The last time the Florida Panthers paid a visit to Canadian Tire Centre it was two weeks ago and Roberto Luongo stole the show in a 4-1 win where the Senators certainly played well enough to win.

Since then, the Panthers have undergone an organizational shift, firing Gerard Gallant on Monday in what was apparently a difference in philosophy as he seemed to resist the front office's shift to a more analytics based approach. GM Tom Rowe has taken over as the head coach.

Luongo has been the Panthers best player this season, and has allowed just one goal in four of his last five games, a string starting with the win in Ottawa. Jaromir Jagr had struggled going into that Ottawa game, but broke out with a three point night and now has six points in his last 7 games. I think I have said this every year since I started writing on hockey, but this at age 44 could this be the last time Jagr takes to the ice in Ottawa?

The Panthers are coming in off an overtime win in Detroit on Aleksander Barkov's game winner while the Senators were dropping a 3-2 overtime decision of their own, both on Thursday night.

The Senators are hopeful to have Marc Methot back in the lineup, but with Freddie Claesson leaving the game on Thursday with an injury and subsequently going on IR, the Senators have called up Andreas Englund as insurance against Methot. If Methot can't go, the 20 year old Englund will make his NHL debut.

There is no similar hope for a return of Bobby Ryan, as he was placed on IR as well, and cannot play until next Thursday in San Jose at the earliest, and it is not even a given that he will go with the team on the road trip that starts after this game in Pittsburgh and then goes through California.

Max McCormick was sent down and Buddy Robinson was recalled, and he will make his season debut against the Panthers. Robinson had a goal and an assist in his three game audition last season.

This is a huge two points for the Senators, as although they sit second in the Atlantic Division there is a gaggle of teams, both divisional and conference, including the Panthers, who are within 6 points of them. With the difficulty of the upcoming road trip they need these two points to create or at least maintain the bit of breathing space they have now.

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