6 Key Match-ups for the 2018-19 Season

SUNRISE, Fla. - Today, the Florida Panthers unveiled their schedule for the 2018-19 regular season.
With the Panthers celebrating their 25th Anniversary this year, the time is now to start making plans to see your Cats in action this season!
Here are six matchups to keep an eye on for the Panthers in the upcoming season. Don't forget to circle your calendar and download our schedule!

Thursday, October 11th vs. Columbus Blue Jackets

The Panthers made BB&T Center a tough place to play for opponents last season, and they hope to use their territorial advantage again for the 2018-19 season. The Panthers open their home schedule by welcoming the Columbus Blue Jackets to BB&T Center.
For the Cats it's their first opportunity to build on the home-ice advantage they established last season, when the club set franchise records for home wins (27) and longest home winning streak (8) in front of their passionate fan base.
"It's a confidence thing," Panthers forward Colton Sceviour said of the club's performance at home. "We feel really comfortable at home. Our fans have been great here, especially down the stretch. Any time we come home, it's exciting. We've had some success here, so we feel comfortable that no matter what the game hands us or what's going on, we can win."
With the Blue Jackets coming to town, the Cats will have the daunting task of trying to solve goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky as well as shutting down the likes of Artemi Panarin and Nick Foligno. The Cats were swept by Columbus in the season series last year and as Florida heated up down the stretch, Columbus was one of the teams they were chasing.
Falling just one point short of a 2018 Stanley Cup playoff berth, Florida will want to take advantage of this game to get a little payback.

Thursday, November 1 and Friday, November 2 vs. Winnipeg Jets

As part of the NHL's Global Series, the Panthers will travel to Helsinki, Finland to take on the Winnipeg Jets for two games, alternating as the home team between the games.

It will be a homecoming for players on both sides. Panthers forwards Aleksander Barkov and Henrik Borgstrom and Winnipeg forwards Patrik Laine and Joel Armia all hail from the Land of a Thousand Lakes.
The Cats split the season series vs. the Jets in 2017-18, with each team getting a win at their home rink. With Winnipeg poised to be one of the top teams in the West in 2018-19, these two games will be an early measuring stick for a Cats team striving for early season points.

Wednesday, November 24th vs. Chicago Blackhawks

After filling up on turkey and stuffing, the Cats will face off against Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews and the rest of the Blackhawks.
Given that this season is the 25th Anniversary of the Panthers, nostalgia will be in the air at BB&T Center for this match-up. The Blackhawks were the first-ever Cats opponent during their inaugural year in the NHL. Scott Mellanby notched the first goal in Panthers history in that contest, which ultimately ended in a 4-4 tie.
The Cats dropped both games to Chicago last season, with the second coming in overtime at United Center. To counter the high-powered offense Chicago boasts, fans can look to Keith Yandle and Aaron Ekblad to shut them down.

Saturday, December 1st vs. Tampa Bay Lightning

The Cats welcome their intra-state rival to BB&T Center in what should shape up to be an exciting game.
Last season, despite only winning one of the four games played between the two teams, Florida played the Lightning extremely close.
After Florida's thrilling overtime loss to Tampa in March, many fans, personalities and writers around the NHL were hoping that these two fast, entertaining teams would meet in a playoff series.

Is this the year the hockey gods will finally grant the wishes of Florida's hockey fans and see fit to give these two teams the series they deserve?

February at BB&T Center

BB&T Center will be a busy place during the month of February, with the Cats slated to skate in 11 games throughout the month.
There are some big, heavy-hitting opponents that will come to Sunrise in February, including the Vegas Golden Knights, the Buffalo Sabres (with potential 1st overall pick Rasmus Dahlin in tow), the Nashville Predators and the Pittsburgh Penguins.
With an extended run of home games against marquee opponents, February will be a crucial time for the Panthers to pick up points against some tough opponents, so come to BB&T Center in February and cheer on your Cats!

Monday, April 1st vs. Washington Capitals

No, this isn't an April Fool's prank! The defending Stanley Cup Champion Washington Capitals will travel down South for their first and only visit.
The Panthers won two out of three games against the Capitals last season, clinching the season series at BB&T Center on February 22nd, days after the tragic events at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland.
The victory started a franchise-record eight-game home winning streak at BB&T Center, which the Cats used as a building block in their playoff push.