MARCH 9, 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: 11-14-0-10
ALL-TIME ROAD vs. CBJ: 4-10-0-5
STREAKS: FLA has earned points in each of its last three games at CBJ (1-0-2)
2020-21 vs. CBJ: 1-0-1
| FLORIDA (15-5-4) | COLUMBUS (10-11-5) | |
| GOALS FOR | 79 (T-8th) | 68 (21st) |
| GOALS AGAINST | 68 (T-17th) | 83 (5th) |
| POWER PLAY % | 24.7 (10th) | 16.2 (25th) |
| PENALTY KILL % | 77.1 (T-20th) | 74.2 (24th) |
| SHOTS FOR PER-GAME | 34.1 (1st) | 28.5 (26th) |
| SHOTS AGAINST PER-GAME | 30.7 (T-13th) | 31.0 (8th) |
| 5-on-5 SHOT ATTEMPT % | 52.2 (7th) | 46.2 (31st) |
| FACEOFF WIN % | 48.0 (24th) | 45.8 (29th) |
CATS STATS
- FLA has earned points in each of their two games at CBJ this season (1-0-1) after a seven-game winless streak at Nationwide Arena (0-4-3, Feb. 27, 2016-Feb. 4, 2020). Carter Verhaeghe (2-1-3) and Anthony Duclair (0-3-3) lead FLA with three points each vs. CBJ this season.
- Sergei Bobrovsky owns a 2-1-1 record and .930 save percentage over four career games against his former club, including a 4-3 shootout victory Jan. 26 where he denied 4 of 5 CBJ shooters to earn the victory. Each of Florida’s last three matchups against CBJ, dating back to Dec. 31, 2019 have been one-goal games and all three have gone to OT.
- Florida owns an 8-2-1 record on the road this season, registering a 7-2-0 record over their last nine road games. Florida’s .773 road points percentage ranks second among NHL teams. On the opposition’s ice this season, the Panthers have logged a 89.5 PK% (34/38).
- Aleksander Barkov (5-10-15) and Jonathan Huberdeau (4-11-15) lead the Cats in road scoring. Huberdeau and Aaron Ekblad have scored a team-best five goals on the road this season.
- Over Florida’s last 11 games (Feb. 17-March 7), the club has accumulated a league-leading 415 shots on goal and rank second with 36 goals scored. In that span, Aleksander Barkov and Patric Hornqvist lead the Panthers in shots on goal (40). Through the 11 games, the Panthers have averaged a league-best 37.7 shots per game.
- Panthers Captain Aleksander Barkov enters tonight’s game on a season-high six-game point streak (1-7-8). The native of Tampere, Finland has registered 16 points (4-12-16) over his last 12 games. Over Florida’s four games in March, Barkov has produced a team-leading six assists.
- Owning the second-most points in franchise history, Barkov ranks second on the Panthers this season in points (27), is tied for first on Florida in assists (19) and even-strength points (17). He leads the Panthers in shots on goal (85), takeaways (21), total ice time for forwards (504:26) and faceoff win percentage (52.0 – min. 100 faceoffs).
- Jonathan Huberdeau has amassed 13 points (6-7-13) over his last 12 games. Huberdeau leads the Cats in points (29), goals (10) and power-play points (12), while tied for first on the club in assists (19).
- Aaron Ekblad enters tonight’s game with three goals and six points over his last three games. The 25-year-old produced a career-high four points (2-2- 4) on March 4 vs. NSH, tying the franchise record for points recorded in a game by a defenseman. The Panthers franchise leader in goals (80) and power play goals (28) by a defenseman, Ekblad’s nine goals (tied) and five power play goals this season leads all NHL defensemen.
- March 7 at CAR, Keith Yandle skated in his 1,000th NHL game, becoming the 12th player in history to play their 1,000th NHL game with the Panthers. The native of Boston, Mass., became the 352nd NHL player, 116th defenseman, 52nd U.S.-born player and the 19th U.S.-born defenseman to reach the 1,000 games played milestone. The owner of the third-longest “Ironman” streak in NHL history (890), Yandle has posted three assists over his last three games.
- Frank Vatrano enters tonight’s game with four goals over his last six games. Each of his last four goals in that span have been scored in the third period. All eight of Vatrano’s goals this season have been scored at even-strength. He is tied for first on the club in even-strength goals, game-winning goals (2) and third-period tallies (5).
- Noel Acciari has produced four points over his past two 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).
- Sergei Bobrovsky has posted a 3-0-1 record over his last four starts (Feb. 25 – March 6). Over that span, Bobrovsky has posted a .920 save percentage and .938 even-strength save percentage. Among goalies who have played in four games over that span his SV% ranks fifth and EV-SV% ranks second in the NHL.
- Patric Hornqvist ranks tied for second on FLA in goals (9) and has produced 20 points (9-10-19) in 24 GP with FLA this season. Hornqvist’s assist on March 6 at NSH marked his 500th NHL point.
- Mason Marchment enters tonight’s game with five points (2-3-5) over his last six games. The 25-year-old scored his first NHL goal on March 4 at NSH. Marchment’s 12 hits over his last six games leads all FLA forwards.
- MacKenzie Weegar posted his second goal of the season March 7 at CAR. He leads the Panthers with 477:51 total even strength TOI. Weegar’s 11 even-strength points (2-9-11) leads all Panthers defensemen.
- Radko Gudas leads the Panthers in hits (115), plus/minus (+11) and on-ice even-strength goal differential (11), while ranking second on the club in blocked shots (24). Gudas enters tonight’s game leading all NHL defensemen in hits and is three assists away from his 200th NHL assist.
- Over FLA’s last five games they have scored nine third-period goals, tied for the league lead over that span (Feb.27-March 7).
- Over FLA’s last 18 games (Feb. 4 – March 7), the club has posted a league-best 458 hits and 140 takeaways. In that span, Radko Gudas ranks first in the NHL for hits (93) and Eetu Luostarinen ranks tied for third in the NHL for takeaways (16)
RECENT TRANSACTIONS
– 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
– March 2: F Owen Tippett loaned to Taxi Squad
– March 1: F Owen Tippett, D Riley Stillman recalled from FLA Taxi Squad, F Brett Connolly loaned to FLA Taxi Squad, F Noel Acciari activated from IR, F Anthony Duclair and D Noah Juulsen placed on IR, F Logan Hutsko agreed to terms on a 2-year entry-level contract (starting 2021-22).
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 (308) | 1. Jonathan Huberdeau (466) |
| 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) |
PANTHERS LEADERS
Games Played: 10 Players (24)
Goals: Huberdeau (10)
Assists: Huberdeau/Barkov (19)
Points: Huberdeau (29)
Power-Play Goals: Hornqvist/Ekblad (5)
Power-Play Points: Huberdeau (12)
Shorthanded Goals: –
Shorthanded Points: –
Shots: Barkov (85)
PIM: Yandle (26)
+/-: Gudas (+11)
Faceoff Win % (Min. 100 faceoffs): Barkov (52.0)
Blocked Shots: Weegar (28)
Hits: Gudas (115)
TOI/GP: Ekblad (25:10)
PP TOI/GP: Yandle (3:55)
SH TOI/GP: Acciari (2:40)
Wins: Bobrovsky (8)
Shutouts: –
ACTIVE STREAKS
Goal Streak None
Assist Streak Barkov (5 Games, 7 Assists), Huberdeau (3 Games, 3 Assists)
Point Streak Barkov (6 Games, 1-7-8), Huberdeau (3 Games, 2-3-5), Acciari (2 Games, 3-1-4)
GREAT MOMENTS IN PANTHERS HISTORY
March 9, 2009: The Florida Panthers defeated the Minnesota Wild 3-2 in a shootout. The victory for the Cats marked the 500th win in franchise history. Forward Cory Stillman tied the game in the third period before notching the game-deciding goal for the Panthers in the shootout.
