Panthers vs. Blues Preview: The rematch

For the second straight game, the Florida Panthers will be playing the St. Louis Blues. They will be hoping to be victorious in this one, too. Last game was such an entertaining one, as the Panthers would defeat the Blues in a shootout by a final score of 4-3.

The Panthers have been on fire lately, as they now have won three straight games with remarkable comebacks. Yet, these games were all at home, so they had the Florida faithful cheering them on. Tonight, however, they will be in St. Louis, so they must come out hot and get a lead from the very beginning of the contest. Eventually, these comebacks won’t just come to them.

Although the Panthers have a spectacular 17-4-3 record, their first place spot in the Atlantic Division is certainly not cemented. The Toronto Maple Leafs are just one point behind them, but they also have played two more games. However, another win tonight would help widen the gap for them. The Tampa Bay Lightning, by the way, are only three points behind the Panthers themselves in just as many games played.

The Panthers are getting monstrous help tonight, however, as both Aleksander Barkov and Gustav Forsling will be playing. The captain returning is obviously bigger news, as he has not played since November 16th and is the team’s best all-around player. That’s not a knock at Forsling, though, as he too has played quite well this season and has taken that next step as an NHLer. It would be marvelous to see each of them get on the scoresheet tonight.

Spencer Knight will also be in goal for the Panthers. Although the 20-year-old hasn’t been perfect this season, but he did have a shutout in his last start against the Buffalo Sabres. Perhaps this kind of stellar play will carry over to tonight.

Nevertheless, the Panthers take the ice at 8 PM Eastern Time. Don’t miss it!