Panthers (1-1-0 2P) vs Blues (4-0-0 8P)
- WHEN: 7:30 p.m. ET – LBC GameThread right here at 7:00ish
- WHERE: BB&T Center – Sunrise, FL
- ON THE TUBE: FOX Sports Florida, FOX Sports Midwest
- ON THE DIAL: 560 WQAM (D/B), 640 WMEN (PB), 1370 WAXE (TC), Thunder 100.3 (Keys)
- SOCIALS: #FlaPanthers, #AllTogetherNowSTL, #STLvsFLA, @LitterBoxCats, LBC FaceBook
- ENEMY INTEL: St. Louis Game Time
- SB NATION: Game Feature Hub
- FLA IN SEASON SERIES: Game 1 of 2 (0-0-0)
- ALL-TIME vs STL (RS): 9W-19L-3T 1OTL 1SOL 58GF 89GA
- ALL-TIME at FLA (RS): 4W-7L-2T 1OTL 1SOL 33GF 43GA
- LAST MEETING: STL 6, Host FLA 3 – (Recap) – 4/6/2017
- NEXT MEETING: January 9, 2018
- PROJECTED STARTERS: Luongo (0-1-0 .833/4.14 0SO) vs Allen (3-0-0 .930/2.58 0SO)
- PLAYER STATS: Florida / St. Louis/
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Scouting Report:
The St. Louis Blues, with four wins in their first four tries for just the second time in franchise history, will take their traveling hockey show to the BB&T Center on Thursday night.
The Blues, who will challenge the host Florida Panthers (1-1-0), have been winning despite a massive amount of early-season injuries.
Forwards Alexander Steen (left hand), Patrik Berglund (shoulder surgery), Robby Fabbri (knee surgery) and Zach Sanford (shoulder surgery) are all out. Fabbri is gone for the season, Sanford needs months of rehab, Berglund could be back by December, and Steen could return by the end of this month.
On defense, the picture is not as bleak. First-pair defenseman Jay Bouwmeester (left ankle) is the only one injured on the blue line, and he could possibly return within one week.
The Panthers aren’t off to quite that type of start, splitting their first two games with the high-flying Tampa Bay Lightning.
New Panthers coach Bob Boughner has quickly established himself with his players, who voiced their approval of his system and his communication skills.
Boughner, a first-time NHL head coach, read a book called “Legacy” shortly after being hired by Florida. The book is about the New Zealand national rugby team, known as the All Blacks, and how they became world champions.
A 46-year-old former NHL defenseman from Windsor, Ontario, Boughner is hoping some of the lessons he learned from Legacy will inspire his players. (More via AP)
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Thursday in the Atlantic (Standings/Panthers Playoff Chances):
- Pittsburgh (2-1-1 5P) at TAMPA BAY (2-1-0 4P) 7:30 p.m.
- DETROIT (2-1-0 4P) at Arizona (0-2-1 1P) 10 p.m.
- BUFFALO (0-2-1 1P) at San Jose (0-2-0 0P) 10:30 p.m.
- Idle: TOR (6P), BOS (2P), OTT (2P), MTL (0P)/
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