The Florida Panthers are heading to the road with their heads held high.
After overcoming a four-game losing streak, the defending Stanley Cup champions won five of six points in their final three games to conclude their homestand.
With a record of 14 wins, 12 losses, and 2 draws, they also found themselves only three points away from the playoffs.
The Panthers begin their road trip by visiting Utah Mammoth on Wednesday, where they will face two members of last year’s team, Nate Schmidt and Vitek Vanecek.
They will then face the Western Conference-leading Colorado Avalanche on Thursday and close out the week against the Dallas Stars on Saturday.
It’s been a tough stretch, with all three opponents currently in the playoffs.
“We’re going to have a really tough road trip,” head coach Paul Maurice said before the team departed for the mountains. “But we’re playing as good as we’ve been playing in a while.”
To see what’s happening around the Territory this week and beyond, continue below.
game
Wednesday, December 10th: Mammoth, Utah – 9:00 PM ET
Radio: 104.3 WQAM-FM (Dade/Broward); 106.3 WESP-FM (Palm Beach); 100.3 WCTH (Florida Keys); 101.7 WCZR (Treasure Coast); Panthers GameDay App; SiriusXM App and Streaming 931
Thursday, December 11th: At Colorado Avalanche – 9:30pm ET
Radio: 104.3 WQAM-FM (Dade/Broward); 106.3 WESP-FM (Palm Beach); 100.3 WCTH (Florida Keys); 101.7 WCZR (Treasure Coast); Panthers GameDay App; SiriusXM App and Streaming 931
Saturday, December 13th: Dallas Stars – 8pm ET
swaggy the star
Let’s talk about your big week.
In the same week he welcomed his first child into the world, Carter Verhaeghe was named the NHL’s Third Star of the Week for the week ending Dec. 7, the league announced Monday.
Helping the Panthers to a 2-0-1 record, Verhage scored five points last week, including four, tied for first in the NHL.
The three-time Stanley Cup champion has scored six goals in his last six games.
“When he plays well, we play well,” teammate Seth Jones said.
Luosti influence
No wonder the Panthers ended last weekend with a winning streak.
As it turned out, success coincided with the return of Etu Luostarinen.
The two-way forward has looked like his old self since returning to action after missing the past eight games due to burns sustained in a freak barbecue accident.
In his first two games back, he had one assist and four hits, averaging 16 minutes, 24 seconds on ice per tilt.
“Getting players back from injury is a really big deal for us,” Morris said. “He plays a very important role in everything that happens here.”
In last year’s cup competition, Luostarinen ranked tied for first on the team with 19 points.
With No. 27 back on the roster, the Panthers have another important tool back in the box.
cod save
Daniil Tarasov continues to impress in his first season with the Panthers.
After stopping 20 of 21 shots in Sunday’s 4-1 win over the Islanders, the 26-year-old netminder improved to 3-4-1 with a .911 save percentage.
His save percentage is the 15th best in the NHL among goalies who have played in at least nine games this season.
“We have a great group of guys here,” Tarasoff said. “They look out for each other, especially me as well. So (I’m) feeling even more confident here.”
With back-to-back schedules scheduled this week, Tarasov will be tested again soon.
ring on the road
The Panthers will have a special delivery when they visit Utah.
Reunited with two members of last year’s Stanley Cup-winning team, Schmidt and Vanecek are expected to receive championship rings when their former teammates come to town.
Both spent just one season with the Panthers, with Schmidt scoring 12 points (3G, 9A) in 23 playoff games, including a big performance in Game 1 against the Tampa Bay Lightning, while Vanecek, who was added at the trade deadline, served as the team’s backup goaltender.
Even though they are gone, the bonds they made in South Florida will last forever.
Sign up for Panthers Plus
Now is the perfect time to sign up for Panthers Plus while the Panthers are on the road.
Subscribe today to get access to every locally produced Panthers game on Scripps Sports this season, as well as receive pregame coverage of every nationally broadcast game.
Other content includes replays, interviews, video series, and more.
For more information, please visit PanthersPlus.Tv.
game day app
If you don’t have the Panthers GameDay app, you’re missing out.
Currently, non-Territory members can enjoy a 5% discount on food and drinks when they use the app during games and events at Amerant Bank Arena.
The app also features special partner benefits, articles, videos, and more.
Click here to download the Panthers GameDay app.
This week’s cat clip
Get to know Jeff Petry in his recent Territory Talk chat.
