Litter Box Cats, a Florida Panthers community

Shore and Bjugstad each score as the Americans wrap up play in Buffalo.

From Scott Lewis: With 38 points and a seat in last place in the Southeast Division, the Panthers are where most could have predicted they’d be in January. They’ve got an elite goaltender to go along with a mix of serviceable-to-fading veterans and a quality group of youth and mid-age players. Hockey has never been an easy sell in South Florida, but if the 2011 World Juniors have signified anything for the Panthers – it’s that they’re on the right track in terms of prospects. More above. Thanks to The Copper and Blue's Derek Zona for the link.

From Kevin Allen: The reason I joked (with) Tallon doing too good of a job is because I believe that he only needs one more high pick and another good draft to complete the Panthers' changeover. In Chicago, he drafted Toews and then Kane, plus other acquisitions, and the Blackhawks were off and running. Lots more to this one than the standard Tallon-built-the-Hawks line. Read on above.

From Jeremy Sandler, The StarPhoenix: What might be a surprise is that (Florida 2010 first-rounder Quinton Howden) is on the ice at all. As a six-year-old, doctors wondered whether he would be able to get upright on his own after a terrible accident on his tricycle. "Yeah, I don't know how they looked at it, telling me I wouldn't play hockey again, let alone probably walk," he said. "It's something that I've overcome and something that has driven me my whole life." My own fault on this being linked so late; huge thanks to Cory B. for the submission.