Thomas Vanek will make his Florida Panthers debut at left wing on a line with center Nick Bjugstad and right wing Jonathan Marchessault. Vanek and Bjugstad have skated together during the summer at University of Minnesota alumni events. "It's tough in a morning skate or even a practice to see how it goes," Vanek said. "Knowing both of those guys' games, they're very good players, very skilled, very smart. Hopefully we can get some chemistry early." Bjugstad, who was born in Minneapolis, said he remembers watching Vanek help Minnesota win the NCAA championship in 2003; Bjugstad was 10 years old. "It's a big addition," Bjugstad said. "… He can move the puck. You got a guy like [Marchessault] who can put it away. I think it'll be a fun line to play with. Hopefully we'll generate stuff tonight and carry on from there." Coach Tom Rowe said Vanek also will play on the power play and doesn't expect Vanek to need much time to adjust to the Panthers' systems. "We play a pretty simple game," Rowe said. "It's nothing he hasn't seen before. ... He's a smart player and world-class player so he'll pick it up real quick." The Panthers are one point behind the Toronto Maple Leafs for the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Eastern Conference.
