Bruins (20-17-4 44P) vs Panthers (17-15-8 42P)
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- WHEN: 7:00 p.m. ET – LBC GameThread right here at 6:30ish
- WHERE: BB&T Center – Sunrise, FL
- ON THE TUBE: FOX Sports Florida, NESN
- ON THE DIAL: 560 WQAM, 640 WMEN
- TICKETS: Single Game via the club
- GOODIES: PanthersPalooza III & Nole Night on January 14 vs Columbus!
- SOCIALS: #FlaPanthers, #NHLBruins, #BOSvsFLA, @LitterBoxCats, LBC FaceBook
- ENEMY INTEL: Stanley Cup of Chowder
- SB NATION: Game Feature Hub
- BACK-TO-BACK? (FLA/BOS): Back/Front
- FLA IN SEASON SERIES: Game 4 of 5 (0-2-1)
- ALL-TIME vs BOS (RS): 35W-41L-6T 4OTL 4SOL 223GF 258GA
- ALL-TIME vs BOS at FLA (RS): 16W-20L-2T 2OTL 4SOL 121GF 129GA
- LAST FIVE vs BOS (RS): 1-2-2 13GF 15GA
- LAST MEETING: BOS 3 at FLA 1 from Sunrise (Todd’s Recap) – 12/22/2016
- NEXT MEETING (RS): Saturday, 04/01/17
- PROJECTED STARTERS: Reimer (6-5-3 .918/2.49 0SO) vs Rask (19-9-3 .926/2.00 4SO)
- OFFICIAL GAME NOTES via the Club
- TALE OF THE TAPE via Left Wing Lock
- JAGR WATCH: All-time vs BOS (RS): 84GP 34G-68A 102P +23 6GWG
- PLAYER STATS: Florida / Boston/
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Scouting Report:
Panthers starting goalie Roberto Luongo was pulled moments before the start of Friday’s game due to upper-body discomfort. Luongo has been stuck on 447 career wins for three straight games. If he can get one more win, he will pass Terry Sawchuk for fifth place on the NHL’s career victories list. With Luongo likely out for the Bruins, backup James Reimer is ready. Reimer slumped in November but was brilliant in December. He had a 1.90 goals-against average and .941 save percentage last month and then won his first January start on Friday.
Panthers center Nick Bjugstad suffered a lower-body injury on Friday and is questionable for Saturday’s game. Bruins center David Backes, attempting to return from a concussion, made the trip to Florida while defenseman John-Michael Liles (concussion) practiced on Friday and should return soon. (More via Yahoo! Sports/AP)
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Last game by the Cats: 2-1 (REG) home victory over Nashville last night. Last five: 2-1-2 (streak: 1W)
Last game by the Broons: 4-3 (REG) home loss to Edmonton Thursday. Last five: 2-3-0 (streak: 2L)
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Saturday in the Atlantic Division (Standings/Panthers Playoff Chances):
- TAMPA BAY (19-17-4 42P) at Philadelphia (20-15-5 45P), 1:00 NHLN
- Winnipeg (19-19-3 41P) at BUFFALO (14-15-9 37P), 1:00
- MONTREAL (24-9-6 54P) at TORONTO (18-12-8 44P), 7:00
- Washington (24-9-5 53P) at OTTAWA (20-13-4 44P), 7:00
- DETROIT (17-17-5 39P) at San Jose (23-14-2 48P), 10:30
- Idle: None/
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