The Rat Trick
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Florida Panthers: Tough road ahead against the West

By Luke Kendall

COLUMBUS, OH - JANUARY 07: Florida Panthers center Aleksander Barkov (16) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal in a game between the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Florida Panthers on January 07, 2018 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, OH. Blue Jackets defeated the Panthers 3-2 in a shootout. (Photo by Adam Lacy/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OH - JANUARY 07: Florida Panthers center Aleksander Barkov (16) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal in a game between the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Florida Panthers on January 07, 2018 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, OH. Blue Jackets defeated the Panthers 3-2 in a shootout. (Photo by Adam Lacy/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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January 19th, Vegas Golden Knights @ Florida Panthers, 7:30 PM

LAS VEGAS, NV – DECEMBER 17: Vegas Golden Knights Defenceman Shea Theodore (27) goes after the puck during the third period of a regular season NHL game between the Florida Panthers and the Vegas Golden Knights Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017, in Las Vegas. The Vegas Golden Knights would defeat the Florida Panthers 5-2. (Photo by: Marc Sanchez/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV – DECEMBER 17: Vegas Golden Knights Defenceman Shea Theodore (27) goes after the puck during the third period of a regular season NHL game between the Florida Panthers and the Vegas Golden Knights Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017, in Las Vegas. The Vegas Golden Knights would defeat the Florida Panthers 5-2. (Photo by: Marc Sanchez/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

After Calgary, Florida has an entire week off before the Vegas Golden Knights ride into the BB&T center for the first time on the 19th of January. Vegas boasts the best record in the Western conference with an incredible 60 points in early January.

This could definitely be considered a revenge game for the Panthers. When the teams first met on December 17, Florida blew an early two-goal lead, and lost 5-2. Also, it was Vegas that took Reilly Smith and Jonathan Marchessault, as well as former head coach Gerard Gallant.

It would be very nice for the Cats to emphatically prove that they have moved on from those three losses against MIN, DET, and CBJ, by beating the Knights in Sunrise. One glimmer of hope is that Vegas has been good but beatable on the road with a record of 11-8-1 as visitors this season.

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