Considered one of the top teams this season by numerous media outlets, the Panthers finished the 2020-21 regular season with the fourth-best record in the NHL before bringing eventual Stanley Cup champion Lightning to six games in the Postseason.
Eager to take a deeper run this time around, players can’t wait to get started.
“I think we did a lot of good things throughout camp and preseason,” said Panthers striker Sam Reinhart said after Saturday’s preseason final against Tampa Bay. “We’re starting on the right foot. It’ll only be a few more days before we get to work.”
Reinhart, who was acquired by the Sabers in a high-profile trade in the off-season, will be one of the few players to make their debut with the Panthers on Thursday, a group that could include the 2020 first-round pick Anton Lundell and future Hall of Famer Joe Thornton.
These new faces will help create one of the deepest teams in the league and will strengthen a dynamic core that already allstars like. includes Alexander Barkov, Jonathan Huberdeau and Aaron Ekblad, as well as MacKenzie Weegar, Carter Verhaeghe and many other experienced players.
Between the pipes Sergei Bobrovsky and Spencer Knight will be a big one-two punch.
Then of course there is also this mustached legend who is in charge behind the bank.
“That’s what it’s about,” said Panthers coach Joel Quenneville about the start of the season. He’s not wrong. This is the moment everyone from players to fans has been waiting for. See you all on the ice rink!
THE GAMES
Thursday: Pittsburgh Penguins, 7:00 p.m.
There is nothing better than the first game of the season. On a journey that will last at least 82 games, the Panthers begin their season on Thursday with a matchup against the Penguins at the FLA Live Arena. Pittsburgh, the best team in the East Division for the 2020-21 season, went 37-16-3 during the regular season before losing to the Islanders in Round 1 of the playoffs. Sidney Crosby – Who Else? – led the team with 62 points (24 goals, 38 assists), while Jake Guentzel took second place with 57 points (23 goals, 34 assists). Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, who are expected to step on the ice without two of their top stars in this matchup, are currently working their way back from off-season operations. In her absence, Jeff Carter, who scored eleven points (nine goals, two assists) in 14 games after the Penguins hit him on 12. On the net, Tristan Jarry is expected to start the season as Pittsburgh’s starter after finishing in the 2020-21 season scored a 25-9-3 with a savings percentage of 0.909. As for the panthers, look for Aleksander Barkov who comes out flying. With the ink still drying on his new eight-year extension, the captain is ready to take another step forward after scoring 58 points (26 goals, 32 assists) last season, which is good enough for the second most on the team was.
TV: Bally Sports Florida, ESPN +
Radio: 560 WQAM (Dade / Broward); 640 WMEN (Palm Beach); 100.3 WCTH (Florida Keys); SiriusXM channel 220 / streaming 932; NHL app
Tickets: HERE
Saturday: New York Islanders, 6:00 p.m.
Can we still call this a game of revenge? I think we can. Due to last season’s pandemic-adjusted schedule, the Panthers will receive the Islanders on Thursday at the FLA Live Arena in their first head-to-head match since New York won the 2020 Stanley Cup qualifiers. In the 2020/21 postseason, the Islanders returned to fourth place in the East Division with a record of 32-17-7, but were knocked out by the Lightning in seven games in the Stanley Cup semi-finals. Mathew Barzal led the team in assists (28) and points (45), with Brock Nelson scoring the most goals (18). Despite losing Jordan Eberle in the Expansion Draft, the Islanders should get a boost with the return of captain Anders Lee, who missed the last two months of last season with an injury. Before Lee was kicked off the line-up, Lee had scored 12 goals in 27 games. On the net, Semyon Varlamov and Ilya Sorokin should form a strong tandem for New York. Varlamov, who was supposed to start as number 1, left on November 19, 2019 with a savings percentage of 0.929 and seven shutouts in the 2020/21 season. As a veteran of the above series in the playoff bubble, look for Jonathan Huberdeau to score some points for the Panthers in this game. The 28-year-old winger led the team for the second season in a row, collecting 61 points (20 goals, 41 assists) last season.
TV: Bally Sports Florida, ESPN +
Radio: 560 WQAM (Dade / Broward); 640 WMEN (Palm Beach); 100.3 WCTH (Florida Keys); SiriusXM channel 219 / streaming 932; NHL app
Tickets: HERE
MILESTONE WATCH
– Jonathan Huberdeau is two points away from his 500th point.
– Brandon Montour is seven games away from his 300th game.
– Sam Reinhart is five points away from his 300th point.
– Carter Verhaeghe is five points away from his 100th game.
NEW CAT ON THE BLOCK
The Panthers are starting to become a target for change of scenery.
With a chance to follow in the footsteps of players like Carter Verhaeghe Gustav Forslingwho both had career years at Florida in 2020-21, former first-round pick Olli Juolevi was acquired by the Canucks on Sunday in exchange for Juho Lammikko and Noah Juulsen.
“We are delighted to welcome another young defender like Olli to our organization,” said Panthers CEO Bill Zito in the team’s official announcement announcing the transaction. “We look forward to Olli developing with our club if he joins our deepening core on the blue line.”
After making his NHL debut and skating in one game during the playoffs in 2020, Juolevi, originally selected by Vancouver with the fifth overall pick in 2016, scored three points (two goals, one assist) with an average of 13:13 ice time Over 23 games as a rookie in the 2020-21 season.
Juolevi, who turned 23 in May, was a top producer during his junior career, racking up 84 points (19 goals, 65 assists) in 115 games in his two seasons for London in the OHL.
Stay tuned to FloridaPanthers.com this week for more news about this new cat.
BIG NIGHTS AHEAD
It’s never too early to start planning your trips to the FLA Live Arena.
Against this background – and with the campaign that begins this week – there is no time to present the Panthers’ cross-season campaigns and themed evenings and to circle a few dates.
Every Tuesday, fans can buy discounted Truly Hard Seltzer, while Yuengling, Yuengling Flight, Corona and other local beers are available at reduced prices at selected concession stands on Thursdays.
New for this season are games played on Saturdays – now known as “Sunset Saturdays” – with puck drops at 6 p.m. Cocktail on the CITY Furniture Patio, North Patio and JetBlue Tarmac. From 4 p.m., families can take part in game day activities like a bouncy castle, inflatable slapshot booth, video games and more on the JetBlue Tarmac.
For theme nights, check out the list below.
– 14.10. vs. Pittsburgh: Opening night
– 16.10. vs. New York Islanders: Oktoberfest
– 27.10. vs. Boston: Panthers celebrate Halloween
– 20.11. vs. Carolina: Hockey Fights Cancer presented by the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center
– 04.12. vs. St. Louis: Kids Day presented by Broward Health
– 15.01. vs. Columbus: Pride Night presented by Stoli
– 1/27 vs. Vegas: Military Appreciation Night
– 01/29 vs. San Jose: Hispanic Heritage Night
– 24.02. vs. Columbus: Black History Night
– 3/10 vs. Philadelphia: St. Patrick’s Day
– 4/8 vs. Buffalo: Autism Awareness Night presented by South Florida Ford
– April 21st vs. Detroit: Mental Health Awareness Presented by Solis Health Plans
Stay tuned for more details and additional announcements below FloridaPanthers.com/Promos.
BROCHURE SPOTLIGHT
Mackie Samoskevich started his college career with a bang. The 18-year-old forward helped Michigan to a 6-1 win over Lake Superior State on Friday and only lit the lamp at 9:02 a.m. in the first third to put the Wolverines 2-0 ahead with his first NCAA goal bring to.
Considered one of the nation’s best newcomers, Samoskevich is joined by the Panthers at 24 on a powerhouse team in Ann Arbor.
In 2020-21, he scored 37 points (13 goals, 24 assists) in 36 games with Chicago in the USHL.
CAT CLIP OF THE WEEK
Even if it has been a few days, there are still many smiles from this news.
The Panthers suspended one of the league’s top players for the foreseeable future and signed superstar captain Aleksander Barkov on Friday for an extension of a maximum of eight years.
“I’ll be here a long time,” said Barkov of the mega-deal. “Being in the organization that called me up gave me the chance to play here and develop into the player I am now and the person I am now, a big deal for me. I really have Loved every second here in my entire career. I never thought of anything but being here, playing here and trying to win a Stanley Cup here. “
To see all of Barkov’s press conferences, watch the video below.
Video: Press Conference: Barkov Extended
CATS IN THE COMMUNITY
TERRITORY DISCUSSION
The battle for the Sunshine State couldn’t even wait for the regular season. We’re already talking about rivalry in the latest episode of the Territory Talk podcast.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
– Sasha signs: Panthers lock ‘Cornerstone’ players in Barkov
– Panthers announce wireless network 2021-22
– Panthers announce limited time specials on tickets and merchandise
– Territory Talk: Rivalry Renewed; Preseason Thoughts
– All about the NHL: 2021-22 season preview with Linda Cohn. by ESPN
– The panthers lost a larger than life figure on Saturday
– Color of Hockey: LATAM Cup returns at Panthers IceDen