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Jet Fuel: Florida vs Winnipeg |
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After back-to-back losses against Edmonton and Calgary, where Florida surrender 10 goals, the Cats bounced back and scored 10 in their two most recent wins:
5-1 over Vancouver
5-1 over Seattle
The wins came with a cost, as both Hornqvist and Gudas went down with injury against Seattle.
Per Jameson Olive in the latest installment of the Panthers
NOTEBOOK:
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Already without captain Aleksander Barkov, who is dealing with a non-COVID illness, the Panthers lost forward Anton Lundell (upper body) during Thursday's win at Vancouver, and then forward Patric Hornqvist (upper body) and defenseman Radko Gudas (upper body) during Saturday's win at Seattle.
Maurice said that both Hornqvist and Gudas are currently in the NHL's concussion protocol and that there is not timetable set for their return as of right now. Lundell will also miss Tuesday's game against the Jets, but isn't expected to be out long term. Barkov is making progress, but won't join the team in Winnipeg.
‘On the mend and getting close, so we're optimistic when we get back,’ Maurice said of Barkov, who has missed the last five games.
To help fill the void left by those injuries, forwards Zac Dalpe and Chris Tierney as well as defenseman Matt Kiersted were called up from the AHL and are expected to suit up for the Panthers against the Jets.
A veteran of 154 games in the NHL, Dalpe, who captains Florida's AHL affiliate in Charlotte, leads the Checkers with 10 goals in 19 games this season, while Tierney, who inked to a one-year, two-way contract with the Panthers in the offseason, has recorded 226 points (73 goals, 153 assists) over 561 games in the NHL.
Kiersted has appeared in 10 games with the Panthers already this season.
‘Kiers played here for a while and was important in some wins that we had," Maurice said. "I had Dalpe when he first came into the league, and Tierney has NHL games. We'll put enough veterans on the ice. You can't replace Barkov, and we haven't tried to. We've played pretty well. Our last two games in terms of quality hockey, we played hard. We've just got to keep that going.’”
Despite the banged up roster, it’s been nice watching the Panthers pour on some goals and string together a couple strong wins.
Going for three-in-a-row against a 15-7-1 Jets team will be tough. Winnipeg currently sits in second of the Cemtral Division (right behind Dallas). After losing 4-1 to Columbus last Friday, the Jets followed that performance up with a 5-2 win over the Ducks.
Winnipeg is playing well on both sides of the ice — and in the Reverse Retro department as well, if I do say so myself. They average 3.22 goals a game, while giving up 2.57. Numero uno goaltender Connor Hellebuyck has been on a tear with his 12-5-1 record, holding a 2.27 GAA and a .931 SV%.
Despite the odds seemingly being in the Jets’ favor, I like the timing of this game a lot. After a stretch of really bad play, the Panthers have found some confidence and rhythm. What better way to not only test that (but also add to it) then by beating a really good Jets team.
Who are you putting in Florida’s blue paint for this one?
Jackson Holes
The Panthers made a quick pitstop in Wyoming (before heading to Winnipeg) to hold a practice and continue their team bonding road-trip.
Pretty cool looking spot.
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Let’s get it done tonight. Make it three…Go panthers!
Florida Panthers Blogger • 
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