FLORIDA PANTHERS NOTES:
BAPTIST HEALTH INJURY REPORT
- F Anthony Duclair | Games Missed: 21
- F Aleksander Barkov | Games Missed: 1
Total Man Games Lost Due to Injury: 43
LAST GAME
Panthers 4, Blues 5 [OT] – Nov. 26 – FLA Live Arena
FLA Goals: Ekblad (4), Gudas (2), Verhaeghe (12), Lundell (3-SHG)
STL Goals: Saad (4), O’Reilly (6), Kyrou (8), Tarasenko (5), Kyrou (9-OT)
FLA Goalie: Knight (L [OT]) – 32 Saves
STL Goalie: Greiss (W) – 33 Saves
FLA Shots: 37
STL Shots: 37
Notes: Florida’s first goal marked the 6,000th regular season goal scored in franchise history…Aaron Ekblad scored to extend his goal/point streak to three games (3-2-5)…Anton Lundell tallied Florida’s first SHG of the season, extending his goal streak to two games (2-0-2)…Sam Reinhart (0-2-2) posted his second straight multi-point game (1-3-4)…Josh Mahura skated in his 100th NHL game…FLA PP: 0-2, FLA PK: 2-2
RECENT TRANSACTIONS:
- Nov. 27: F Aleksi Heponiemi recalled from Charlotte (AHL) on an emergency basis
PANTHERS vs. OILERS
ALL-TIME vs. EDM: 14-15-3-7
ALL-TIME ROAD vs. EDM: 8-7-1-2
2022-23 vs. EDM: 0-1-0
CATS STATS
- Eric Staal has produced 29 points (10-19-29) over 29 career games against Edmonton.
- Gustav Forsling and Brandon Montour are tied for seventh-most even-strength points (12) among NHL defensemen this season.
CATS AND OILERS
Tonight’s contest is the first in a five-game road trip for the Panthers. In Florida’s previous visit to Rogers Place, Sergei Bobrovsky stopped all 40 Edmonton shots he faced and Aleksander Barkov (2-1-3) and Sam Reinhart (0-3-3) each posted three-point performances in a 6-0 win. Tonight’s game will mark Matthew Tkachuk’s first game in Edmonton with Florida, a team that he produced 23 points (9-14-23) over 29 career regular season meetings against as a member of the Calgary Flames. Tkachuk also produced four points (3-1-4) over five playoff games against the Oilers last season, including a hat trick (3-0-3) in Game 1.
A FEW GOOD DEFENSEMEN
Three of Florida’s defensemen rank in the top six blueliners drafted in 2014 in terms of points: Aaron Ekblad, Brandon Montour and Gustav Forsling:
Most Career Points by Defensemen, 2014 NHL Draft
- Aaron Ekblad 299
- Tony DeAngelo 167
- Brandon Montour 165
- Devon Toews 146
- Travis Sanheim 122
- Gustav Forsling 96
PUCKS ON NET
Florida leads all NHL clubs with 844 total shots on goal this season. The Panthers (40.2 shots per game) are the only team averaging over 40 shots per game this season, and Florida’s 41.1 shots on goal per game average on the road leads all NHL clubs this season, while their 29.5 shots on goal against on the road are seventh-fewest.
POWER UP
Florida scored a season-high three power-play goals Nov. 23 vs. Boston. Since Nov. 6, the Panthers have produced 34.4% power-play success rate [11/32]. Florida’s 11 power-play goals over that stretch are behind only Boston (14 PPGs). Sam Reinhart’s five powerplay tallies over that Span lead all NHL skaters and are the most on Florida.
CHUCKIE’S CHEESE
Matthew Tkachuk posted a point in five straight games (4-6-10) from Nov. 15-23, his second point streak of five games this season. His two points (1-1-2) Nov. 23 vs. BOS represented his 100th career multi-point game. Tkachuk’s team-leading 27 points (9-18-27) this season were the most through any skater’s first 18 games with the Panthers in franchise history. Since Florida joined the NHL in 1993- 94, only five players have produced more points through their first 18 games with a team (Peter Forsberg, 34 with PHI in 2005-06; Dany Heatley, 32 with OTT in 2005-06; John LeClair, 30 with PHI in 1994-95; Robert Reichel, 28 with NYI from 1996-97 to 1997-98; Joe Thornton, 28 with SJS in 2005-06). Tkachuk leads Florida in assists (18), points, even-strength points (19), shots on goal (85) and multi-point games (9). He has posted three three-point outings in 2022-23, tied with Brandon Montour and Aleksander Barkov for the most on the team. Tkachuk led Florida with a plus-four rating Nov. 15 vs. WSH, the second time this season he has posted such a rating. His first assist in the game marked his 400th NHL point. Per NHL stats, Tkachuk was the second player from the NHL Draft to reach the mark, joining fellow American Auston Matthews (266-206—472 in 423 GP). He required the fourth-fewest games to reach 400 points among active American-born NHLers.
EK’S GON’ GIVE IT TO YA
Aaron Ekblad has scored a goal for the third consecutive game Nov. 26 vs. STL, one game shy of longest career goal streak (4 games, Feb. 16-22, 2022). He scored his 100th career goal Nov. 23 vs. BOS and produced a season-high three points (1-2-3). He is the first defenseman in franchise history to reach 100 goals with the franchise. Ekblad scored his 100th NHL goal in his 563rd game, and per NHL stats only Erik Karlsson (477 GP) hit the mark in fewer games among all active defensemen. He skated a season-high 28:26 Nov. 19 vs. CGY. The Windsor, Ontario native skated 23:43 Nov. 12 vs. Edmonton after missing 11 games with injury, and notched an assist Nov. 15 vs. Washington. Over his past three games, Ekblad has produced five points (3-2-5). He is 10 games shy of surpassing Robert Svehla (573) for most games played by a defenseman in club history.
‘HART OF GOLD
Forward Sam Reinhart recorded two assists Nov. 26 vs. STL for his second consecutive multi-point game. He tallied his team-leading fifth power-play goal and added an assist Nov. 23 vs. BOS. He has scored all five PPGs over an eight-game span since Nov. 6. His five power-play tallies since Nov. 6 leads all NHL skaters. Reinhart scored a power-play goal in three consecutive games from Nov. 15-19, behind only Anthony Duclair and Evgenii Dadonov (4 games each) for the longest PPG streak in franchise history. Reinhart’s five power-play tallies are the most on Florida this season, and he has logged seven power-play points. Reinhart recorded his first two goals of the season Nov. 6 at ANA and led Florida with seven shots on goal in the game. He has produced 10 points (6-4-10) over his past 10 games. The West Vancouver, B.C. native scored the game-deciding goal in the shootout against James Reimer Nov. 3 at SJS.
MR. CARTER
Forward Carter Verhaeghe scored his team-leading 12th goal of the season Nov. 26 vs. STL. The tally marked his 10th even-strength goal of the campaign, behind only Jason Robertson (DAL, 14 EVG) for the league lead following games played Nov. 26. Verhaeghe registered a goal and an assist Nov. 17 vs. DAL and recorded his team-leading fourth multi-goal game of the season Nov. 15 vs. WSH. His performance marked his 13th career multi-goal outing, and his 12th with Florida. He has produced 19 points (12-7-19) over 21 games in 2022-23, which ranks tied for second on the team. He posted a point in four straight games from Nov. 3-9 (4-3-7). Over his past 13 games, Verhaeghe has amassed nine goals and 14 points (9-5-14). The Toronto, Ontario native’s seven total multi-point games and 14 even-strength points in 2022-23 each rank second on the team behind Matthew Tkachuk.
MONTOUR OF DUTY
Brandon Montour has notched an assist in four of his past six games (0-4-4). He has amassed 11 points (1-10-11) over his past nine games and leads Florida blueliners with 19 points (4-15-19) over 19 games played. Montour’s seven points from Nov. 6-9 tied Bryan McCabe (1-6-7, March 3-6, 2010) for the most points in a two-game span by a Panthers defenseman in club history. His 15 total points through his first 12 games of a season set a new franchise record among defenseman, surpassing Keith Yandle’s 13 points (3-10-13) from Oct. 6-Nov. 8, 2018. Montour matched his career high with four points (1-3-4) Nov. 6 at ANA, also tying the franchise record for single-game points by a defenseman. He became the eighth blueliner in club history to post four points in a regular season game. Montour skated a career-high 30:41 total time on ice Nov. 3 at SJS. He leads Panthers blueliners in goals, assists, points, even-strength points (12-tied) and power-play points (6).
JUST THE TWO OF GUS
Defenseman Gustav Forsling registered his 10th career multi-assist game Nov. 26 vs. STL. All 10 of his multi-assist performances have come with Florida. Forsling has amassed 15 points (2-13-15) over 21 games in 2022-23, including 12 even-strength points which are tied for the club lead among blueliners with Brandon Montour. Forsling notched an assist in five straight games (0-6-6) from Nov. 12-20, the longest assist/point streak of his career. He also posted a four-game assist/point streak earlier this season (1-4-5, 4GP Oct. 15-21). He logged a career-high seven shots on goal Nov. 1 at ARI. His 64 total shots this season are the most among Panthers blueliners and rank eighth among NHL defensemen.
BENNY AND THE CATS
Forward Sam Bennett has amassed five assists over his past five games. He matched his career high with three assists while skating in his 500th NHL game Nov. 17 vs. DAL. Bennett has registered 10 points (4-6-10) over his past nine contests. He scored two goals (2-0-2) Nov. 12 vs. Edmonton, which extended his goal/point streak to three games (4-1-5). Bennett also led Florida with six shots on goal in the game. He has registered six multi-point games this season, including in four of his past eight outings.
LUN DMC
Anton Lundell scored Florida’s first shorthanded goal of the season Nov. 26 vs. STL, and he has produced a goal in each of his past two games (2-0-2). The 21-year-old has posted 11 points (3-8-11) over 21 games this season, and his 50:17 total shorthanded time on ice ranked behind only Eetu Luostarinen (51:28) among Florida forwards in 2022-23.
THE BUTCHER
Defenseman Radko Gudas scored his second goal of the campaign Nov. 26 vs. STL and led Florida in hits (5), blocked shots (4) and shots on goal (5-tied). He also registered a team-leading eight hits and four blocked shots Nov. 23 vs. BOS. His eight hits were the most by a Panthers skater in a game this season, and he leads the team with 82 hits in 2022-23. Gudas has produced six points (2-4-6) in 2022-23. He scored his first goal of the season Nov. 3 at SJS while logging six hits, the most of any skater in the game. He logged a personal season-high six shots on goal Oct. 29 vs. OTT. Gudas skated 25:11 time on ice Oct. 21 vs. TBL, his highest TOI since skating 25:23 Nov. 28, 2015 at NYR. He registered his second assist of the season Oct. 19 vs. PHI, and tied for the team lead in plus-minus in the game with a plus-three rating.
COL’ ME MAYBE
Forward Colin White scored in two straight games from Nov. 19-20. His shooting percentage of 18.5 this season is the highest on the team. White has produced 11 points (5-6-11) over 20 games with Florida this season, with all 11 coming at even strength. He posted an assist in three consecutive games from Oct. 23-27 (0-3-3), marking the longest assist streak of his career and his third three-game point streak of 2022-23. He produced his first multi-point game with the Panthers Oct. 17 at BOS, logging two points (1-1-2). The Boston, Mass., native’s goal Oct. 15 at BUF marked his 100th NHL point.
OH WHAT A KNIGHT
Goaltender Spencer Knight stopped 37 of 39 shots he faced against BOS Nov. 23, including all 32 he faced at even strength. He stopped all 40 Carolina shots he faced Nov. 9 vs. CAR to earn his third career shutout. At 21 years and 204 days of age, Knight became the fifth different NHL goaltender with a 40-save shutout before turning 22 (since 1955-56 when shots on goal were officially tracked). He joined Steve Mason (3x; last: April 9, 2010), Bill Ranford (3x; last: Feb. 21, 1987), Marc-Andre Fleury (Oct. 5, 2006) and Sean Burke (Oct. 10, 1988). Knight owns a 5-2-0 record in 2022-23, including a 3-1-0 record at FLA Live Arena. He owns a 13-4-0 record in 17 home appearances in his NHL career. He posted a .920 save percentage to earn his 25th career win in his 38th appearance Oct. 23 vs. NYI. Only four active goaltenders had reached the 25-win mark in fewer appearances: Frederik Andersen (33 GP), Jordan Binnington (35 GP), Matt Murray (36 GP) and Anton Khudobin (36 GP). It also marked the third-fewest appearances to reach the 25-win mark by an American-born goaltender in NHL history, behind Frank Bimsek (34 GP w/ BOS in 1938-39) and Jim Carey (37 GP w/ WSH from 1994-94 – 1995-96).
WHAT ABOUT BOB?
Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky stopped a season-high 41 shots for a .953 save percentage Nov. 15 vs. WSH. His 41 saves were his most since stopping 42 shots against Jan. 11 vs. VAN. Bobrovsky appeared in his 600th NHL game Nov. 5 at LAK, becoming the 53rd goaltender in league history to reach the mark. His 339 career wins are the most through a goaltender’s first 600 appearances in NHL history. He stopped 32 of the 33 NYI shots he faced in Florida’s season opener on Oct. 13, including all 27 at even strength and 16 in the first period. Bobrovsky tied for the league lead with a franchise-record 39 wins in 2021-22, including a club-record and league-leading 26 home wins.
GOTTA GO TO MO’
Nov. 15 vs. WSH marked Paul Maurice’s 1,700th game as an NHL head coach, becoming the fourth in League history to reach the mark. He earned his 783rd win as an NHL head coach Nov. 9 vs. CAR, surpassing legendary bench boss Al Arbour for sixth-most in League history. He is one of three coaches to earn at least 300 wins with two different franchises
EDMONTON OILERS NOTES:
EDMONTON OILERS VS. FLORIDA PANTHERS
7:30 p.m. MT at Rogers Place
BROADCAST INFO: 630 CHED Radio, Sportsnet
11-10-0 – 22 PTS RECORD 10-8-3 – 23 PTS
Div. – 4th Conference – 7th RANK Div. – 5th Conference – 10th
3rd –29.3% (22/75) POWER PLAY 23rd – 19.8% (16/81)
27th – 73.2% (60/82) PENALTY KILL 22nd – 76.3% (61/80)
ALL-TIME RECORDS vs. FLORIDA GP RECORD HOME (18) AWAY (21) GF GA
OILERS ALL-TIME vs. FLORIDA 39 22-14-3-0 9-8-1-0 13-6-2-0 118 105
OILERS vs. FLORIDA – 2022-23 1 1-0-0 0-0-0 1-0-0 4 2
QUICK FACTS
• Monday’s game will mark Edmonton’s second of two games against the Panthers this season and the lone game in Edmonton.
• The last time these teams met was on November 12th in Florida where the Oilers defeated the Panthers 4-2.
• Evander Kane leads the Oilers with 21 career points and a team high 34 career games against Florida.
OVERTIME WINNER
Connor McDavid scored the overtime winning goal on Nov.19 vs. Vegas. The goal marked his 14th career overtime goal and he ranks first in the NHL in overtime goals since 2015-16.
MOST OVERTIME GOALS SINCE 2015-16
Connor McDavid – 14
Jonathan Toews – 13
Brad Marchand – 13
Sidney Crosby – 12
POWER PLAY PUNCH
Leon Draisaitl scored his 100th career power play goal on Nov. 21 against New Jersey and recorded his 101st power play goal which also stood as the game winning goal on Nov. 26 against the New York Rangers. Draisaitl holds sole possession of 5th spot all-time in Oilers power play goals and is just 25 goals shy of the all-time lead held by Glenn Anderson and Ryan Smyth. Draisaitl is six power play goals from tying Jari Kurri (107) for 4th on the Oilers power play goals list.
500 AND COUNTING
Following his 500th career game on Nov. 7 at WSH, Connor McDavid finished ranked 6th all-time in NHL scoring (724 PTS) in your first 500 games. McDavid became the 9th player in Oilers franchise history to score a goal in his 500th NHL game, joining the likes of Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier and Leon Draisaitl.
200 CLUB
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins scored his 200th career goal with the Oilers on Oct. 26 at STL which stood as the game winning goal. Nugent-Hopkins becomes just the ninth player in Oilers history to record 200 goals with the Oilers and has achieved the mark in 726 games all with the Oilers.
SHOOTING GALLERY
The Oilers posted a franchise high 26 shots on goal in one period on Oct. 24 vs. PIT. The previous record of 24 shots was done three times and most recently against Calgary on Feb. 1/20. Evander Kane also posted a team high nine shots against the Penguins and tied an Oilers record for most shots in a period by a player, recording eight shots in the second period. Taylor Hall co-holds the record, posting eight shots previously on Feb. 19/11 vs. ATL). Kane holds the league record of 10 shots in a period by a player, which he recorded on Nov. 1/18 against Columbus as a member of the San Jose Sharks.
McDAVID HITS 700-POINT MARK WITH SEASON-OPENING HAT TRICK
With Edmonton trailing 3-0 midway through the second period, Oilers captain Connor McDavid factored on four of his club’s five consecutive goals, capping off the night with the NHL’s first hat trick of the 2022-23 season. McDavid (3-1—4) boosted his career totals to 242-459—701 (488 GP) and became the fastest active player to reach the 700-point milestone.
- The three-goal performance marked the second season-opening hat trick of McDavid’s career (also Oct. 4, 2017) as he became the third player in NHL history to record multiple hat tricks in season openers alongside Brendan Shanahan (2) and Cam Neely (2).
- The Oilers overcame a three-goal deficit to win a season-opening game for the first time in franchise history. Edmonton became just the ninth club in NHL history to do so and the first since Anaheim on Oct. 5, 2017. Coincidentally, the Ducks overcame a 3-1 deficit Wednesday night to record their second-ever multi-goal comeback win in a season opener.
MCDAVID POINT MILESTONES
McDavid has hit all of his 100 point milestones in less than 92 games.
100 Points – 92 GP – 92 Games Between
200 Points – 173 GP – 81 Games Between
300 Points – 240 GP – 67 Games Between
400 Points – 306 GP – 66 Games Between
500 Points – 369 GP – 63 Games Between
600 Points – 421 GP – 52 Games Between
700 Points – 488 GP – 67 Games Between
OILERS LEADERS OF THE PACK
Points – McDavid (36) – 1st in NHL
Goals – McDavid (16) – T-3rd in NHL
Assists – Draisaitl, McDavid (20) – T-4th in NHL
TOI/GP – Nurse (23:47) / (22:34 – McDavid) – Forwards – 3rd in NHL
Shots – McDavid (82)
Blocks – Nurse (38)
Hits – Kane (51)
Takeaways – Draisaitl (25) – 3rd in NHL
Power Play Goals – Draisaitl (8) – 1st in NHL
Power Play Points – McDavid (18) – 1st in NHL
Even Strength Points – McDavid (18)
LAST TEN GAMES vs. FLORIDA
Record: 6-4-0
GF: 32 GA: 37
2022-23 11/12/22 @ FLA 4-2 W
2021-22 2/26/22 @ FLA 4-3 W
2021-22 1/20/22 @ EDM 6-0 L
2019-20 2/15/20 @ FLA 4-1 W
2019-20 10/27/19 @ EDM 6-2 L
2018-19 1/10/19 @ EDM 4-3 W (SO)
2018-19 11/8/18 @ FLA 4-1 L
2017-18 3/17/18 @ FLA 4-2 W
2017-18 2/12/18 @ EDM 7-5 L
2016-17 2/22/17 @ FLA 4-3 W
