Quotable:
“I think we deserved that. We haven’t gotten a lot of bounces around the net on this road trip. We’re in the playoff mix.”
—Peter Deboer in his post-game
The Panthers are now on pace for 82 points, eleventh in the Eastern Conference. The good news is the Carolina Hurricanes are on pace to finish eighth in the East with only 88 points. The bad news? The Panthers have to climb over the Buffalo Sabres and Atlanta Thrashers before getting to Carolina. The upcoming five game homestand will make or break the season, but the San Jose Sharks, Detroit Red Wings and Philadelphia Flyers are the final three opponents of the homestand.
Since coming back from injury, Chris Higgins has three points in five games.
Mike Santorelli has 14 goals and 14 assists for 28 points and is on pace for 44 points.
Florida sits in thirteenth in the league in even strength scoring differential and sixth in penalty kill efficiency, but the power play remains dead last in the NHL, behind even the Edmonton Oilers.