Cats and Coffee: Panthers Return Home; Holiday Drives

Good morning and welcome to "Cats & Coffee," a weekly segment presented by Community Coffee in which we get you caffeinated with an exciting look at the week ahead for the Florida Panthers.

It's time for some holiday hockey in South Florida.
After starting off their week on the road with back-to-back contests against the Boston Bruins and Philadelphia Flyers, the Florida Panthers will make their long-awaited return to the friendly confines of the BB&T Center for a two-game homestand against the Pittsburgh Penguins and Vancouver Canucks.
The Panthers (12-11-2) have given up just eight goals in their past four games, but have scored just four of their own in regulation. With two games remaining on their season-long six-game road trip, however, the team is confident that they'll soon be able to light the lamp without sacrificing their stalwart defense.
"I thought there were stretches where we were good offensively," Panthers defenseman Keith Yandle said after Saturday's 2-0 loss to Ottawa. "Sometimes you run into a hot goalie. It's tough to not score on the power play. It's tough right now to pinpoint it, but for the most of the game, we did the right thing and they got a couple of early goals and we ran into a hot goalie."
The Panthers, who own a 7-4-0 record at home this season, enter this week just four points behind the Tampa Bay Lightning for third place in the Atlantic Division with two games in hand.
Here's everything you need to know for the week ahead…

THE GAMES

Monday: at Boston Bruins, 7:00 p.m.
Florida's offense will be put to the test when they kick off a back-to-back with a battle against the Bruins (14-10-1) at the TD Garden on Monday. The Bruins, who defeated the Panthers 2-1 on Nov. 1, are led by goaltender Tuukka Rask, who is 16-3-1 with a 1.48 goals against average and .951 save percentage against the Panthers for his career. In this contest, look for Nick Bjugstad to play an integral part in Florida's attempt to solve Boston's netminder, as the 24-year-old center has 6 points (1-5-6) in 11 career games against the Bruins.
Panthers vs. Bruins this season: 0-1-0TV: FSF Radio: English: 560 WQAM (Dade/Broward); 640 WMEN (Palm Beaches); 100.3 WCTH (Florida Keys); 1370 WAXE (Treasure Coast); Spanish: 990 WMYM (Dade/Broward); 760 WEFL (Palm Beaches)
Tuesday: at Philadelphia Flyers, 7:00 p.m.
The Panthers will look to end their six-game road trip on a high note when they go head-to-head with the Flyers (14-10-3) at the Wells Fargo Center on Tuesday. The Panthers, who fell to the Flyers 3-1 on Nov. 22, will need their penalty kill to come up big in this contest, as Philadelphia currently owns the league's second-ranked power play (23.7 percent). On offense, look for Aleksander Barkov to help the Panthers find the back of the net, as the 21-year-old center has traditionally been at his best during the final month of the calendar year, scoring 25 points (9-16-25) in 38 career games in December.
Panthers vs. Flyers this season: 0-1-0TV: FSF Radio: English: 560 WQAM (Dade/Broward); 850 WFTL (Palm Beaches); 100.3 WCTH (Florida Keys); 1370 WAXE (Treasure Coast)
Thursday: Pittsburgh Penguins, 7:30 p.m.
The Panthers will have to deal with one of the league's most potent offenses when they kick off a two-game homestand against the Penguins (15-7-3) at the BB&T Center on Thursday. The Penguins, who defeated the Panthers 3-2 in Pittsburgh on Oct. 25, are led by Sidney Crosby, who is currently tied with Winnipeg rookie Patrik Laine for the league lead in goals (16). In this contest, look for goaltender Roberto Luongo and Florida's eighth-ranked defense (2.44 goals allowed per game) to keep Pittsburgh's forwards in check.
Panthers vs. Penguins this season 0-1-0TV: FSFEnglish: 560 WQAM (Dade/Broward); 640 WMEN (Palm Beaches); 100.3 WCTH (Florida Keys); 1370 WAXE (Treasure Coast) Spanish: 990 WMYM (Dade/Broward); 760 WEFL (Palm Beaches)
Saturday: Vancouver Canucks, 7:00 p.m.
The Panthers will look to cap off their week with a much-needed win when they host the Canucks (11-12-2) at the BB&T Center on Saturday. In their first meeting of the season, the Panthers, who owned a 1-0-1 record against Vancouver last season, should expect their offense to be very active throughout the evening, as the Canucks currently own the league's 25th-ranked defense (2.96 goals allowed per game). Jussi Jokinen, who was recently placed back on Florida's second line, has 11 points (3-8-11) in 19 career games against the Canucks.
Panthers vs. Canucks this season: 0-0-0TV: FSF English: 560 WQAM (Dade/Broward); 640 WMEN (Palm Beaches); 100.3 WCTH (Florida Keys); 1370 WAXE (Treasure Coast) Spanish: 990 WMYM (Dade/Broward); 760 WEFL (Palm Beaches)

MILESTONE WATCH

• Panthers forward Shawn Thornton is one point shy of 100 for his career.
  - Panthers center Vincent Trocheck is four points shy of 100 for his career.
  - Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad is one assist shy of 50 for his career.
  - Panthers forward Jussi Jokinen is four assists shy of 350 for his career.
  - Panthers forward Colton Sceviour is five games shy of 200 for his career.
  - Panthers goaltender Roberto Luongo is two wins shy of his 447th victory, which would move him to a tie with Terry Sawchuk for fifth place on the NHL's all-time list.

THE SPIRIT OF GIVING

In an effort to help those less fortunate during the holiday season, the Panthers are encouraging fans to drop off toys before the team drops the puck at each home game this week.
On Thursday, Dec. 8 and Saturday, Dec. 10, the Panthers will partner with both Caravan of Joy and Toys for Tots to host two Toy Drives to benefit local families in need. Fans are asked to bring new and unwrapped toys to the JetBlue tarmac prior to each game.
"We're excited to be partnering with all of these great organizations this holiday season," said Executive Director of the Florida Panthers Foundation Lauren Simone. "We hope that these donations will help families throughout South Florida during the holidays."
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on Twitter for up to date information on Panthers in the community and how fans can support the Florida Panthers Foundation.

COLD COFFEE (IN CASE YOU MISSED IT)

-
It's time to cast your ballot for the 2017 NHL All-Star Game! 
- The Panthers in the Park ice skating rink in downtown Fort Lauderdale
is now open. 
- The Panthers have
recalled forward
Paul Thompson from their American Hockey League affiliate, the Springfield Thunderbirds.
-
In his latest diary entry
, Panthers defenseman Jason Demers discussed the importance of stringing together victories and, of course, what he brought to the team's Thanksgiving dinner.
"In order to consistently win in this league you've got to have a lot of confidence, luck and skill all meshed together," Demers writes. "When all of that is rolling at the same time, it's a beautiful thing for a hockey team. It's the difference between winning five-or-six games in a row or being on a losing streak."