BB&T Center | 7:00 P.M. ET
Television: Bally Sports Florida
Radio: 560 WQAM | 640 WMEN | 100.3 WCTH | 107.9/1370 WZTA | SIRIUSXM CH. 203/APP & STREAMING CH. 932
PANTHERS vs. STARS
ALL-TIME vs. DAL: 22-19-3-1
ALL-TIME HOME vs. DAL: 10-11-1
2020-21 vs. DAL: 5-2-0
TEAM STATS
| FLORIDA (34-14-5) | DALLAS (21-17-13) | |
| GOALS FOR | 174 (2nd most) | 138 (20th most) |
| GOALS AGAINST | 146 (T-16th fewest) | 127 (6th fewest) |
| POWER PLAY % | 21.1 (T-13th) | 23.5 (T-6th) |
| PENALTY KILL % | 78.9 (T-19th) | 79.3 (17th) |
| SHOTS FOR PER-GAME | 34.8 (T-1st) | 30.0 (T-10th most) |
| SHOTS AGAINST PER-GAME | 30.1 (T-15th fewest) | 27.1 (2nd fewest) |
| 5-on-5 SHOT ATTEMPT % | 53.6 (3rd) | 52.4 (8th) |
| FACEOFF WIN % | 50.4 (13th) | 51.7 (T-6th) |
CATS STATS
- Florida owns an 8-2-1 record over their last 11 games. Over that span the Panthers have scored 42 goals, tied for the second-most in the NHL since April 13. Of those 42 goals, Florida tallied 13 goals in the first period, tied for second in the NHL.
- The Panthers completed their regular season road schedule with a 17-9-2 record and .643 points percentage (the highest in franchise history). Through Florida’s 28 road games, they scored a league-leading 94 goals. Jonathan Huberdeau led FLA in road scoring (10-22-32), while Aleksander Barkov led the Cats in road goals (12). Patric Hornqvist scored a team-best five road power-play goals.
- Aleksander Barkov has produced 12 goals and 17 points (12-5-17) over his last 16 games and 10 points (7-3-10) over his last nine games. In the month of April, Barkov’s 11 goals ranked tied for third in the NHL. With his fifth three-point performance of the season on April 27 at NSH, Barkov reached the 50-point mark for the sixth consecutive season, making him the only Panther in franchise history to reach 50 points in six consecutive seasons.
- 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 (25), even-strength goals (18), even-strength points (36) and shots on goal (167), while ranking second on the club in points (54), assists (29) and third in takeaways (36). Barkov owns a team-best 54.3 faceoff win percentage while averaging 21:12 TOI per game, the most among all FLA forwards.
- Jonathan Huberdeau enters tonight’s game with 16 points (4-12-16) over his last 11 games, while owning a +14 rating. Through that span, Huberdeau’s 16 points rank second in the NHL, behind only Connor McDavid (EDM). Huberdeau matched his career-high for points in a game with a five-point performance (2-3-5) on April 27 at NSH. He is the only player in franchise history to have registered two five-point games with the Panthers.
- Huberdeau ranks first on FLA in points (58), assists (40) and power-play points (23), while ranking second in even-strength points (35). Huberdeau is two points shy of his fourth career season with at least 60 points. Florida’s franchise leader in assists (329) and points (495) is five points away from becoming the first Panthers player in franchise history to record 500 points for the club.
- Anthony Duclair enters tonight’s game with 17 points (7-10-17) over his last 13 games played and points in each of his last five games (4-3-7). He owns a season-high three-game goal streak, amassing four goals in that span, tying for the longest goal streak by a Panther this season. With a three-point performance (2-1-3) on May 1 at CHI, Duclair tied his season-high for points in a game, while posting his first multi-goal game with FLA.
- Duclair has notched 15 points (6-9-15) through his last 11 games since he returned to the lineup from injury on April 13 at DAL. Over Duclair’s last 13 games played, he owns a league-best +16 rating, and has registered 15 of his 17 points at even-strength. He tallied his first power-play goal with FLA on April 27 at NSH. The 25-year-old owns a career-best +25 rating this season, tied for the highest on FLA and fourth among NHL forwards.
- MacKenzie Weegar has produced six points (1-5-6) over his last five games. Over the five-game span, Weegar has produced points at even-strength, on the power play, shorthanded and in OT. With a career-high four-point game (1-3-4) on April 24 vs. CAR, Weegar tied the franchise record for points by a defenseman in a game. Weegar ranks first among NHL defensemen in even-strength points (28) and takeaways (38). His +25 rating ranks tied for first on FLA and tied for fifth among NHL defensemen. He leads FLA in blocked shots (76) and ranks second on the club in hits (111). Weegar’s career-high 32 points and 28 assists lead all FLA defensemen.
- Gustav Forsling recorded his first multi-assist game with FLA on May 1 at CHI (2A). Over his last 18 games, Forsling has posted nine points (2-7-9) a +13 rating and team-leading 383:43 total TOI.
- Frank Vatrano scored his team-best and career-high seventh game-winning goal of the season on April 27 at NSH. Vatrano ranks tied for fifth in the NHL for third period goals (10) and game-winning goals (7). His seven game-winners are the most in a season on FLA since Aleksander Barkov‘s eight GWGs in 2015-16. Vatrano stands at second on FLA in goals (18-T) and even-strength goals (16).
- Spencer Knight has earned wins in each of his three appearances this season, owning a .943 save percentage and 1.67 goals against average. The 20-year-old is the second-youngest goaltender in NHL history (20 yrs, 10 days), to win in each of his first three games of his career behind only Bill Ranford (19 yrs, 110 days, 1985-86). The first goaltender born in the 2000s to play an NHL game, Knight is the first Panthers goaltender to have posted a win in his NHL debut (April 20 vs. CBJ) and also set a new franchise record for the youngest goaltender to earn a win for the Panthers (20 years, 1 day), surpassing Roberto Luongo‘s first win with the franchise on Nov. 25, 2000 (21 yrs, 235 days).
- The Panthers are the first team in the NHL to have eight players score at least 10 goals this season: Barkov (25), Huberdeau (18), Vatrano (18), Verhaeghe (17), Hornqvist (14), Wennberg (13), Ekblad (11), Duclair (10).
- The Panthers clinched a berth in the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs after their 7-4 win at NSH on April 27, securing their second consecutive year with a postseason appearance and their seventh trip to the postseason in franchise history.
RECENT TRANSACTIONS
– May 3: G Philippe Desrosiers recalled from Taxi Squad
– April 28: D Brady Keeper, G Sam Montembeault reassigned from SYR (AHL) to Taxi Squad
– April 27: F Grigori Denisenko, F Aleksi Heponiemi recalled from Taxi Squad to active roster
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 (54th 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 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, FLA forward Aleksi Heponiemi 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 Player Development Coordinator 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 Special Assistant to the President 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 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 (329) | 1. Jonathan Huberdeau (495) |
| 2. Aleksander Barkov (180) | 2. Aleksander Barkov (281) | 2. Aleksander Barkov (461) |
| 3. Jonathan Huberdeau (166) | 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: Yandle, Wennberg, Vatrano, Huberdeau (53)
Goals: Barkov (25)
Assists: Huberdeau (40)
Points: Huberdeau (58)
Power-Play Goals: Hornqvist (8)
Power-Play Points: Huberdeau (23)
Shorthanded Goals: Barkov/Verhaeghe/Wennberg (1)
Shorthanded Points: Weegar (2)
Shots: Barkov (167)
PIM: Weegar (43)
+/-: Weegar/Duclair (+23)
Faceoff Win % (Min. 100 faceoffs): Barkov (54.3)
Blocked Shots: Weegar (76)
Hits: Gudas (229)
TOI/GP: Ekblad (25:05)
PP TOI/GP: Yandle (4:21)
SH TOI/GP: Acciari (2:40)
Wins: Bobrovsky (18)
Shutouts: Driedger (2)
ACTIVE STREAKS
Goal Streak Duclair (3 Games, 4 Goals)
Assist Streak Denisenko (2 Games, 2 Assists)
Point Streak Bennett (5 Games, 2-6-8), Duclair (5 games, 4-3-7), Denisenko (2 Games, 0-2-2)
TONIGHT AT BB&T CENTER
- Tonight is Teacher Appreciation Night at BB&T Center. All teachers in attendance will receive a 25% discount on merchandise at Pantherland and 20% off food and beverages at Coca-Cola concession stands by showing their school ID or badge.
- 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: Robert Cohn
Tonight’s Hero Among Us is First Sergeant Robert Cohn. Robert has served a total of 33 years in the military and is currently in the U.S. Army Reserves. During his service in the military, he has been deployed to the Middle East in support of Operation Desert Storm, Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.
- BB&T (Now Truist) Territory Teammate: David Rodriguez
GREAT MOMENTS IN PANTHERS HISTORY
May 2, 1996: Stu Barnes (1-1-2)and Dave Lowry each tallied a goal, and John Vanbiesbrouck stopped all 18 PHI shots as the Cats downed the Philadelphia Flyers 2-0 in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
