Panthers (30-27-11 71P) vs Blue Jackets (44-18-6 94P)
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- WHEN: 7 p.m. ET – LBC GameThread right here at 6:30ish
- WHERE: Nationwide Arena – Columbus, OH
- ON THE TUBE: FOX Sports Florida, FOX Sports Ohio
- ON THE DIAL: 560 WQAM, 640 WMEN
- SOCIALS: #FlaPanthers, #CBJ, #FLAvsCBJ, @LitterBoxCats, LBC FaceBook
- ENEMY INTEL: The Cannon
- SB NATION: Game Feature Hub
- BACK-TO-BACK? (FLA/CBJ): Front/None
- FLA IN SEASON SERIES: Game 3 of 3 (2-0)
- ALL-TIME vs CBJ (RS): 9W-8L-00T 3TL 3SOL 55GF 66GA
- ALL-TIME at CBJ (RS): 3W-6L-0T 0OTL 2SOL 22GF 33GA
- LAST FIVE vs CBJ (RS): 4-0-1 14GF 11GA
- LAST MEETING: Host FLA 4 – CBJ 3 (REG) – (Todd’s Recap) – 01/14/2017
- NEXT MEETING (RS): 2017-18 season
- PROJECTED STARTERS: Reimer (13-12-5 .918/2.60 0SO) vs Bobrovsky (37-13-4 .917/2.69 6SO)
- TALE OF THE TAPE via Left Wing Lock
- PLAYER STATS: Florida / Columbus
- GOODIES: FOX Sports Florida premieres an all-new Inside The Panthers: Community Commitment after tomorrow’s game vs the Rangers!/
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Scouting Report:
With 3 1/2 weeks left in the regular season, the Columbus Blue Jackets don’t want to coast into the Stanley Cup playoffs. The Florida Panthers, however, just want to get to the postseason.
The Blue Jackets and the Panthers will continue to chase their goals when they meet Thursday night at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. The Blue Jackets have lost on the road twice to the Panthers this season, once in regulation and once in a shootout.
Columbus, which was the fourth-worst team in the league last season, is pleased with its franchise-records of 44 victories and 94 points, but it sees the league-leading Washington Capitals only three points out of reach. The Presidents’ Trophy, awarded to the team with the best regular-season record, is something this season’s biggest surprise team wants. (More via AP)
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Last action from the Cats: 7-2 home victory over Toronto Tuesday. Past five: 1-4-1 (streak: 1W)
Last action from ‘Lumbus: 5-3 win in Philadelphia Monday. Past five: 4-1-1 (streak: 1W)
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Thursday in the Atlantic (Standings/Panthers Playoff Chances):
- Chicago (44-20-5 93P) at OTTAWA (39-22-7 85P), 7:30
- TORONTO (31-23-14 76P) at TAMPA BAY (34-26-9 77P), 7:30
- BOSTON (38-26-6 82P) at Edmonton (36-24-9 81P), 9:00
- DETROIT (26-31-11 63P) at Arizona (26-35-8 61P), 10:00
- BUFFALO (28-30-12 68P) at Los Angeles (33-29-7 73P), 10:30
- Idle: MON (86P)/
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