Florida Panthers Notes:
BAPTIST HEALTH INJURY REPORT
- F Anthony Duclair | Games Missed: 7
- D Aaron Ekblad | Games Missed: 4
Total Man Games Lost Due to Injury: 16
LAST GAME
Panthers 2, Blackhawks 4 – Oct. 25 – United Center
FLA Goals: Luostarinen (3), Tkachuk (4)
CHI Goals: Raddysh (2-PPG), Kane (1), Kurashev (2), Toews (3)
FLA Goalie: Bobrovsky (L) – 18 Saves
CHI Goalie: Stalock (W) – 29 Saves
FLA Shots: 31
CHI Shots: 22
Notes: Eetu Luostarinen scored a goal for the second consecutive game…Matthew Tkachuk tallied his team-leading fourth goal of the season…Colin White notched an assist for the second straight game…Anton Lundell posted an assist, extending his point streak to two games (1-1-2)…Brandon Montour logged 28:24 time on ice, the most by a Florida skater in a game this season…Chicago’s 22 shots on goal were the fewest allowed in a game by Florida this season…FLA PP: 0-6, FLA PK: 1-2
RECENT TRANSACTIONS:
- Oct. 21: F Eric Staal signed to a one-year contract
PANTHERS vs. FLYERS
ALL-TIME vs. PHI: 43-47-7-8
ALL-TIME ROAD vs. PHI: 21-21-6-4
2022-23 vs. PHI: 1-0-0
CATS STATS
- Following games played Oct. 25, Florida’s 11 5v5 goals against were tied for third-fewest among teams with at least seven games played
- Florida owns a 12-2-2 record in October over the past two seasons
- Marc Staal leads Florida with 12 blocked shots
- Aleksander Barkov has recorded 20 points (6-14-20) over 22 career games vs. PHI
- Sam Reinhart has logged 12 goals (12-4-16) over 26 career games vs. PHI
CATS IN THE CRADLE OF LIBERTY
Tonight, the Panthers will face off against the Flyers for the second time this season following Florida’s 4-3 win Oct. 19 at FLA Live Arena. Carter Verhaeghe scored his first two goals of the season to help the Cats earn the victory, while Aleksander Barkov, Sam Bennett and Matthew Tkachuk each notched two assists. The Panthers have won each of their past four matchups against the Flyers dating back to Oct. 23, 2021, averaging 4.0 goals per game over that span. Florida has earned a victory in seven of their past nine meetings (7-2-0) against Philadelphia. Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky owns a 3-0-0 record in his past three matchups against Philadelphia while owning a career 19-5-1 record, .924 save percentage and 2.28 goals against average over 25 appearances against his former club.
ROAD WARRIORS
Matthew Tkachuk (3-2-5) and Colin White (2-3-5) each led Florida with five points on the road in 2022-23, and they along with Eetu Luostarinen (2-2-4) have all produced at least one point through each of the Panthers first four road games. Luostarinen and White lead the team with plus-five ratings on the road, while all five of White’s road points have come at even strength. Eight different Cats have logged at least two points on the road this season.
CHUCKIE’S CHEESE
Forward Matthew Tkachuk scored his team-leading fourth goal of the season Oct. 25 at Chicago while leading Florida forwards with 22:26 time on ice. He currently leads Florida in goals (4), assists (5), points (9), even-strength points (8), shots on goal (32) and multipoint game (3), while producing at least one point in six of his first seven games with the club. He produced a point in each of his first five games with Florida. His eight points through his first five games were the most by a Panthers skater who was an off-season addition to the team, and tied Scott Mellanby (1996-97) and Olli Jokinen (2006-07) for the second most points through the first five games of a season in franchise history, trailing only Stu Barnes’ nine points in 1995-96. Tkachuk is the third player in franchise history to log at least one point in five consecutive games from the start of his tenure with the organization (also: Ray Whitney, 7 GP 1997-98 and Pavel Bure, 6 GP in 1998-99). Following games played Oct. 25, he is tied for second-most even-strength points among all skaters.
BARKOV COUNTY
Panthers Captain Aleksander Barkov leads Florida with a 53.5 faceoff win percentage. He has registered a win percentage above 50% in six of Florida’s seven games this season, and his 92 faceoff wins tied for fourth-most among league skaters following games played Oct. 25. Barkov led Florida skaters with 25:38 time on ice Oct. 21 vs. TBL, a mark he surpassed twice last season (26:55 Oct. 14, 2021 vs. PIT, 25:57 Oct. 30 at BOS). He skated in his 600th NHL game Oct. 19 vs. PHI and posted his second two-assist outing of the season. Barkov is the fourth player in franchise history to skate in 600 games with the club. He notched two assists Oct. 15 at BUF and won 18 of his 30 faceoffs (60%). In 2021-22, he led the club with a career-high 39 goals and four shorthanded tallies in 2021-22 despite playing just 67 games.
MR. CARTER
Forward Carter Verhaeghe scored his first two goals of the season Oct. 19 vs. PHI, his 10th career multi-goal game and ninth with Florida. He became the first skater in Panthers history to score multiple goals in consecutive home openers (also 2-0-2 on Oct. 14, 2021). Per NHL stats, only four players in NHL history have posted a longer such run: Peter Bondra (3 GP from 2002-03 – 2005-06 w/ WSH & ATL), Bill Barber (3 GP from 1980-81 – 1982-83 w/ PHI), Guy Lafleur (3 GP from 1975-76 – 1977-78 w/ MTL) and Henri Richard (3 GP from 1960-61 – 1962-63 w/ MTL). The Toronto, Ontario native posted career highs in goals (24), assists (31) and points (55) in 2021-22. All 24 of his goals were scored at even-strength, the most on the Panthers.
JUST THE TWO OF GUS
Defenseman Gustav Forsling notched an assist for the fourth consecutive game Oct. 21 vs. TBL, extending his assist/point streak to four games (1-4-5), tied for the longest point streak of his career. His four-game assist streak was the longest of his career. Through Florida’s first six contests, Forsling has yet to record a negative plus-minus rating in a game. He registered career highs with 10 goals, 27 assists and 37 points, and nine multi-point games in 2021-22, and his +41 rating was the best in one season in franchise history and tied for the third-highest among NHL skaters.
WHAT ABOUT BOB?
Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky owns a .913 even-strength save percentage over his five appearances this season. He is three games away from becoming the 53rd goaltender in NHL history to appear in at least 600 NHL games. Bobrovsky stopped 21 of 22 TBL shots at even strength on Oct. 21. He earned his first home win of the 2022-23 campaign Oct. 19 vs. PHI stopping 18 of 19 PHI shots in the third period. 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.
ET TU, EETU?
Eetu Luostarinen has scored a goal in each of his past two games, logging three points (2-1-3) over that span. His goal streak is tied for the longest of his career. Luostarinen has registered six points (3-3-6), all at even strength, over Florida’s first seven games, tied for the second-most on the club. His three goals are second-most by a Florida skater this season, and he has produced at least one point in five of the Panthers first seven contests. He matched his career high with two points (1-1-2) Oct. 23 vs. NYI, his first multi-point game of the season and his fifth with Florida. He led Florida with a plus-three rating in the game, and his plus-eight mark this season leads Florida and is tied for fourth-best among NHL skaters through games played Oct. 25. The native of Siilinjarvi, Finland produced a point in each of Florida’s first three games (1-2-3).
MONTOUR OF DUTY
Brandon Montour has recorded four points (1-3-4) over five games this season, which ranks second among Florida blueliners behind Gustav Forsling. He produced an assist and led the Panthers in time on ice (28:24) Oct. 25 at CHI, his highest TOI in a game since skating 29:14 March 28, 2019 vs. Detroit. His 24:54 average time on ice per game is the highest on Florida this season.
COL’ ME MAYBE
Colin White has recorded an assist in each of his last two games and he has registered at least one point in five of Florida’s first seven games. He notched an assist on Ryan Lomberg’s game-winning goal Oct. 23 vs. NYI, and he has produced six total points (3-3-6) this season, tied for the second-most points on Florida with all six points coming at even strength. He produced his first multi-point game with the Panthers Oct. 17 at BOS, logging two points (1-1-2). He scored in two straight contests from Oct. 15-17 and posted a point in all three of his first games with Florida. The Boston, Mass., native’s goal Oct. 15 at BUF marked his 100th NHL point, becoming the 62nd Massachusetts native to reach the 100-point mark.
RUDY TUESDAYS
Rudolfs Balcers tallied goals in consecutive games from Oct. 19-21, tied for the longest goal streak of his career. He has produced a point in three of his past five games (2-1-3). In 2021-22, the native of Liepaja, Latvia recorded career highs in goals (11), assists (12) and points (23).
BENNY AND THE CATS
Forward Sam Bennett leads Florida forwards with 15 hits this season. He posted two assists Oct. 19 vs. PHI for his second consecutive multi-point game. He registered his first two points (1-1-2) of the season Oct. 17 at BOS. Bennett set career highs in goals (28), assists (21), points (49), power-play goals (5), and game-winning goals (7) in 2021-22, and led the team with a career-high 241 shots on goal.
THE LOMBERGHINI
Ryan Lomberg recorded his first goal of the season Oct. 23 vs. NYI, his second career regular season game-winning tally. He has produced two points (1-1-2) this season, after posting career-bests in goals (9), assists (9), points (18), and games played (55) in 2021-22.
LUN DMC
Anton Lundell has produced a point in each of his past two games (1-1-2). He scored his first goal of the season :39 into the first period Oct. 23 vs. NYI. His 22:20 of shorthanded time on ice ranked second among NHL forwards following games played Oct. 25. He also leads Florida forwards with eight blocked shots. He won nine of his 14 faceoffs (64%) Oct. 17 at BOS, and he notched his first assist of the season Oct. 15 at BUF. Lundell produced 18 goals and 44 points (18-26-44) over his first NHL season in 2021-22, both the fourth-most by a rookie in franchise history. He recorded 12 multi-point games, tied with Jesse Belanger for the most by a Panthers rookie in one season in club history. The Espoo, Finland native’s four multi-goal games in 2021-22 ranked behind only Mark Parrish (6 in 1998-99) for the franchise rookie mark.
OH WHAT A KNIGHT
Goaltender Spencer Knight posted a .920 save percentage tonight to earn his 25th career win in his 38th appearance Oct. 23 vs. NYI. Only four active goaltenders have 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). Last season, Knight posted a 19-9-3 record with two shutouts. His 19 wins set a franchise record for wins by a rookie goaltender, and he joined Roberto Luongo as the only two rookie goaltenders in club history to record multiple shutouts.
THE BUTCHER
Radko Gudas’s 29:58 of shorthanded time on ice ranked second among all NHL skaters following games played Oct. 25, and he leads Florida with 16 hits this season. He 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, tied for the highest single-game mark on Florida this season. Gudas notched an assist and led all Florida skaters with five hits in Florida’s season opener Oct. 13 at NYI. He also led NHL skaters in hits for the second consecutive season in 2021-22, logging 355 over 77 games played.
‘HART OF GOLD
Forward Sam Reinhart notched his first assist of the season on the power play Oct. 15 at BUF. Last season, Reinhart led Florida with 16 power-play goals and ranked second with 31 power-play points. He finished 2021-22 with career highs in goals (33), assists (49) and points (82). His 82 points were the most by any player in their first season with Florida, while his 16 power-play goals led the team. Reinhart was the fifth player in franchise history to reach 80 points in a season.
ST. PATRIC
Forward Patric Hornqvist scored his third game-winning goal as a member of the Panthers in Florida’s season opener Oct. 13 at NYI. In 2021-22, Hornqvist ranked third among Florida forwards with 114 hits and posted 28 points (11-17-28) over 65 games. The two-time Stanley Cup champion has totaled 11 power-play goals since joining Florida prior to the 2020-21 campaign.
GOTTA GO TO MO’
Paul Maurice earned his first home-ice victory with the Panthers Oct. 19 vs. PHI. He began his 25th season as an NHL head coach with a victory Oct. 13 at NYI. Maurice was named head coach of the Panthers on June 22, 2022. Maurice has coached 1,691 games, which ranks as the fourth-most in League history. His 779 victories as an NHL head coach are the seventh-most all time, and he is one of three coaches to earn at least 300 wins with two different franchises.
Philadelphia Flyers Notes:
UPCOMING GAMES (all times Eastern)
10/29 vs. CAR, 7 p.m. (NBCSP, 93.3 WMMR)
11/1 at NYR, 7 p.m. (NBCSP, 97.5 The Fanatic)
11/2 at TOR, 7 p.m. (NBCSP+, 93.3 WMMR)
CURRENT INJURIES
Cam Atkinson (upper body, 9/25-present) – 6
Patrick Brown (IR – back, 9/21-present) – 6
Sean Couturier (back, 9/19-present) – 6
Ryan Ellis (LTIR – groin/hip/back, 10/11-present) – 6
Rasmus Ristolainen (IR – lower body, 10/13-present) – 6
Owen Tippett (IR – upper body, 10/15-present) – 5
2022-23 TOTAL MAN GAMES LOST: 37
PREVIOUS INJURIES
Felix Sandstrom (lower body, 10/1-10/17) – 2
RECENT TRANSACTIONS
10/26 – Acquired F Evan Barratt from Chicago in exchange for D Cooper Zech; Barratt will report to Lehigh Valley (AHL)
10/25 – Loaned D Louie Belpedio to Lehigh Valley
10/23 – Loaned F Jackson Cates to Lehigh Valley
UPCOMING MILESTONES
Justin Braun – 197 career points; 797 career games
Joel Farabee – 96 career points
Scott Laughton – 92 career assists
Ivan Provorov – 195 career points
FLYERS VS. PANTHERS SERIES NOTES
Overall Record: 55-37-13 (Home: 25-17-10, Away: 30-20-3)
The Flyers play its second season contest against the Panthers in a nine-day span after falling in the first season meeting, 4-3, at FLA Live Arena (10/19). C Kevin Hayes (0-2=2) and RW Travis Konecny (1-1=2) each led the team with two points and G Felix Sandstrom stopped 32-of-36 shots in the loss. Philadelphia will host the final match-up against Florida on March 21 at Wells Fargo Center. The Flyers are 2-3-1 in its last six games against the Panthers and 8-8-2 in the last 18 meetings. Philadelphia is 8-2-1 in the last 11 contests at Wells Fargo Center, including an eight-game point streak (7-0-1) from Oct. 8, 2013-Oct. 16, 2018. The Flyers are 1-2-1 in the last four games at FLA Live Arena and 8-9-2 in the last 19 contests.
FLYERS LEADERS: James van Riemsdyk leads the Flyers with 24 points (12-12=24) in 36 career games against the Panthers…Hayes has 11 points (4-7=11) in 19 contests…Konecny owns 10 points (3-7=10) in 15 matches.
FLYERS GOALTENDERS: Carter Hart is 2-4-0 with a 3.12 GAA and a .905 SV% in six career starts vs. Florida…Sandstrom recorded the loss in his first career action against the Panthers (10/19/22).
PANTHERS LEADERS: Eric Staal leads the Panthers with 47 points (20-27=47) in 60 career games against the Flyers…Aleksander Barkov has 20 points (6-14=20) in 22 contests…Patric Hornqvist owns 17 points (4-13=17) in 31 matches…Sam Reinhart has 16 points (12-4=16) in 26 games.
PANTHERS GOALTENDERS: Bobrovsky is 19-5-1 with a 2.28 GAA, a .924 SV% and two shutouts in 25 career starts vs. Philadelphia…Spencer Knight has not faced the Flyers.
HOT START
- Philadelphia enters Thursday’s contest 4-2-0 on the season, tied for the most wins and third-most points (8) in the Metropolitan Division.
- The Flyers opened the 2022-23 season 3-0-0 for the first time since 2011-12.
- Per NHL Stats, Philadelphia’s three straight comeback wins from Oct. 15-18 was the third time in franchise history the Flyers have posted comeback wins in the first three games of a campaign following 1988-89 (three games) and 1982-83 (three games).
- The Flyers have outscored their opponents, 17-14, this season. Philadelphia ranks T-2nd in the League in fewest goals against and T4th in fewest goals against per game (2.33).
WHOLE LOT OF HART
- Carter Hart stopped 31-of-32 shots Saturday to stretch his career-high season-opening win streak to four games. He has stopped a combined 130-of-137 shots.
- Per NHL Stats, he becomes the first Flyers goaltender to record wins in each of his first four appearances in a season since Ron Hextall (4-0-0 in 1997-98).
- He ranks T-2nd among NHL goaltenders in wins, third in SV% (.949) and fifth in GAA (1.75).
- Two of his four contests have seen 37-plus shots against, and he is 15-2-2 in his career when making 36-plus saves.
- Outside of Philadelphia, he only has two NHL teams he has not earned a win against: Colorado and St. Louis.
LUCKY NUMBER 13
- Kevin Hayes collected eight points (1-7=8) in a career-high five-game season-opening point streak, Oct. 13-22.
- The 30-year-old leads the team in assists, PPA (3) and points this season.
- He tallied his 200th career assist Oct. 19 at FLA.
- Set a career-high three-game PPP streak (3a) from Oct. 13-18.
WELCOME HOME
- Tony DeAngelo recorded five points (1-4=5) in a four-game point streak, Oct. 13-19.
- He ranks T-1st on the team in PPP (3) and T-3rd in points this season.
- Per NHL Stats, he became the fifth defenseman in Flyers history to start a season on a point streak of at least four games: Behn Wilson (7 games in 1981-82), Chris Pronger (5 games in 2011-12), Gary Galley (four games in 1993-94) and Mark Howe (four games in 1988-89 & 1984-85).
- The blueliner scored his first goal in a Flyers sweater, on the power play, Oct. 15 vs. VAN.
- The Sewell, NJ native, made his Flyers debut on Oct. 13, registering two assists, a plus-3 rating and three blocked shots in a team-high 23:46 TOI.
IVAN THE GREAT
- Ivan Provorov owns five assists in six games and ranks second on the team in assists, third in shots (17) and T-3rd in hits (15) this season.
- He tallied two assists, a plus-4 rating and 10 blocked shots in Philadelphia’s season opener on Oct. 13 vs. NJ.
- His 10 blocked shots tied the franchise record for most in a game for the third time: Andrew MacDonald (3/11/16); Provorov (11/2/17 & 10/13/22).
- The Russian native needs one more goal to tie Shayne Gostisbehere (60) for fourth place in Flyers history among defensemen.
KONNECT FOUR
- Travis Konecny recorded two points (1-1=2) at FLA on Oct. 19 for his third multi-point game of the season.
- He leads the team in goals (4) and shots (20) and ranks second in points (6) this season.
- The forward recorded his first career shorthanded assist/point vs. VAN (10/15).
- The 25-year-old netted two goals Oct. 13 vs. NJ for his 11th career multi-goal game. Per NHL Stats, he became the second player in Flyers history to have two-or-more multi-goal games in a season opener (Bill Barber, 3x, 10/9/80, 10/9/81 & 10/7/82).
- He ranks second in Flyers history in GWG (17), third in goals (114), fourth in scoring (277) and assists (163) and fifth in PPG (21) since entering the NHL in 2016-17.
EIGHT MORE YEARS FOR SANHEIM
- Travis Sanheim signed an eight-year, $50 million contract extension ($6.25 million AAV) on Oct. 13.
- The 26-year-old was selected by Philadelphia in the first round (17th overall) of the 2014 NHL Draft and made his NHL debut on Oct.
5, 2017 at LA. - He owns 116 points (29-87=116), 131 PIM, two PPG, four GWG and 530 shots in 341 career games with the Flyers.
- He ranks seventh all-time amongst Flyers defensemen with 475 blocked shots.
STEADY AT THE HELM
- Head Coach John Tortorella became the second head coach to win each of his first three games behind the Flyers bench – only Paul Holmgren (4-0-0 in 1988-89) had done so to date. Tortorella, who has coached four other NHL clubs, has never won each of his first three games behind a team’s bench. (NHL Stats)
- He is 677-543-169 in 1,389 career games as an NHL head coach.
- He ranks second amongst U.S.-born head coaches in all-time wins. Per NHL Stats, he will become the 12th head coach in NHL history to reach 700 wins.
- He is 11 games shy of becoming the 12th head coach in NHL history to serve 1,400 regular season games.
