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Game Day Preview: Preseason Game 5 – Dallas Stars at Florida Panthers

Start Time: 7:30 PM
Radio: 560 WQAM
TV: None
Florida: 1-3-0
Dallas: 3-1-0
Pre-Season Series: 0-0-0

Today is the final home game of the Panthers‘ preseason schedule. The team made a few cuts Monday, and we’re quite likely to see a number of the remaining bubble players again tonight. This game will mark the return of former two-time Panther Radek Dvorak to South Florida; dealt at the 2011 trade deadline to the Atlanta Thrashers and injured soon after, he signed with the Stars as a UFA over the summer. It is not known, however, if he will be in the lineup. This preseason game is the only time the Stars travel to Sunrise this year. Randy Moller is back in action tonight. This will be the first pre-season game broadcast in any format by the Panthers. So, everyone who is not at the Billboard can tune in to home commentary this evening. Our live game threads will return on October 8th, but in the meantime we’ll be crashing the live chat at OFP once more this evening.

Last meeting: The visiting Stars beat the Cats 4-1 early last season. Tom Wandell had two goals – including the game winner – with former Panther Karlis Skrastins garnering an assist on the play. Stephen Weiss had the lone goal for the Cats.

Last game: The Panthers lost 5-3 to the visiting Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday. Florida had a 3-2 lead in the second frame but allowed the Bolts back into the game on a bad defensive breakdown; the visitors took the opening and didn’t let up. The Cats played a disjointed third period as the Lightning scored two more in the third to seal the victory. This game was the first preseason action for starting goaltender Jose Theodore as well as a number of other veterans, including Weiss, Ed Jovanovski, Tomas Fleischmann and Kris Versteeg.

Notes: The Panthers cut defenseman Colby Robak from camp Monday, assigning him to San Antonio while placing Steven Reinprecht and Michal Repik on waivers. Both are expected to be with the Rampage if they clear.

Injuries: Scott Clemmensen (knee), IR, 9/26.

Healthy Scratches: Stephen Weiss, Evgeny Dadonov, Matt Bradley, Ryan Carter, Keaton Ellerby, Mike Kostka, Jose Theodore

Starting goaltenders: Clemmensen was originally announced as the starter, but had a procedure performed on his knee Monday morning. Only a very rough timetable was given for his return, anywhere from 3 to 8 weeks; he will certainly miss the beginning of the season. The organization has said that they haven’t decided on a backup as yet. Tyler Plante and Jacob Markstrom will split tonight’s preseason match.

Lines: (From today’s practice)

Forwards

Fleischmann – Kopecky – Versteeg
Bergenheim – Kennedy – Huberdeau
Matthias – Goc – Skille
Booth – Santorelli – Upshall

Defense

Jovanovski – Gudbranson
Campbell – Garrison
Weaver – Kulikov

More from our Dallas cohorts at Defending Big D.

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