The Florida Panthers (28-14-4) return home from a one-game trip to Tennessee looking to complete a season-series sweep when they play host to the Arizona Coyotes (23-19-3) tonight at Amerant Bank Arena. Florida ended a season-high four-game losing streak with a solidly played 4-1 win over the Nashville Predators on Monday. Sam Reinhart scored his career-high 34th goal and Carter Verhaeghe, who was playing in his 300th NHL game, potted the eventual game-winner early in the third period before Brandon Montour and Matthew Tkachuk scored empty-netters to ice it.
The improving Coyotes, who are opening a three-game road trip, come into the game winners of two-straight after posting victories over the Predators (3-2) and the Pittsburgh Penguins (5-2) at Mullett Arena. Arizona is just two points behind Nashville for the second Wild Card in the Western Conference. The Desert Dogs have five players – Clayton Keller (19), Lawson Crouse (18), Michael Carcone (15), Nick Schmaltz (13) and Nick Bjugstad (10) – who have hit double-digit goals. Keller lead the club in scoring with 42 points.
- WHEN: 7:00 p.m. ET
- WHERE: Amerant Bank Arena – Sunrise, FL
- ON THE TUBE: Bally Sports Florida, Scripps
- ON THE DIAL: 96.5 WPOW-FM HD2 (D/B), 1230 The Gambler (PB), Thunder 100.3 (Keys)
- SOCIALS: #TimeToHunt, #Yotes, #ARIvsFLA, @LitterBoxCats, LBC FaceBook
- ENEMY INTEL: Five For Howling
- FLA IN SEASON SERIES: Game 2 of 2 (1-0)
- LAST MEETING: FLA 4, @ARI 1 – (Recap) 1/2/2023
- NEXT MEETING: Stanley Cup or 2024-25 regular season
- PROJECTED STARTERS: Florida: Bobrovsky (21-10-2 .908 / 2.55 2SO) / Arizona: Vejmelka (6-10-2 .899 / 3.20 1SO)
- PLAYER STATS: Florida / Arizona
Wednesday in the Atlantic (Standings/Panthers Playoff Chances)
- Winnipeg (30-11-4 64P) at TORONTO (23-14-8 P) 7 p.m.
- Carolina (25-15-5 55P) at BOSTON (29-8-9 67P) 7:30 p.m. (TNT, MAX)
- BUFFALO (20-23-4 44P) at Los Angeles (22-13-9 51P) 10:30 p.m.
Idle: TBL (55P), DET (53P), MON (45P), OTT (37P)