Florida Panthers at St. Louis Blues - Game 18 Preview

by John Beatty on Nov 17, 2011 3:00 PM EST in Florida Panthers Game Previews: '11-12

Florida: 9-5-3 (21PTS)
St. Louis: 9-7-1 (19PTS)
Season Series: 0-0-0
Game Time: 8:00 PM EST
Television: Fox Sports Florida, Fox Sports Midwest
Radio: 560 WQAM

The Panthers continue their two game Central Time roadtrip with a game against the St. Louis Blues. The Blues struggled a bit early on the road and have already seen a coaching change because of it, with former Blue Jackets/Flyers/Stars coach Ken Hitchcock replacing the ousted Davis Payne. The Blues, however, have been solid at home, with a 6-1-1 record. They're 3-0-1 since Hitchcock took over last week. The Panthers, for their part, have been very good on the road, with a 7-3-0 record. Special teams could be the difference tonight. Both teams' penalty kill is about equal, but the Blues have the league's worst powerplay overall and are ranked 19th at home while the Panthers are 6th overall and tied for 7th on the road. The key for the Panthers will be scoring early. The Blues have yet to lose a game if they have held a lead at the end of a period. The Blues are also 7-3-2 at home against the Panthers. The Blues will be without forward Christ Stewart, who is serving a 3 game suspension for a hit from behind on Niklas Kronwall. A win tonight combined with a Capitals loss would put the Panthers back in first in the Southeast Division and catapult them from seventh to either second or third in a tightly packed Eastern Conference. A loss would likely see them lose their grip on seventh place.

More from our St. Louis cohorts at St. Louis Game Time.
Panthers vs Blues coverage at SB Nation.
TSN Preview.
LBC Game Thread will open 30 minutes prior to puck drop.

News and Notes

Last meeting

The Blues edged the Panthers 2-1 in Sunrise. Matt D'Agostini had the game winner and Halak the win. Dennis Wideman had the lone Panthers goal.

Last game

The Panthers outworked the Dallas Stars on Tuesday, winning 6-0. Stephen Weiss was a +5 and had four points. Scott Clemmensen picked up a shutout in his first start of the season. The Panthers got goals from two defensemen (Jason Garrison and Dmitry Kulikov with the game winner), all three members of the VFW line and Evgeni Dadonov with his second in two games. Tomas Fleischmann scored this beauty late in the second period:

Lineup

Jack Skille is expected to return today after missing Tuesday's game, but Matt Bradley is now expected to miss a week with an undisclosed injury, so call-ups Evgeny Dadonov and Tim Kennedy remain on the roster.

Injuries

F Mikael Samuelsson (rehab from abdominal surgery), 10/24, IR, week to week
F Scottie Upshall (hip), 11/10, IR, 6 to 8 weeks
F Jack Skille (groin), 11/13, day to day
F Matt Bradley (undisclosed), 11/16, 1 week

Healthy Scratch

D Erik Gudbranson

Starting goaltenders:

Pucking Hockey is reporting that Scott Clemmensen will face Jaroslav Halak, choices that make sense for both teams. Scott Clemmensen is coming off a shutout and is 1-0-0 against the Blues with a 3.00 GAA and .903 save percentage. That lone game was a 4-3 road win for New Jersey in Clemmensen's last season as a Devil before joining the Panthers. Jose Theodore has not been great against the Blues. He was a 3-5-0 record with a 3.85 GAA and .363 save percentage. Jaroslav Halak is dynamite against the Panthers, going 6-1-0 with a 1.98 GAA and .936 save percentage, in games with the Blues, Blackhawks and Canadiens. Update: Theodore will get the start for Florida.

Lines

Forwards

Fleischmann-Weiss-Versteeg
Bergenheim-Goc-Kopecky
Sturm-Santorelli-Dadonov/Skille
Kennedy-Matthias-Skille/Dadonov

Defense

Campbell-Garrison
Jovanovski-Ellerby
Kulikov-Weaver

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Comments

I think Harvey and GR both reported Theo would be starting tonight

by Rob PKane McMahon on Nov 17, 2011 3:06 PM EST reply actions

Updated :)

Litter Box Cats - Your tarp-free Florida Panthers Colossus

by Donny Rivette on Nov 17, 2011 3:22 PM EST up reply actions

Panthers Fox Sports Florida TV voice Steve Goldie Goldstein previews tonight’s game against the Blues, as well as the possiblity of facing Sid Crosby on Saturday with a look at the huge upcoming four-game Thanksgiving homestand.
Last year the Panthers went 1-3 on the holiday homestand. The year before 0-1-2 and 1-1-2 in 2008-09.
Here’s Goldie.

by Rob PKane McMahon on Nov 17, 2011 3:11 PM EST reply actions

Warrior’s come out and play…

I hereby predict Captain Mike Weaver #43 will score 6G 20A -RCR 0G7A 11/16
Be impeccable with your word, don't take anything personally, don't make assumptions, always do your best...

by RPC on Nov 17, 2011 3:13 PM EST reply actions

Tonight the Warriors die and the ~~Ducks~~ Panthers fly

by Rob PKane McMahon on Nov 17, 2011 3:18 PM EST up reply actions

Some good info on the Blues at In The Slot

Litter Box Cats - Your tarp-free Florida Panthers Colossus

by Donny Rivette on Nov 17, 2011 3:22 PM EST reply actions

Matt Bradley is out and D Keaton Ellerby is in.
Dineen was coy and said, "Who said Erik Gudbranson is out?" so he may opt to rest veteran Ed Jovanovski, whose entire left leg was wrapped in some kind of ace bandage.

As per Sun Sentinel.

Steve Diaz
Twitter - @sdiaz6215

by Sdiaz6215 on Nov 17, 2011 3:33 PM EST reply actions

He could also dress 7 defensemen and have either Tim Kennedy or Evgeny Dadonov sit. He’s threatened to do that in the past, but hasn’t yet. Guess we’ll find out at game time.

"We don't need the designated goon. Those fights aren't even fun to watch." -Mike Milbury

Litter Box Cats - Your Panthers Colossus.

by John Beatty on Nov 17, 2011 3:48 PM EST up reply actions

Lindsay said earlier on Home Ice that guds is maybe a gametime decision but saw elsewhere that he’s out. I jumped the gun on that one.

Litter Box Cats - Your tarp-free Florida Panthers Colossus

by Donny Rivette on Nov 17, 2011 3:56 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

No one really knows unless the team announces it. Kevin Dineen likes to play games, so all we can do is guess. Put up what we know, let everyone talk about the rest and find out for sure when the team hits the ice. :)

"We don't need the designated goon. Those fights aren't even fun to watch." -Mike Milbury

Litter Box Cats - Your Panthers Colossus.

by John Beatty on Nov 17, 2011 3:57 PM EST up reply actions

He does redefine “close to the vest”.

Litter Box Cats - Your tarp-free Florida Panthers Colossus

by Donny Rivette on Nov 17, 2011 4:05 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

I heard his interview too on Home ice. What a rarity them interviewing any panther at all? They sure forgot about them last season.

by Hawkseye on Nov 17, 2011 4:46 PM EST via iPhone app up reply actions

VFW line...lame

come on, we gotta give this line a proper nickname. these guys are tearing it up. Imagine if the Production Line would have been called the HLA line instead?

by Todd Little on Nov 17, 2011 3:39 PM EST reply actions

let’s just call it the better sunshine express

by eliran2 on Nov 17, 2011 3:44 PM EST up reply actions

Minus Horton and booth

by Hawkseye on Nov 17, 2011 4:41 PM EST via iPhone app up reply actions

Better than any of the alternatives I’ve heard, which are even lamer.

"We don't need the designated goon. Those fights aren't even fun to watch." -Mike Milbury

Litter Box Cats - Your Panthers Colossus.

by John Beatty on Nov 17, 2011 3:47 PM EST up reply actions

How about The T.K.S. Line?

Tomas, Kris and Stephen.. and They Keep Scoring

by Rob PKane McMahon on Nov 17, 2011 3:56 PM EST up reply actions

How about call me back when they’re leading the league in scoring?

"We don't need the designated goon. Those fights aren't even fun to watch." -Mike Milbury

Litter Box Cats - Your Panthers Colossus.

by John Beatty on Nov 17, 2011 3:57 PM EST up reply actions

Having 3 guys in the top 30 in the league in scoring and one of them being in the top 10 isnt good enough for you compared to years past?

by Rob PKane McMahon on Nov 17, 2011 4:04 PM EST up reply actions

No. No it’s not. It’s a nice start, but “good enough” it certainly is not.

"We don't need the designated goon. Those fights aren't even fun to watch." -Mike Milbury

Litter Box Cats - Your Panthers Colossus.

by John Beatty on Nov 17, 2011 4:25 PM EST up reply actions

Johnny = win.

Litter Box Cats - Your tarp-free Florida Panthers Colossus

by Donny Rivette on Nov 17, 2011 4:07 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

sunshine express was pretty awful. It would be great if someone came up with a good one for these guys. It’s been awhile since a line has a cool name like Crazy 8’s or Legion of Doom although my all time faves are the Production Line and the Kraut line – classics.

by Todd Little on Nov 17, 2011 3:54 PM EST reply actions

Dont forget the Scooter line

by Hawkseye on Nov 17, 2011 4:42 PM EST via iPhone app up reply actions

another old time classic

by Todd Little on Nov 17, 2011 4:46 PM EST up reply actions

the Triple Crown line was another great one.

by Todd Little on Nov 17, 2011 4:49 PM EST up reply actions

the Production Line worked so well because it was the Motor City when I think of lines and South Florida my mind goes to well….

maybe something clever along those lines but that wouldn’t really be family friendly I suppose.

by Todd Little on Nov 17, 2011 4:08 PM EST reply actions

how about the Saint Line since there are saints for all three players first names.

by Todd Little on Nov 17, 2011 4:22 PM EST up reply actions

Saint Line

not to pat myself on the back or anything but I think that’s a pretty good one.

by Todd Little on Nov 17, 2011 4:43 PM EST up reply actions

Red line lol after their redline drink/pills whatever that stuff is

by Hawkseye on Nov 17, 2011 4:43 PM EST via iPhone app up reply actions

Great! Let’s name all the lines after sponsors! The JetBlue line. The fourth line brought to you by Lexus. The Redline. The Saveology.com line. Beautiful!

"We don't need the designated goon. Those fights aren't even fun to watch." -Mike Milbury

Litter Box Cats - Your Panthers Colossus.

by John Beatty on Nov 17, 2011 7:22 PM EST up reply actions