Maple Leafs (14-12-7 35P) at Panthers (15-14-6 36P)
.
- WHEN: 7:00 p.m. ET – LBC GameThread right here at 6:30ish
- WHERE: BB&T Center – Sunrise, FL
- ON THE TUBE: FOX Sports Florida, Sportsnet, NHL.com (free game)
- ON THE DIAL: 560 WQAM, 640 WMEN
- TICKETS: Single Game via Ticketmaster
- GOODIES: Celebrate Jaromir Jagr Night January 6th vs Nashville! (details)
- SOCIALS: #FlaPanthers, #MapleLeafs, #TORvsFLA, @LitterBoxCats, LBC FaceBook
- ENEMY INTEL: Pension Plan Puppets
- SB NATION: Game Feature Hub
- BACK-TO-BACK? (FLA/TOR): Front/Front
- FLA IN SEASON SERIES: Game 3 of 5 (0-2-0)
- ALL-TIME vs TOR (RS): 33W-32L-7T 2OTL 3SOL 228GF 223GA
- ALL-TIME at FLA (RS): 17W-15L-5T 1OTL 1SOL 116GF 108GA
- LAST FIVE vs TOR (RS): 2-3-0 13GF 18GA
- LAST MEETING: Host TOR 6, FLA 1 (Todd’s Recap) – 11/17/2016
- NEXT MEETING: Tuesday, 03/14/17 at Sunrise
- PROJECTED STARTERS: Luongo (11-9-4 .918/2.44 0SO), Andersen (14-8-6 .923/2.49 1SO)
- TALE OF THE TAPE via Left Wing Lock
- JAGR WATCH: All-time vs TOR (RS): 61GP 33G-45A 78P +10 5GWG
- PLAYER STATS: Florida / Toronto/
*
Scouting Report:
The puck bounced into the net after striking Jaromir Jagr in the butt.
That’s the odd way in which Jagr made history last week, moving past Mark Messier and rising to No. 2 in the NHL’s career points standings.
“I was dreaming of something else,” Jagr told reporters that night. “I thought I was going to score a beautiful goal or make a beautiful assist.”
But no, that’s not how it happened. Instead, it was ugly — just like the Panthers year.
Already this season, the Panthers (15-14-6) have suffered a serious injury to Jonathan Huberdeau that disrupted their top line. They have fired coached Gerard Gallant, and they have shuffled Dale Tallon from general manager to being kicked upstairs and then back to daily decision-making duties as GM.
On Wednesday night, the Panthers will play host to the Toronto Maple Leafs (14-12-7) in the first post-Christmas game of the season for either team.
Toronto and Florida are both in the bottom half of the Atlantic Division. The Panthers, who won the division last season, started this week in fifth place with 36 points. Toronto was next with 35. (More via Yahoo! Sports/AP)
*
Last game for the Cats: 4-3 (SO) home loss to Detroit Friday. Last five: 2-1-2 (streak: 2L)
Last game for the Buds: 4-1 victory at Arizona Friday. Last five: 2-1-2 (streak: 2W)
*
Wednesday in the Atlantic Division (Standings/Panthers Playoff Chances):
- MONTREAL (21-9-4 46P) at TAMPA BAY (17-15-3 37P), 7:30
- Idle: OTT (43P), BOS (40P), DET (34P), BUF (34P) /
*
Panthers, SoFla Media & Loyal Opposition on the Tweets