The National Hockey League returns to action tomorrow night after finishing a three-day break for Christmas with eleven games on the slate.
The Florida Panthers get an extra day off before facing the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday at the BB&T Center.
There are a few games of interest on Wednesday involving clubs the suddenly-hot Panthers are chasing in the standing.
Fourth place Montreal, currently one point ahead of the Cats in the Atlantic Division are at Carolina.
Eastern Conference wild cards, the Rangers and the Islanders, each currently seven points ahead of the Panthers, host Washington and Buffalo respectively.
The third place team in the Atlantic Division, the Boston Bruins host the Ottawa Senators. Boston has an eight point lead on the Cats in the chase for an automatic playoff berth.
High-scoring Florida prospect Florida Aleksi Heponiemi and Team Finland will take on Canada at 4 p.m. as the 2018 World Junior Championship opens today in Buffalo, NY.
In other games, the United States will face Denmark (8 p.m.), the Czech Republic will do battle with Russia (12 p.m.), and Belarus will take on Sweden (2 p.m.).