Florida Panthers (5-4-3 13P) vs San Jose Sharks (6-6 12P)
- WHEN: 10:30 p.m. ET – LBC GameThread right here at 10ish
- WHERE: SAP Center – San Jose, CA/
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- ON THE TUBE: FOX Sports Florida, CSN-CA
- ON THE DIAL: 560 WQAM, 640 WMEN, 107.9 WAXE, 97.7 The Wave, Panthers Official App (iOS, Android)
- SOCIALLY SPEAKING: #FlaPanthers, #SJSharks, #FLAvsSJS & if you’re feeling generous give us a follow @LitterBoxCats and toss us a “Like” at the LBC FaceBook page
- ENEMY INTEL: Fear The Fin /
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- FLA IN SEASON SERIES: Game 1 of 2 (0-0)
- ALL-TIME vs SJS: 11W-10L-7T 0OTL 0SOL 70GF 79GA
- ALL-TIME at SJS: 6W-6L-2T 0OTL 0SOL 33GF 41GA
- LAST FIVE vs SJS: 4-1 15GF 11GA/
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- PROJECTED STARTERS: Montoya (2-0-1 .941/1.63 0SO), Stalock (0-2 .847/3.94 0SO)
- JAGR WATCH: All-time vs SJS (reg season): 29GP 12G-21A 33P 0GWG
- PLAYER STATS: Florida / San Jose /
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- NOTES: This will be the third time the Panthers play on consecutive days this season; record so far: 1-0-1…The last time the Cats were at the SAP Center, Nick Bjugstad not only scored twice in regulation, he also bagged the clinching shootout goal in a 3-2 win…Al Montoya’s last appearance versus San Jose was on March 27, 2014; a 4-3 win for the visiting Winnipeg Jets…Joe Pavelski leads the Sharks with 8 goals and 12 points…Summer free-agent acquisition Joel Ward is fitting in nicely with 7 goals and 4 helpers…San Jose sent Barclay Goodrow, who played in the team’s first 12 games, and Karl Stollery down to their AHL affiliate, the Barracuda, on Wednesday…
- QUOTED: “It’s frustrating when the team’s not winning, obviously, because I think that I could be out there helping, and really, there’s nothing I can possibly do to get out there right now.” /
– Sharks forward Logan Couture on the unclear status of his return from injury and his team’s 3-6 record without him in the lineup.
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Last game for the Cats: 3-2 SO loss in Anaheim Wednesday. Past five: 2-1-2 14GF 11GA (streak: 3L)
Last game for the Sharks: 5-2 home loss to Columbus Tuesday. Past five: 2-3 15GF 17GA (streak: 1L)
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NHL.com Preview:
Florida plays its second game in as many nights following a 3-2 shootout loss at the Anaheim Ducks on Wednesday, a game the Panthers were seconds away from winning in regulation before having to settle for point. Al Montoya is expected to get the start in goal Thursday. (More)
Gallant, MacKenzie and Grimaldi after the loss to the Ducks
Thursday in the Atlantic Division (Standings / Panthers Playoff Chances):
- TAMPA BAY (6-6-2 14P) at BUFFALO (5-7 10P), 7:00
- BOSTON (6-4-1 13P) at Washington (8-3 16P), 7:00
- NY Islanders (7-3-3 17P) at MONTREAL (11-2-1 23P), 7:30
- Winnipeg (8-4-1 17P) at OTTAWA (6-4-2 14P), 7:30
- Idle: DET (6-5-1 13P), TOR (2-8-2 6P)
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Panthers, SoFla Media & Loyal Opposition on the Tweets
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