Ottawa Senators at Florida Panthers - Game 56 Preview

Florida: 27-17-11 (65PTS)
Ottawa: 29-22-8 (66PTS)
Season Series: 0-1-1
Game Time: 7:30 PM EST
Television: None
Radio: 560 WQAM

The Ottawa Senators visit South Florida for the first time this season. The Panthers are coming in hot off back-to-back wins in New Jersey and Long Island last weekend, while the Sens shut out the Lightning 4-0 last night in Tampa. The Senators have more or less owned the Panthers the last few years, but the Cats really need to get past them to keep putting some distance between themselves and the Capitals. Tonight's game will not be televised because it's in the national blackout zone. Usually when a Canadian team is playing, the game is still broadcast in Canada, but that will not be the case this evening. Randy Moller will have the game call on WQAM tonight, and even without a television feed, we'll be chatting in the game thread tonight at the usual time.

More from our Ottawa cohorts at Silver Seven.
Senators vs Panthers coverage at SB Nation.
SB Nation Preview.
LBC Game Thread will open 30 minutes prior to puck drop.

News and Notes

Last meeting

The Panthers lost 4-3 after Bobby Butler scored in overtime back in December.

Last game

The Panthers won their second of back-to-back road games on Sunday, defeating the Islanders 4-1.

Lineup

Jason Garrison will be out from seven to ten days with a lower body/foot injury. Colby Robak has been recalled to take his place. Goaltender Jacob Markstrom was cleared to play and has returned to San Antonio.

Injuries

• F Scottie Upshall (core), 2/1, 6 to 8 weeks
• F Marco Sturm (lower body), 2/2 unknown
• D Ed Jovanovski (hand), 1/16, week to week
• D Dmitry Kulikov (knee), 1/21, 6 to 8 weeks
• D Jason Garrison (lowerbody), 2/11, 7 to 10 days
  

Possible Scratches

• F Krys Barch
  

Starting goaltenders:

Former Panther Craig Anderson will start for the Sens. Anderson has two wins against the Cats this season and is 6-0-1 in eight games started against his old team. Scott Clemmensen is expected to start for the Panthers, though no formal announcement has been made. Clemmensen is 3-2-1 against the Senators in six starts.

Lines

Forwards

1. Fleischmann-Weiss-Versteeg
2. Bergenheim-Goc-Samuelsson
3. Kopecky-Matthias-Bradley
4. Barch/Skille-Madden-Santorelli

Defense

1. Campbell-Gudbranson
2. Weaver-Ellerby
3. Strachan-Robak