- WHO: Florida Panthers (9th/66GP 29-23-14 72P) vs Winnipeg Jets (33-22-12 78P)
- WHEN: 7:30 p.m. ET – LBC GameThread right here at 7ish
- WHERE: BB&T Center –
MiamiFt. LauderdaleSunrise, FL - WHERE TO WATCH: Fox Sports Florida, TSN-3
- TICKETS: Single Game via the club; 50% off for college students
- HOW TO LISTEN: WQAM 560, TSN 1290
- ENEMY INTEL: Arctic Ice Hockey, Illegal Curve
- FLA IN SEASON SERIES: Game 2 of 2 (0-1-0)
- ALL-TIME VS WPG/ATL: 32W-33L-5T 8OTL 4SOL 222GF 265GA
- PLAYER STATS: Florida / Winnipeg
- EXPECTED STARTERS: Ellis vs Hutchinson (as of 7 a.m.)
- TWITTER TAGS: #FlaPanthers, #NHLJets, #WPGvsFLA
- ETC: F Nick Bjugstad – Florida’s scoring leader with 40 points (23G) – is expected to play, while F Dave Bolland will return to the lineup. G Roberto Luongo remains on the shelf but still shilled as “close” to a coming back. G Dan Ellis is 1-0-1 (.900/2.77) in relief of Lu and backup Al Montoya. Former Cat Michael Frolik has 3G/2A in his last five games. Panthers are 9-11-5 since a brutal 8-2 January beat-down in Winnipeg. Jets are 14-8-5 vs the Eastern Conference.
*
Last game for the Cats: 4-3 shootout victory over the Islanders in Sunrise Saturday
Past five: 3-1-1 18GF 16GA (streak: 1W)
Last game for the Jets: 5-4 loss in regulation to St. Louis on Tuesday
Past five: 2-2-1 14GF 13GA (streak: 1L)
*
NHL Preview:
Eastern Wildcard Race on Thursday (WC standings / playoff chances):
- Tampa Bay (90P) at BOSTON (8th/66GP 34-22-10 78P), 7 p.m. NHLN
- OTTAWA (10th/65GP 30-24-11 71P) at Montreal (91P), 7:30
- Idle: PHILADELPHIA (11th/68GP 28-27-13 69P)/
*
Panthers, SoFla Media & Loyal Opposition on the Tweets
*