Florida: 3-3-0 (6PTS)
New York Islanders: 3-2-0 (6PTS)
Season Series: 1-0-0
Game Time: 7:30 PM EDT
Television: MSG+
Radio: 560 WQAM
The Panthers spoiled the Islanders’ home opener and the Isles will be looking to take revenge tonight in Sunrise. Since that game, the Isles have won 3 of 4 and the Cats have won 2 of 5. The goaltending for both teams has been solid, but, save for a 7 goal performance against the Lightning, the Panthers have had more trouble finding offense than the Islanders. Head coach Kevin Dineen had the team working on fundamentals on Friday, stating that he thought the Panthers had gotten away from their game. Look for them to make a better start tonight.
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News and Notes
Last meeting
The Panthers picked up their first win of the season and Jose Theodore his first shutout as a Panther and sixth against the Islanders when they beat the Isles 2-0 in the Isles home opener last week. Stephen Weiss got the game winner and first Panther goal of the season in the win.
Last game
The Panthers were shut out for the second game in a row on Thursday night, falling 3-0 to the visiting Buffalo Sabres. The Cats were without Ed Jovanovski, Sean Bergenheim and Shawn Matthias, who were out with various ailments. Keaton Ellerby was in for Jovo and Tim Kennedy and Bracken Kearns were in for Bergenheim and Matthias. Kearns made his NHL debut, at 30 years old, in the loss.
Lineup
Kennedy and Kearns remain in the lineup. Dineen said that they didn’t want Jovanovski and Bergenheim back in the lineup right away because they didn’t want their conditions becoming chronic. Expect that Ellerby and Kennedy will be in the lineup with Kearns and Matthias a toss-up depending on how Matthias, who has had flu-like symptoms and missed practice yesterday, feels. Contrary to early reports on Thursday, though Mike Santorelli is close to returning, he is still not taking contact and won’t be in the lineup tonight.
Injuries
- G Scott Clemmensen (knee), 9/26, 3-8 weeks
- F Mike Santorelli (shoulder), 9/27, 2 weeks
Possible Scratches
- D Keaton Ellerby (healthy)
- D Ed Jovanovski (hip)
- F Sean Bergenheim (shoulder)
- F Shawn Matthias (illness)
Starting goaltenders:
Jose Theodore will likely start again for the Panthers. The Islanders seem likely to start Al Montoya. Update: Theodore will face Evgeni Nabokov.
Lines
Forwards
- Fleischmann-Weiss-Versteeg
- Booth-Kennedy-Upshall
- Kopecky-Goc-Skille
- Bradley-Matthias/Kearns-Carter
Defense
- Campbell-Garrison
- Jovanovski/Ellerby-Gudbranson
- Kulikov-Weaver