Assistant Coach, Assistant General Manager, General Manager, Director of Hockey Operations, Director Player Development, Director of Player Personnel, and Senior Advisor.
FLA Assistant Athletic Trainer Tommy Alva served as Assistant Athletic Trainer for DAL from 2003-04 to 2006-07 and is a native of Dallas, Texas.

CHASING FRANCHISE HISTORY

Franchise Goals	Franchise Assists	Franchise Points
1. Olli Jokinen (188)	1. Jonathan Huberdeau (314)	1. Jonathan Huberdeau (473)
2. Aleksander Barkov (168)	2. Aleksander Barkov (276)	2. Aleksander Barkov (444)
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)