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GameDay Caterwaul: Florida Panthers Open Forum

  • WHO: Minnesota Wild (11-8) at Florida Panthers (7-5-6)
  • WHEN: 7:30 p.m. ET (LBC GameThread at 7ish)
  • WHERE: BB&T Center
  • HOW TO WATCH: Fox Sports Florida (FLA); FS-N, FS-WI (MIN)
  • HOW TO LISTEN: WQAM 560 (FLA); KFXN 100.3 (MIN)
  • ENEMY INTEL: Hockey Wilderness

Florida’s last game: 2-3 (SO) on Saturday. Central Division-leader Nashville lulled the visiting Gatos to sleep with the proverbial stifling defense, carrying a 2-goal lead and 45 shots sent Roberto Luongo’s way into the final minute of regulation at which point the internet broke at 19:17: Rocco Grimaldi scored his first NHL goal (in game seven of his professional career), paving the way for Nick Bjugstad (2010’s “Mr. Hockey” for you Star of the North fans) to knot the affair at 2 only 12 seconds later. Yes, the Preds went home to their own beds victorious in the skillz komp but if gaining a point after being down by two goals in the final minute isn’t a “victory” for a squad like the Panthers I don’t have the foggiest idea what is.

Who was hot for the Cats: Rocco and Big Nick with the only Florida goals, but few from any game in recent memory have been timelier. Lou’s 48 saves were, well, Lou with 48 saves. Jimmy Hayes continues to impress with an assist (and a no-question goal walled late by Pekka Rinne, who astounded regularly), as did Brian Campbell and rookie blueliner Aaron Ekblad (11P in 18 games). Jonathan Huberdeau notched 5 SOG.

Minnesota’s last game: 1-2 (reg) Saturday. Zach Parise (5 SOG) scored early in the second period in what proved to be the Wild’s’s’es only marker of the evening in Tampa Bay as Anton Stralman picked up primary assists on both Lightning goals. Darcy Kuemper (25 saves) took the loss while forward Thomas Vanek notched an assist for the Wild.

Who was hot for the Wild: Beyond Parise and Vanek? Tampa Bay’s Ryan Callahan recorded 6 shots, so give some love to Kuemper.

NHL.com Game Preview:

Have a great Monday, and stop back right here tonight at 7.

Talking Points