APRIL 20, 2021 vs. COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS
BB&T Center | 7:00 P.M. ET
Television: Bally Sports Sun | DirecTV 653-1 | AT&T U-Verse 1723
Radio: 560 WQAM| 850 WFTL | 100.3 WCTH | 107.9/1370 WZTA | SIRIUSXM CH. 219/STREAMING CH. 932
PANTHERS vs. BLUE JACKETS
ALL-TIME vs. CBJ: 16-14-10
ALL-TIME HOME vs. CBJ: 10-4-5
2020-21 vs. CBJ: 6-0-1
TEAM STATS
| FLORIDA (29-12-5) | COLUMBUS (15-23-9) | |
| GOALS FOR | 146 (T-7th most) | 114 (25th most) |
| GOALS AGAINST | 123 (15th fewest) | 155 (29th fewest) |
| POWER PLAY % | 21.6 (12th) | 13.5 (28th) |
| PENALTY KILL % | 80.3 (T-12th) | 79.0 (16th) |
| SHOTS FOR PER-GAME | 34.1 (2nd most) | 28.9 (25th most) |
| SHOTS AGAINST PER-GAME | 30.3 (16th fewest) | 32.0 (27th fewest) |
| 5-on-5 SHOT ATTEMPT % | 51.9 (10th) | 46.3 (29th) |
| FACEOFF WIN % | 50.3 (T-14th) | 45.7 (30th) |
CATS STATS
- Florida has won each of its last five matchups against CBJ and have won six of their seven contests through the season series (6-0-1). Through the six games vs. CBJ, MacKenzie Weegar leads the Panthers with eight points (1-7-8), while five different Panthers have scored three goals (Barkov, Hornqvist, Vatrano, Verhaeghe, Wennberg). Frank Vatrano leads the Cats with five goals vs. CBJ this season.
- Former Blue Jacket Alex Wennberg recorded his first career hat trick on April 3 vs. CBJ, while former CBJ goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky owns a 5-0-0 record in 2020-21 against his old club, posting a .926 save percentage. He registered a season-high 44 saves in his last matchup against CBJ (April 3). Chris Driedger posted a shutout against CBJ on April 4.
- Florida enters tonight’s contest on a season-high six-game home winning streak. Winning all six of their games played on home ice since March 20, the Panthers own a 93.0 home penalty kill percentage over that span, while Frank Vatrano has scored a team-leading five goals and seven points. Since March 20, the Panthers have outscored their opponents at BB&T Center 21-7.
- Aleksander Barkov has produced a team-leading five goals and eight points (5-3-8) over his last nine games since returning from injury. Since returning to the lineup for Florida on April 3 vs. CBJ, Barkov owns a 57.6 faceoff win percentage. Barkov leads FLA in goals (18) and shots on goal (148), while ranking second on the club in points (45), assists (27) and even-strength points (30). Barkov owns a team-best, 32 takeaways, 54.3 faceoff win percentage and 58.8 5v5 shot attempt percentage, while averaging 21:17 TOI per game, the most among all FLA forwards. He is two goals shy of his sixth consecutive season with at least 20 goals.
- Jonathan Huberdeau ranks first on FLA in points (46), while ranking first on the club in assists (31) and power-play points (18). He has registered points in each of his last four games (1-3-4). Over those four games, Huberdeau owns a +7 rating. Reaching his 30th assist of the season on April 15 at TBL, Huberdeau recorded his sixth career season and fourth consecutive season with at least 30 assists.
- Anthony Duclair enters tonight’s game on a season-high four-game point streak (2-3-5) since returning to the lineup on April 13 at DAL, after missing six games due to injury. The 2020 NHL All-Star has produced three goals and seven points over his last six games played overall, and has tallied goals in two of his last three games. Duclair has notched 20 of his 21 points this season at even-strength and owns a +16 rating, the third-highest on FLA and second-highest among FLA forwards.
- Scoring twice vs. CBJ on April 19, Frank Vatrano has produced seven goals and nine points over his last 10 games. Through the month of April, Vatrano’s seven goals ranks tied for fifth in the NHL. The 27-year-old native of East Longmeadow, Mass., has scored two game-winning goals over Florida’s last four games and leads the Cats with six game-winning goals. On April 13 at DAL, Vatrano scored in OT, becoming the third Panther to score at least three OT-winners in a single season in club history. Vatrano ranks tied for second on FLA in goals (17), while tied for first in even-strength goals (15).
- Sergei Bobrovsky has posted five wins over his last seven starts, logging a .924 save percentage over that span. He is five wins shy of his 300th NHL win, joining Evgeni Nabokov (353) and Nikolai Khabibulin (333) as only the third Russian-born goaltender to earn 300 wins in the NHL. Bobrovsky owns a 12-5-1 record over his last 18 appearances, owning a .920 even-strength save percentage.
- Chris Driedger owns a 5-2-1 mark over his past seven starts, earning wins in four of his last six appearances. Over the eight-game span since March 20, Driedger has posted a .939 save percentage, 1.62 goals against average and two shutouts. His save percentage and goals against average over his last eight starts ranks second among all goaltenders (min: 8 GP) since March 20.
- FLA 2019 1st round pick and Top-10 Hobey Baker Award finalist Spencer Knight completed his sophomore season with Boston College in 2020-21 appearing in 21 games and owning a 16-4-1 record, .932 save percentage, 2.18 goals against average and three shutouts. Knight helped lead USA to a Gold Medal at the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship, posting a 5-1-0 mark, 1.63 GAA, .940 SV% and three shutouts, while becoming the first USA goalie to earn a shutout in the medal round and three shutouts in the tournament.
- Patric Hornqvist leads FLA with eight power play goals and ranks fourth on the Panthers with 31 points (14-17-31). Hornqvist has produced points in each of his last three games (2-1-3). The 2020 Stanley Cup Champion is tied for 10th in the NHL for power-play goals. The 34-year-old leads the NHL in tipped shots (24), while his five goals scored from tips ranks tied for second in the NHL.
- Sam Bennett has registered three points (1-2-3) over his first two games with Florida, scoring his first goal as a Panther on April 19 vs. CBJ. In his Panthers debut on April 17 at TBL, the 24-year-old registered two assists, a +3 rating and five hits. Bennett became the third Panthers player this season to have produced at least two points in their FLA debut joining Patric Hornqvist and Eetu Luostarinen (Jan. 17 vs. CHI). Acquired from CGY on April 12, Bennett has recorded points in each of his last six games played, amassing eight points over that span (1-7-8).
- Brandon Montour tallied his first goal with FLA on April 17 at TBL. Over three games with the Panthers, Montour has averaged 19:49 TOI and has posted a +5 rating. Acquired from BUF on April 10, Montour led all BUF defensemen in goals (5) and even-strength points (11), while leading the team in blocked shots (53) and total even-strength time on ice (704:51).
- Nikita Gusev registered his first point with FLA on April 17 at TBL, recording an assist on the power play. Through his two games with FLA, Gusev has produced nine shots on goal.
- MacKenzie Weegar ranks tied for second among NHL defensemen this season in even-strength points (23) and takeaways (29). His +17 rating ranks second on FLA, while tied for first on FLA in blocked shots (59) and ranking second in hits (99). Weegar’s career-high 25 points and 22 assists lead all FLA defensemen.
- Radko Gudas leads all NHL defensemen in hits and ranks second in the league overall (204), averaging 4.53 hits per game and ranks third on FLA in blocked shots (57). Gudas recorded his 100th NHL assist on April 17 at TBL. He has produced three points (2-1-3) over his last four games.
RECENT TRANSACTIONS
– April 17: F Cole Schwindt, F Scott Wilson reassigned from SYR to Taxi Squad, F Aleksi Heponiemi, D Lucas Carlsson, D Brady Keeper reassigned from Taxi Squad to SYR
– April 15: D Brandon Montour, D Noah Juulsen activated to active roster
– April 13: F Sam Bennett, F Nikita Gusev added to active roster, F Anthony Duclair activated from IR, F Lucas Wallmark, G Spencer Knight
recalled from Taxi Squad, D Kevin Connauton loaned to Taxi Squad
– April 12: F Sam Bennett and 2022 6th round pick acquired from CGY in exchange for F Emil Heineman and a 2022 2nd round pick
– April 11: F Nikita Gusev signed to a 1-year contract
– April 10: D Brandon Montour acquired from BUF in exchange for 2021 3rd round pick, D Kevin Connauton recalled from Taxi Squad, D Brady Keeper 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 forward Aleksander Barkov and CBJ forward Patrik Laine share the hometown of Tampere, Finland. Both players played for Tappara in Liiga, and were teammates on Team Finland at the 2016 IIHF World Championships, earning Silver Medals.
- FLA forward Nikita Gusev and CBJ defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov were teammates with the Olympic Athletes from Russia at the 2016 Olympic Winter Games, earning Gold Medals. The pair also earned Bronze Medals together with Russia at the 2017 and 2019 IIHF World Championships.
- 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.
- CBJ defenseman Andrew Peeke’s hometown is Parkland, Fla.
CHASING FRANCHISE HISTORY
| Franchise Goals | Franchise Assists | Franchise Points |
| 1. Olli Jokinen (188) | 1. Jonathan Huberdeau (320) | 1. Jonathan Huberdeau (483) |
| 2. Aleksander Barkov (173) | 2. Aleksander Barkov (279) | 2. Aleksander Barkov (452) |
| 3. Jonathan Huberdeau (163) | 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: 4 Players (46)
Goals: Barkov (18)
Assists: Huberdeau (31)
Points: Huberdeau (46)
Power-Play Goals: Hornqvist (8)
Power-Play Points: Huberdeau (18)
Shorthanded Goals: Barkov/Verhaeghe (1)
Shorthanded Points: Barkov/Acciari/Weegar/Verhaeghe (1)
Shots: Barkov (148)
PIM: Weegar (41)
+/-: Verhaeghe (+23)
Faceoff Win % (Min. 100 faceoffs): Barkov (54.3)
Blocked Shots: Acciari/Weegar (59)
Hits: Gudas (204)
TOI/GP: Ekblad (25:05)
PP TOI/GP: Yandle (4:13)
SH TOI/GP: Acciari (2:45)
Wins: Bobrovsky (17)
Shutouts: Driedger (2)
ACTIVE STREAKS
Goal Streak Vatrano (2 Games, 3 Goals)
Assist Streak None
Point Streak Duclair (4 Games, 2-3-5), Huberdeau (4 Games, 1-3-4), Hornqvist (3 Games, 2-1-3), Vatrano (2 Games, 3-0-3), Bennett (2 Games, 1-2-3), Gudas (2 Games, 1-1-2)
TONIGHT AT BB&T CENTER
- Tonight is ‘Truly Tuesday’ at BB&T Center. Fans can purchase 12 oz Truly Hard Seltzer cans 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: Marty Diamond
Tonight’s Hero Among Us is Vietnam War Veteran Marty Diamond. Marty served a total of two years in the US Navy which included a deployment to An Hoa Combat Base in the Republic of Vietnam. He is the recipient of the National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with a Bronze Star, and Purple Heart Medal.
- BB&T (Now Truist) Territory Teammate: Yvonne Gamble
GREAT MOMENTS IN PANTHERS HISTORY
April 17, 1997: Panthers goaltender John Vanbiesbrouck blanked the New York Rangers in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals, stopping all 34 shots he faced. Robert Svehla registered an assist on all three FLA goals as the Cats downed the Rangers at Miami Arena, 3-0.
