The 12-12-3 New York Islanders dock in South Florida for their first meeting with the Florida Panthers this season. The Islanders find themselves in the playoff chase for a change, trailing the Winnipeg Jets by three points for the eight spot. New York is having success on the road this season (7-4-1), which doesn't bode well for the Panthers, who aren't playing good enough to win anywhere as of right now. John Tavares leads the Islanders in scoring with 30 points (17G/13A) in 27 games.

Panthers' captain Ed Jovanovski, who has missed 23 games this season, may make his return to the lineup tonight.

In other roster news, the Panthers have acquired TJ Brennan from the Buffalo Sabres for a fifth-round pick in the 2013 Entry Draft.

If you are feeling a bit on nautical side today, check out the opposition's fishy take over at Lighthouse Hockey. The LBC GameThread catches a wave at 7 p.m.