Panthers Pregamer 4.6.21 at CAR

APRIL 6, 2021 at CAROLINA HURRICANES

Radio: 560 WQAM| 850 WFTL | 100.3 WCTH | 107.9/1370 WZTA | SIRIUSXM STREAMING 932

PANTHERS vs. HURRICANES

ALL-TIME vs. CAR: 51-51-11-15

ALL-TIME ROAD vs. CAR: 20-37-3-4

2020-21 vs. CAR: 1-1-2

TEAM STATS

	FLORIDA (26-9-4)	CAROLINA (25-9-3)
GOALS FOR	129 (T-3^rd most)	116 (10^th most)
GOALS AGAINST	101 (12^thfewest)	91 (6^th fewest)
POWER PLAY %	23.0 (11^th)	29.1 (1^st)
PENALTY KILL %	81.2 (11^th)	82.4 (T-8^th)
SHOTS FOR PER-GAME	34.5 (2^ndmost)	32.3 (T-4^th most)
SHOTS AGAINST PER-GAME	30.8 (T-17^thfewest)	28.2 (7^th fewest)
5-on-5 SHOT ATTEMPT %	52.1 (8^th)	53.7 (3^rd)
FACEOFF WIN %	50.3 (15^th)	54.5 (2^nd)

CATS STATS

The Panthers enter tonight’s game on a season-high six-game winning streak, the NHL’s longest active win streak. From March 27-April 5, Florida led the NHL with 23 goals for, and Carter Verhaeghe‘s five goals and nine points (4-5-9) tied for most among NHL skaters. MacKenzie Weegar‘s +10 rating paced the league over that span, and Gustav Forsling and Verhaeghe sat alone behind Weegar at +9. Alex Wennberg‘s four even-strength tallies and two game-winning goals tied for the league lead, and Frank Vatrano’s 22 shots ranked tied for third-most.
Through FLA’s streak, Sergei Bobrovsky and Chris Driedger each posted 3-0-0 records. Over their three starts, Bobrovsky produced a .948 save percentage and Driedger recorded a .968 SV%. Throughout the six-game span, 12 different Panthers tallied at least one goal.
Three of the four games between FLA and CAR this season have required overtime or shootout. Through the four games, Jonathan Huberdeau leads FLA with three goals and five points (3-2-5), including a three-point performance (2-1-3) on Feb. 17. Aleksander Barkov paces FLA with four assists (0- 4-4) vs. CAR this season, and Mason Marchment has accumulated a team-high +3 rating. Sergei Bobrovsky owns a .927 save percentage over 23 career appearances vs. CAR.
After being honored in a pregame ceremony on April 3 vs. CBJ for his 500th NHL game, Sergei Bobrovsky registered a season-high 44 saves for his third consecutive win. His 44 saves are the second-most he has recorded in a game in a Panthers uniform. The two-time Vezina Trophy winner owns a 10-3-1 record over his last 14 appearances, tying for the third-most wins among NHL goaltenders since Feb. 25. Bobrovsky owns a 5-2-0 record over his past seven road games, and his 15 total wins rank tied for fifth-most in the NHL.
Panthers Captain Aleksander Barkov has produced three points (1-2-3) over his past two games since returning from injury. On April 1, the NHL named Barkov the Central Division Star of the Month. He ranked third in the NHL (minimum: 5 GP) with 1.45 points per game, compiling 16 points (5-11- 16) over 11 contests, helping lead the Panthers to a 10-5-1 record in March.
Barkov ranks second on FLA in points (40), even-strength points (27) and second in takeaways (26). Barkov also ranks second on FLA in shots on goal (119), and leads the team in average TOI among forwards (21:10) and faceoff win percentage (53.6). His goal April 4 vs. CBJ was his 116th career even-strength goal, surpassing Olli Jokinen (115) for second-most even-strength goals scored in franchise history.
Jonathan Huberdeau has recorded six points (3-3-6) over his last six games. The Panthers franchise leader in assists (317) and points (479) appeared in his 574th game in a Panthers uniform on April 3 vs. CBJ, passing Robert Svehla for the third-most games played in franchise history. Huberdeau was the sixth NHL player this season to reach 40 points and only the second in the Central Division. Huberdeau leads the Panthers with 42 points, 28 assists and 18 power-play points.
Carter Verhaeghe enters tonight’s game with nine points (5-4-9) over his last six games. Over the six-game span, Verhaeghe has scored a game-winning goal and produced a career-high four points on March 27 at DAL, scoring a hat trick consisting of an even-strength goal, power-play goal and shorthanded goal. The 2020 Stanley Cup Champion leads the Cats with 30 even-strength points and is only the seventh NHLer this season and second in the Central Division to post 30 points at even strength.
Frank Vatrano tallied his 13th goal of the season April 4 vs. CBJ, extending his goal/point streak to three games (3-2-5). The streak represents his third three-game goal streak of the season. Vatrano’s eight third-period goals are tied for second-most among NHL skaters, and he is tied for the team lead in game-winning goals (4).
Gustav Forsling enters tonight’s game on a career-high four-game point streak (1-3-4). He is tied for the team lead in even-strength points (4) since March 30, and his +8 rating over that span is tied for the club lead. The 24-year-old has averaged 21:42 TOI over his past four games, ranking second on FLA.
Patric Hornqvist has produced an assist in each of his past two games since returning from injury. He leads FLA with seven power play goals and ranks fourth on the Panthers with 27 points (12-15-27). The two-time Stanley Cup Champion leads the Panthers in shots (121), while ranking second among FLA forwards in hits (59).
Chris Driedger has produced two shutouts over his past five games and has won each of his past three starts. Over his past five games (since March 20), he owns a 4-1-0 record, .959 save percentage and 1.20 goals against average. His .931 save percentage this season ranks second among goaltenders that have played at least 17 games.
MacKenzie Weegar registered back-to-back multi-point games April 3-4 vs. CBJ (1-3-4). Weegar’s 26 takeaways are the most by an NHL defenseman this season. He leads Florida’s D-men in even-strength scoring with 22 points, tied for second-most among NHL defensemen. The Ottawa, Ontario native leads FLA’s defense corps with a +20 rating, tied for second-highest among NHL defensemen. Weegar ranks tied for first on FLA in blocked shots (51) and ranks second in hits (82).
Matt Kiersted made his NHL debut on April 3 vs. CBJ, leading FLA with four blocked shots. He averaged 14:37 TOI and led FLA with six blocked shots through his first two NHL games. The 22-year-old appeared in 29 games in 2020-21 with the University of North Dakota, registering 22 points (3-19-22), the most among UND defensemen.
Alex Wennberg has scored the game-winning goal in two of his past three games. The 26-year-old native of Stockholm, Sweden, registered his first NHL hat trick (3-0-3) on April 3 against his former club (CBJ). On April 1 vs. DET, Wennberg tallied Florida’s OT game-winner scoring his second career OT goal. Wennberg has notched eight points (6-2-8) over his past 12 games, while owning a team-leading 33.3 shooting percentage.
Radko Gudas leads the NHL in hits (182) and ranks second on FLA in blocked shots (48) this season. The native of Prague, Czech Republic, is one assist shy of his 100th NHL assist.
Noel Acciari leads FLA forwards in hits (67) and blocked shots (46).
Florida is the only NHL team this season to have seven different players record 10 goals.
The Cats have not given up a power-play goal against over their past three games [6-6].

RECENT TRANSACTIONS
– April 5: F Mason Marchment re-signed to a 1-year contract extension, D Vladislav Kolyachonok reassigned from Minsk (KHL) to Syracuse (AHL)
– April 3: F Patric Hornqvist activated from IR, D Matt Kiersted recalled from FLA Taxi Squad, G Spencer Knight assigned to FLA Taxi Squad
– April 2: F Brad Morrison acquired from CHI in exchange for F Vinnie Hinostroza

– April 1: D Matt Kiersted signed to a 2-year ELC
– March 31: G Spencer Knight signed to a 3-year ELC, D Brady Keeper reassigned from Syracuse (AHL) to FLA Taxi Squad, F Anthony Duclair placed on IR

FLA-CAR CONNECTIONS

FLA forward Eetu Luostarinen was selected by CAR in the second round (42^nd overall) of the 2017 NHL Draft. He played eight games for CAR, producing one assist.
FLA defenseman Gustav Forsling played 57 games (2019-20) for CAR’s AHL affiliate, the Charlotte Checkers, registering 26 points (8-18-26).
CAR forward Vincent Trocheck was selected by FLA in the third round (64^th overall) of the 2011 NHL Draft. He played 420 games (2013-14 to 2019-20) for FLA, amassing 282 points (111-171-282).
CAR goaltender James Reimer appeared in 123 games for FLA, posting a 53-42-16 record, .912 save percentage, and 2.85 goals against average.
CAR forward Brock McGinn’s brother Jamie played 95 games (2017-18 to 2018-19) for FLA, producing 36 points (17-19-36).
CAR forward Teuvo Teravainen played under FLA Head Coach Joel Quenneville with the Chicago Blackhawks, winning a Stanley Cup in 2015.
FLA defenseman Anton Stralman and CAR forward Jesper Fast were teammates on NYR (2013-14), including an appearance in the 2014 Stanley Cup Final.
FLA defensemen Anton Stralman (2014-15 to 2017-18) and Radko Gudas (2013-14 to 2014-15) were teammates with CAR forward Cedric Paquette on TBL.
FLA forward Frank Vatrano and CAR defenseman Brady Skjei were teammates on Team USA at the 2012 IIHF U-18 World Junior Championships, earning Gold Medals.
FLA forward Juho Lammikko and CAR forward Sebastian Aho were teammates on Team Finland at the 2016 IIHF World Junior Championships, earning Gold Medals.
FLA Assistant to the General Manager Blake Geoffrion and CAR defenseman Jake Gardiner were teammates at the University of Wisconsin (2008-09).
FLA Assistant General Manager Paul Krepelka served as Vice President of Hockey Operations for CAR from 2018-19 to 2019-20.
FLA Senior Advisor to the General Manager Rick Dudley Served as Senior Vice President of Hockey Operations for CAR from 2018-19 to 2019-20. He began his front office career in the ACHL with the Carolina Thunderbirds, serving as Owner, General Manager and Head Coach for four seasons (1982-83 to 1985-86).
FLA Head Coach Joel Quenneville played 457 games (1983-84 to 1989-90) for the Hartford Whalers, recording 95 points (25-70-95).
FLA Assistant Coach Ulf Samuelsson played 463 games (184-85 to 1990-91) for the Hartford Whalers, registering 175 points (31-144-175).
FLA Director of Amateur Scouting Shane Churla played 22 games (1986-87 to 1987-88) for the Hartford Whalers, producing one assist.
CAR Assistant Coach Jeff Daniels played 10 games for FLA (1993-94 to 1994-95).
CAR Development Coach Sergei Samsonov played 20 games (2010-11) for FLA, notching 14 points (3-11-14).

CHASING FRANCHISE HISTORY

Franchise Goals	Franchise Assists	Franchise Points
1. Olli Jokinen (188)	1. Jonathan Huberdeau (317)	1. Jonathan Huberdeau (479)
2. Aleksander Barkov (169)	2. Aleksander Barkov (278)	2. Aleksander Barkov (447)
3. Jonathan Huberdeau (162)	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)