Los Angeles Kings at Florida Panthers - Game 53 Preview
by John Beatty on Feb 9, 2012 5:25 PM EST
in Florida Panthers Game Previews: '11-12
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PrintFlorida: 24-17-11 (59PTS)
Washington: 26-18-10 (62PTS)
Game Time: 7:30 PM EST
Television: Fox Sports Florida, Fox Sports West
Radio: 640 WFTL
The Panthers find themselves in a familiar position tonight: looking up at a playoff spot. What is unfamiliar, perhaps, is that they are two points out with 30 games left in the season. The Kings are 5-3-2 in their last ten while the Panthers are 3-4-3. Additionally, the Cats have not beaten the Kings since November 2002. Jani Hurme had the win in that one and the only current Cat in the game was Stephen Weiss. The only active players playing for the Cats that night were Weiss, Olli Jokinen, Andreas Lilja, Jay Bouwmeester and Kristian Huselius. What we're saying is that it's been a while. But the time for the Panthers to step up is now, if they want to be playing hockey after April 7. The stats don't matter and the history doesn't matter. What matters is getting a solid start, not giving up an early goal and putting some pucks in the net.
More from our Washington cohorts at Jewels From The Crown.
Kings vs Panthers coverage coverage at SB Nation.
SB Nation Preview.
LBC Game Thread will open 30 minutes prior to puck drop.
News and Notes
Last meeting
Dustin Brown had the game winner and Jonathan Quick the win in goal as the Kings edged the Cats 2-1 in Los Angeles back on December 1.
Last game
The Panthers were shut out by former Cats goalie Tomas Vokoun and the Washington Capitals 4-0 in DC on Tuesday night.
Lineup
The only lineup change today is Brian Foster was returned to San Antonio. Jose Theodore is expected to back up Scott Clemmensen tonight and play in one of the games this weekend. Jack Skille, Ed Jovanovski and Jacob Markstrom are all skating again, but only Skille is nearing return.
Injuries
- F Jack Skille (shoulder), 1/22, two weeks
- F Marco Sturm (lower body), 2/2, unknown
- F Scottie Upshall (core), 2/1, 6 to 8 weeks
- G Jacob Markstrom (knee), 1/7, 4 to 6 weeks
- D Ed Jovanovski (hand), 1/16, week to week
- D Dmitry Kulikov (knee), 1/21, 6 to 8 weeks
Possible Scratches
- None
Starting goaltenders:
Scott Clemmensen will face off against All-Star goaltender Jonathan Quick.
Lines
Forwards
- Fleischmann-Weiss-Versteeg
- Bergenheim-Goc-Samuelsson
- Matthias-Madden-Kopecky
- Bradley-Santorelli-Barch
Defense
- Campbell-Gudbranson
- Garrison-Weaver
- Strachan-Ellerby
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Don’t know if any of you caught this, but per GR and others, Theodore could start tonight. Dineen will talk to him and see how he feels. If he’s good, then he’s in.
- Go Panthers -
Yeah, just saw that a minute ago. I guess we’ll find out during warmups.
"Shut up, Pierre!" -Everyone
Litter Box Cats - Your Panthers Colossus.
The stats don’t matter and the history doesn’t matter. What matters is getting a solid start, not giving up an early goal and putting some pucks in the net.
Totally. Enough with the slow starting and giving up early ones. Let’s leap at them early and take this game away.
One more thing, hurt the heck out of Mike Richards.
Hockey is a business, only we fans love it as a game.
Washington or Winnipeg will get 2 pts tonight no matter what (and hopefully just 2 are given out regardless). New Jersey, Toronto and Ottawa are also in action tonight.
Please win.
I’d rather have the Jets get the two, since they aren’t as much as a threat as the Caps. Hopefully they can pull one off tonight.
Tonight’s kind of a must win, so we don’t fall behind.
- Go Panthers -
I’m for a reg win by the Caps. I want Jets and TB knocked out once and for all.
Fish, Heatles, Cats, Fins, Noles
by National Mario on Feb 9, 2012 6:13 PM EST up reply actions
Whichever for now, but I’d rather it be us and WAS for the SE and then the other 3 spots us/WAS, TOR, NJ, and OTT with either OTT or TOR falling out
Fish, Heatles, Cats, Fins, Noles
by National Mario on Feb 9, 2012 6:33 PM EST up reply actions
I’m definitely in the thought process that says Washington most lose every game possible no matter the opposition. I’m not as worried about Winnipeg catching us as I am Washington pulling away, although both are probably just as likely.
And yea, obviously I think we’d all rather play Ottawa or New Jersey or Toronto as opposed to Boston or New York. Plus home ice never hurts.
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