After splitting the two-game NHL Global Series against the Winnipeg Jets, the Florida Panthers return home with a 3-5-3 record. Florida’s nine points is good for worst in the league, tied with Los Angeles Kings (although the Cats have played two less games), who just fired head coach John Stevens.
I thought the Panthers played pretty well in both games against the superior Jets, so Friday’s win was encouraging as was the return of Roberto Luongo, who shut Winnipeg out over the final forty minutes of his first start since the season-opener against Tampa Bay.
The Panthers will return to practice tomorrow at Panthers IceDen at 11 a.m.
Florida has a three-game homestand coming up starting Thursday against Conor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers, currently 8-4-1. The Oilers will be playing the final game of a four-game road trip, although the schedule-maker cut them some slack with a day off on Wednesday after they play the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday.
On Saturday, the Cats will host the New York Islanders, one of the three teams they have managed to beat this season, before welcoming the Ottawa Senators in for a late Sunday afternoon tilt.
The Panthers need to come up with tow or three wins this week to climb the standings and get back in the chase.
How many points will the Cats collect on the upcoming homestand?
| Six | 20 |
| Five | 13 |
| Four | 23 |
| Three | 16 |
| Two | 5 |
| One | 4 |
| Zero | 1 |