Ottawa Senators (14-8-5 33P) vs Florida Panthers (13-10-4 30P)
- WHEN: 7:30 p.m. ET – LBC GameThread right here at 7ish
- WHERE: BB&T Center – Sunrise, FL
- TICKETS: Single Game & check out the Holiday Package! /
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- ON THE TUBE: FOX Sports Florida, TSN5, RDS
- ON THE DIAL: 560, 640, 760, 1210 (AM); 97.7, 107.9 (FM); Official App (iOS, Android)
- SOCIALLY SPEAKING: #FlaPanthers, #Sens, #OTTvsFLA, @LitterBoxCats, LBC FaceBook page
- ENEMY INTEL: Silver Seven
- SB NATION: Game Hub /
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- FLA IN SEASON SERIES: Game 1 of 5 (0-0)
- ALL-TIME vs OTT: 32W-44L-3T 4OTL 0SOL 222GF 261GA
- ALL-TIME at FLA: 16W-24L-1T 1OTL 0SOL 118GF 133GA
- LAST FIVE vs OTT: 3-2-0 11GF 11GA/
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- PROJECTED STARTERS: Luongo (10-9-3 .924/2.33 1SO), Anderson (12-7-3 .916/2.78 2SO)
- JAGR WATCH: All-time vs OTT (reg season): 69GP 40G-42A 82P 11GWG
- PLAYER STATS: Florida / Ottawa /
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- NOTES: Broward County will be voting today on whether to accept or deny the Panthers’ latest financial restructuring (some deem it a “bail-out”) proposal, which in my eyes appears beneficial to both parties; we’ll have the county’s decision when it becomes public. As for now, catch up with the Miami Herald and Sun-Sentinel; going subtle here but kind of a Big Deal. D Dmitry Kulikov – still just 25 years old and the longest-tenured Cat – will play in his 406th NHL game tonight. 406 seemed relevant for some reason. Whether he plays or not – and we’re guessing he does – OTT G Craig Anderson remains a Great Guy in our eyes despite his 11-4-1 (3 SO) record vs Florida. He’ll retire down here and become a staple of the car show circuit. Somewhat surprisingly, Roberto Luongo is 11-13-0 (no shutouts) vs Ottawa over his career.
- QUOTED:/
“It’s the new breed vs. the greybeard. Mike Hoffman leads the Senators in goals with 14 and is tied for second in scoring with 26 points. He didn’t have much in the way of chance in New York but he’s been consistent all season. The 43-year-old Jaromir Jagr is ticking right along this season with eight goals and 20 points. He still comes to play.
– Bruce Garrioch, Ottawa Sun (more).
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Last game for the Cats: 4-2 loss in Newark as Devils defeat streaking Panthers on Sunday. Past five: 4-1-0 11GF 8GA (streak: 1L)
Last game for the Sens: 4-1 loss to the Rags at MSG Sunday. Past five: 2-3-0 14GF 17GA (streak: 1L)
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NHL.com Preview:
Ottawa did not practice Monday and assistant coach Jason Smith felt a day off in South Florida was a good opportunity for the players to get re-energized after a 4-1 loss at the New York Rangers left Ottawa with a 1-4-0 record in the second of back-to-back games. (more)
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Tuesday in the Atlantic Division (Standings / Panthers Playoff Chances):
- DETROIT (15-8-4 34P) at Washington (18-5-2 38P), 7:30 NBCSN
- New Jersey (14-10-3 31P) at TORONTO (9-13-5 23P), 7:30
- Idle: MON (19-6-3 41P), BOS (14-9-3 31P), TBL (13-12-3 29P), BUF (11-14-3 25P)/
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Panthers, SoFla Media & Loyal Opposition on the Tweets
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