Panthers Pregamer 4.27.21 at NSH

APRIL 27, 2021 at NASHVILLE PREDATORS

ALL-TIME vs. NSH: 19-11-3-6

ALL-TIME ROAD vs. NSH: 8-7-2-2

2020-21 vs. NSH: 4-2-1

TEAM STATS

	FLORIDA (31-14-5)	NASHVILLE (27-21-2)
GOALS FOR	158 (T-7^th most)	132 (T-18^th most)
GOALS AGAINST	135 (16^thfewest)	139 (19^th fewest)
POWER PLAY %	20.0 (T-16^th)	18.2 (T-24^th)
PENALTY KILL %	79.1 (19^th)	76.1 (28^th)
SHOTS FOR PER-GAME	34.2 (2^ndmost)	29.8 (T-15^th most)
SHOTS AGAINST PER-GAME	30.0 (16^thfewest)	31.2 (24^th fewest)
5-on-5 SHOT ATTEMPT %	52.6 (7^th)	50.1 (14^th)
FACEOFF WIN %	50.2 (T-14^th)	51.9 (6^th)

CATS STATS

Florida owns a 4-2-0 mark over its last six games against NSH. The Cats have topped the Predators in two of their three matchups this season at Bridgestone Arena (2-1-0). Jonathan Huberdeau leads FLA with six goals and 10 points over the six games played of the season series between FLA and NSH.
On the road, the Panthers have three different players who have scored a team-leading nine goals (Barkov, Hornqvist, Verhaeghe), while Jonathan Huberdeau leads the club with 26 points scored on the road (8-18-26).
Over their last eight games, the Panthers have scored 11 first period goals, the second-most in the NHL since April 13. Through that span, Aleksander Barkov has scored three times in the first period.
Aleksander Barkov has produced nine goals and 12 points (9-3-11) over his last 13 games and five points (4-1-5) over his last six games. Barkov has tallied four goals over his last four games. He scored the OT game-winner on April 24 vs. CAR, becoming the fourth Panthers player in franchise history to have scored five OT goals in a Panthers uniform, joining Olli Jokinen (10), Aaron Ekblad (5) and Stephen Weiss (5).
With a two-goal game on April 22 vs. CAR, Barkov became the first Panthers player to reach the 20-goal mark this season. Barkov has registered at least 20 goals in six consecutive seasons, a franchise record. The 25-year-old native of Tampere, Finland, leads FLA in goals (22), even-strength goals (16), even-strength points (33-tied) and shots on goal (159), while ranking second on the club in points (49), assists (27) and takeaways (35). Barkov owns a team-best 54.5 faceoff win percentage while averaging 21:20 TOI per game, the most among all FLA forwards.
Jonathan Huberdeau was named the NHL’s Third Star of the Week for the week ending April 25. Huberdeau amassed seven points (1-6-7) and a +6 rating over four games through the week. He ranks first on FLA in points (52), assists (36), power-play points (19) and even-strength points (33-tied). He has registered points in seven of his last eight games (2-8-10), tying Mackenzie Weegar (March 7-20), for the longest point streak by a Panther this season. Over his last eight games, Huberdeau owns a +12 rating and eight takeaways. His +12 rating ranks second in the NHL over that span.
Anthony Duclair enters tonight’s game with 12 points (3-9-12) over his last 10 games played. Duclair has notched 10 points (2-8-10) through his last eight games since he returned to the lineup from injury on April 13 at DAL. Over Duclair’s last eight games, he owns a team-best +14 rating, and has registered nine of his 10 points at even-strength. Duclair’s +14 rating over his last eight games leads the NHL. The native of Pointe-Claire, Quebec, owns a career-best +23 rating this season, tied for the highest on FLA and tied for the fifth-highest among NHL forwards. With his 20th assist of the season on April 26 at NSH, Duclair reached the 20-assist mark in a season for the second time in his NHL career.
Sam Bennett has registered seven points (4-3-7) and 20 hits over his first six games with Florida and has scored four goals over his last five games. Acquired from CGY on April 12, Bennett has recorded points in nine of his last 10 games played, amassing 12 points over that span (4-8-12). With his fourth goal in just his sixth game with FLA on April 26 at NSH, Bennett matched his goal total with CGY this season and equaled his goal total from 2019-20 (8). Through his six games as a Panther, Bennett owns a 16.6 shooting percentage and a 60.9 5v5 SAT percentage.
With a career-high four-point game (1-3-4) on April 24 vs. CAR, MacKenzie Weegar tied the Panthers franchise record for points by a defenseman in a game. Weegar became the seventh defenseman in franchise history to record four points in a game. Of the seven defensemen to have recorded four points in a game, Weegar is the only one who posted a shorthanded point. Weegar ranks tied for second among NHL defensemen in even-strength points (26) and stands at first in takeaways (36). His +20 rating ranks third on FLA. He leads FLA in blocked shots (70) and ranks second on the club in hits (109). Weegar’s career-high 29 points and 25 assists lead all FLA defensemen.
Radko Gudas leads the NHL in hits (218), averaging 4.45 hits per game and ranks tied for second on FLA in blocked shots (60).
Over his last 15 games, Gustav Forsling has recorded seven points (2-5-7), 30 shots on goal, nine takeaways and a +10 rating, while leading FLA in total TOI (317:08) and SH-TOI (37:14). Over that span, Forsling’s +10 rating is tied for eighth in the NHL among defensemen.
Markus Nutivaara has produced six assists over his last eight games played. Over that span since April 13 at DAL, Nutivaara leads all FLA defensemen with a +7 rating and the Panthers own a 97.0 5v5 on-ice SV% with him on the ice.
Brandon Montour tallied his first goal with FLA on April 17 at TBL. Over seven games with the Panthers, Montour has averaged 20:17 TOI, the third-highest among FLA defensemen and has posted a +6 rating, 12 shots, 12 hits, six blocked shots and six takeaways.
Frank Vatrano enters tonight’s game with four points (2-2-4) over his last six games. The 27-year-old native of East Longmeadow, Mass., leads the Cats with six game-winning goals and ranks tied for second on FLA in goals (17), and even-strength goals (15). Vatrano is three goals shy of his second career season with at least 20 goals.
Sergei Bobrovsky owns a .926 even-strength save percentage over his last nine starts. 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’s 17 wins on the season ranks tied for seventh in the NHL.
With 33 saves in his NHL debut on April 20 vs. CBJ, FLA 2019 1st round pick Spencer Knight earned his first career win. The first goaltender born in the 2000s to play an NHL game, the 20-year-old stopped all 31 shots he faced at even strength. Knight became the first Panthers goaltender to have posted a win in his NHL debut and also set a new franchise record for the youngest goaltender to earn a win in franchise history (20 years, 1 day), surpassing Roberto Luongo‘s first win with the franchise on Nov. 25, 2000 (21 years, 235 days).
Patric Hornqvist leads FLA with eight power play goals and ranks fourth on the Panthers with 32 points (14-18-32). Hornqvist has produced points in four of his last five games played (2-2-4).
The Panthers own a 5-2-1 record over their last eight games.

RECENT TRANSACTIONS
– April 26: F Grigori Denisenko, F Aleksi Heponiemi reassigned from SYR to Taxi Squad
– 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-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.
NSH defenseman Erik Gudbranson was selected by the Panthers in the first round (3^rd overall) of the 2010 NHL Draft. He played 309 games for Florida (2011-12 to 2015-16), producing 43 points (11-32-43). He also played in 13 playoff games with FLA (2011-12 and 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 defenseman MacKenzie Weegar, NSH defenseman Mark Borowiecki, and NSH defenseman Erik Gudbranson share the hometown of Ottawa, Ontario.
FLA defenseman Markus Nutivaara and NSH forward Mikael Granlund share the hometown of Oulu, Finland.
FLA defenseman Kevin Connauton and NSH defenseman Matt Benning share the hometown of Edmonton, Alberta.
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 (325)	1. Jonathan Huberdeau (489)
2. Aleksander Barkov (177)	2. Aleksander Barkov (279)	2. Aleksander Barkov (456)
3. Jonathan Huberdeau (164)	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)