RADIO: WFTL TV: FS-F SBN: Lighthouse Hockey

2011-12: FLA 26-17-11 (63P) * NYI: 23-23-8 (54P)

ALL-TIME: 38-24-8-2-4 * 223GF - 204GA

ALL-TIME @ NYI: 17-14-2-2-3 * 101GF - 97GA

MEDIA NOTES: Game 55

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Florida: 26-17-11 (63PTS)
New York Islanders: 23-23-8 (54PTS)
Season Series: 2-0-0
Game Time: 3:00 PM EST
Television: Fox Sports Florida, MSG Plus
Radio: 640 WFTL

The Panthers make their second afternoon start of the weekend on Long Island today. The Cats' win yesterday gave them a two point lead over the Capitals in the Southeast Division. Both teams have 28 games remaining. The Panthers' point total is also good enough for a playoff berth on its own again, though they would be the eighth seed if not leading the division. The team has the chance to increase that lead today against the Islanders, who are in a three-way tie for twelfth place with Tampa Bay and Buffalo. Washington plays the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden at 12:30. The Rangers are 1-1 against the Capitals this season. Both games were in DC. The Panthers need to show some killer instinct and win today's game, even if it is the second of back to backs. There may be as many as three players in the game who didn't play yesterday, which may help the Cats some. One of those three is starting goaltender Jose Theodore, who has missed a ton of games in 2012, but who appears ready to return.

More from our New York Islanders cohorts at Lighthouse Hockey.
Panthers vs Islanders coverage at SB Nation.
SB Nation Preview.
LBC Game Thread will open 30 minutes prior to puck drop.

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"It was funny how we dominated early and that was probably the worst thing because maybe we thought it was going to be easy."

Devils goaltender Martin Brodeur, following a 17-save performance in Saturday's losing effort vs. Florida. (NorthJersey.com/Gulitti)

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The Panthers have called up second-year pro prospect Colby Robak to replace defensive stalwart Jason Garrison for Sunday's 3 p.m. road match against the New York Islanders. Garrison left Saturday's eventual 3-1 Florida victory over New Jersey with has been deemed by the club to be a lower-body injury. Whatever that means.

Robak, a recent AHL All-Star at 21, is a second-round selection (46th overall) of the Panthers in 2008. He currently shares the points lead among Rampage blueliners - with newly-acquired Sean Sullivan - at 25 (7G/18A) in 48 games. A year ago - his first outside of the WHL's Brandon Wheat Kings - the 6-3 defenseman collected 24 points (7G) in 76 games for then-Florida AHL affiliate Rochester.

Don't look now, but after a bad loss in Washington that could have spelled disaster for the remainder of the Florida Panthers season, the Cats have strung together two solid wins against two quality opponents. The latest, a 3-1 win over the New Jersey Devils marks the 10th time this season the Panthers have allowed a goal in the first 2 minutes of the game, but this time Florida would have an answer. This afternoon the Panthers beat New Jersey at their own game, taking a lead and meticulously defending it until the final horn sounded. Again we saw another defensively minded game backed by solid goaltending when needed and enough offense to get the job done; it wasn't pretty, but it did work.

So where does this put the Panthers? A loss to the Devils certainly wouldn't have been a blown game, but certainly a chip off a less than bulletproof team morale, while a road win against an arguably superior opponent puts Florida in a much more optimistic position. As the schedule continues to ease up, a winning streak certainly isn't out of reach. Two big victories may sow the seeds of a genuine playoff push, or just be more of the same .500 pattern we've seen of late. Whatever the future holds, a well rounded win over New Jersey ends a 2-1-1 season series with the Devils and proves the Panthers are taking it one game at a time, as they should.

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RADIO: WFTL TV: FS-F SBN: In Lou We Trust

2011-12: FLA 25-17-11 (61P) * NJ: 31-19-4 (62P)

ALL-TIME: 24-39-7-4-2 * 163GF - 215GA

ALL-TIME @ NJ: 10-22-3-2-0 * 73GF - 116GA

MEDIA NOTES: Game 54

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Florida: 25-17-11 (61PTS)
New Jersey: 31-19-4 (66PTS)
Season Series: 1-1-1
Game Time: 1:00 PM EST
Television: Fox Sports Florida, MSG Plus 2
Radio: 640 WFTL

This afternoon is the last game of the season against Pete DeBoer's New Jersey Devils. The Panthers won the first matchup and have lost the last two. The Panthers reclaimed first in the Southeast Division by virtue of a game on hand on the Capitals, but they need to string some wins together to lock the division lead. The Cats have a good chance to pick up points this weekend. The Devils have been good, but the Panthers have, for the most part, played well against them this season. While Patrik Elias complained about losing to a "one line" team early in the season, the second and third lines are now scoring, with the second line of Sean Bergenheim, Marcel Goc and Mikael Samuelsson in particular having a few good games in the last couple of weeks. The early start in particular means the Panthers have to be better at the beginning of the first period than they have been. If they can play a good first five, they have a good chance to win this one.

More from our New Jersey cohorts at In Lou We Trust.
Panthers vs Devils coverage at SB Nation.
SB Nation Preview.
LBC Game Thread will open 30 minutes prior to puck drop.

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With a 1 p.m. puck drop on tap in Newark, we'll get right to the meat of today's action: the Eastern Conference hasn't changed with any respect to Florida since Thursday (current standings as of Friday night), so here's the rundown on Matches That Matter to the Panthers:

• WPG (58P) at PIT (65P), 2 p.m.; not really stumped on this one
• EDM at OTW (63P), 2; less stumped on this one
• MTL at TOR (62P), 7; far less stumped here

Preview coming up later this morning, followed by the LBC Panthers vs Devils Game Thread at 12:30. Don't bother asking: completely agree this early afternoon deal is a ridiculous start time.