Cats & Coffee: Getting Back to Playing Games

Good morning and welcome to "Cats & Coffee," a weekly segment, presented by Koffee Kult, in which we serve up an exciting look at what's on deck for your Florida Panthers. Like our friends at Koffee Kult, this forecast serves up only the best -- so sit back, sip and enjoy our latest brew of news, notes and information.
The waiting game can get pretty old after a while.
Thankfully, we've got somerealgames this week.
After having their two-game series at Carolina postponed due to the NHL's COVID-19 protocols, the Panthers will finally get back on the ice this week when they embark on their first road trip of the season that will see them battle in a pair of two-game series against Columbus and Detroit.

"I think you could tell they're at a point where they want to play real games," head coach Joel Quenneville said after Saturday's practice at BB&T Center. "After practice on Monday, we'll travel and then get a real game and get playing again. This little off and on here, it is what it is."
Prior to abruptly hitting the pause button, the Panthers were certainly off to a great start following consecutive wins over Chicago on home ice to kick off their 2020-21 campaign.
After cruising to a 5-2 win over the Blackhawks in their season opener on Jan. 17, the Panthers brought the drama in Game 2, with Patric Hornqvist tying the game 4-4 in the third period before Frank Vatrano scored the winner in overtime off a feed from Aleksander Barkov for a 5-4 victory.
"Let's recapture some of that energy that we had in the Chicago series," Quenneville said.
Florida's first road trip will also be somewhat of a homecoming for several players and members of the front office that previously called Columbus home, including general manager Bill Zito, defenseman Markus Nutivaara, forwards Alex Wennberg and Anthony Duclair, and goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky.
"It's going to be a little bit different," said Wennberg, who played in 417 games with the Blue Jackets after being taken with the 14th overall pick in the 2013 NHL Draft. "There's a lot of memories there in that arena. I'm excited. It's going to be fun to go back and play against them."
Here's everything you need to know for the week ahead…

THE GAMES

Tuesday and Thursday: at Columbus Blue Jackets, 7:00 p.m. ET
Hitting the road for the first time this season, the Panthers will battle the Blue Jackets (2-2-2) on Tuesday and Thursday at Nationwide Arena.
Columbus enters this week fresh off a 5-2 win over Tampa Bay on Saturday. Before that, they'd lost four of five games to start their season. Making headlines over the weekend, the Blue Jackets acquired forwards Patrik Laine and Jack Roslovic from Winnipeg in exchange for Pierre-Luc Dubois and a 2022 third-round pick. The second-overall pick in the 2016 NHL Draft, Laine's 140 goals are the eighth-most in the league since his first season in 2016-17. Roslovic, meanwhile, notched 12 goals and 17 assists in 71 games with the Jets last season. As of right now, it remains to be seen whether or not either player will be available to suit up against the Panthers. Looking at the rest of the roster, Alexandre Texier and Oliver Bjorkstrand are tied for the scoring lead on the Blue Jackets with five points apiece, while goaltenders Joonas Korpisalo and Elvis Merzlikins have each started three games in net. Of the two, Korpisalo has the better numbers right now, going 1-1-1 with a .935 save percentage. At the other end of the ice, look for Patric Hornqvist to continue piling up the points in this series, In the midst of his first season with Florida, the 34-year-old veteran has already become a critical part of the team's offense, especially on the power play. In addition to pacing the team in goals (3), Hornqvist is also tied with Jonathan Huberdeau for the most points (4). Of those goals, two have come on the power play, where the Cats are currently converting 37.5% of their chances.
TV: FOX Sports Florida
Radio: 560 WQAM (DADE/BROWARD); 640 WMEN (PALM BEACH); 100.3 WCTH (FLORIDA KEYS); 1370/107.9 WZTA (TREASURE COAST) SiriusXM Streaming 932
Saturday and Sunday: at Detroit Red Wings, 7:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. ET
After wrapping things up in Columbus, the Panthers will then make their way to the Motor City for games against the Red Wings (2-4-0) on Saturday and Sunday. Detroit enters this week on the heels of consecutive losses at Chicago, including a lopsided 6-2 defeat on Sunday. For the Red Wings, one of their biggest issues this season has been the inability to find the back of the net. Over their first six contests, they've only managed to score more than two goals twice. Up front, Dylan Larkin leads the team in points (6), while Bobby Ryan has the most goals (4). In the crease, goaltenders Jonathan Bernier and Thomas Greiss have each gotten the start in three games. Greiss owns a .918 save percentage, while Bernier's currently sits at .889. As for the Panthers, keep an eye on Carter Verhaeghe in these matchups. After struggling to find ice time with the Lightning, the 25-year-old forward has gotten off to a hot start in his first season with Florida. Playing on the top line alongside Aleksander Barkov and Anthony Duclair, Verhaeghe has picked up a point in each game so far this season, including netting a pair of goals during a 5-4 overtime win over Chicago on Jan. 19. Florida has also had quite a bit of success against Detroit lately, winning all three head-to-head battles last season by a combined score of 13-5.
TV: FOX Sports Florida
Radio: 560 WQAM (DADE/BROWARD); 640 WMEN (PALM BEACH); 100.3 WCTH (FLORIDA KEYS); 1370/107.9 WZTA (TREASURE COAST) SiriusXM Streaming 932

MILESTONE WATCH

• Brett Connolly is two goals away from his 100th NHL goal.
  - Brett Connolly is two games away from his 500th NHL game.
  - Radko Gudas is five assists away from his 100th NHL assist.

PROMOTIONAL SCHEDULE

With 26 home games remaining this season, BB&T Center is the place to be.
"Our in-arena team has been working for months to ensure a safe but fun environment for our dedicated Panthers fans to enjoy," Panthers Chief Operating Officer Sean McCaffrey said in a release. "From the global benchmark of the WELL Health-Safety Certification to the infrastructure changes and health and safety verified additions allow us to open our doors to the community in a limited capacity."
Last week, the Panthers announced their promotional schedule for the 2020-21 campaign, a list that includes some returning favorites as well as a few new items that should get fans excited.
With all of the below food and beverage promotions, fans can use mobile ordering and contactless pick up.
- Truly Tuesdays: At every Tuesday home game, fans over the age of 21 can enjoy 12 oz cans of Truly Hard Seltzer for only $5. These cans will be available at select concession stands.
- $5 Beer Thursdays: A fan-favorite last season, fans over the age of 21 can once again enjoy special $5 pricing on domestic beers at select concession stands and bars at every Thursday home game.
- Retro Paradise: The Panthers will wear their new "Reverse Retro" jerseys at select Saturday home games this season - Feb. 13, Feb. 27, March 13, March 20 and April 3. During these games, fans are encouraged to turn back the clock by wearing their own "Reverse Retro" gear.
- 50/50 Raffle: This season fans will be able to give back to the Florida Panthers Foundation through the 50/50 raffle. Fans can purchase 50/50 raffle tickets at select kiosks throughout the arena or online at
FlaPanthers5050.com
and in the Panthers mobile app. In order to purchase an online ticket, fans must be within a 75-mile radius of BB&T Center.
- Student Rush: New for this season, all Thursday and Saturday home games at BB&T Center are now Student Rush Nights. Students with a valid .edu e-mail address can purchase $25 upper-level tickets, based on availability, which includes parking.
For more information on the Student rush program or to purchase tickets, please visit
FloridaPanthers.com/StudentRush
.
For more information on what fans should expect during their visit to the arena, check out
FloridaPanthers.com/RedReminders
.

PROSPECT SPOTLIGHT

Santtu Kinnunen is coming off a nice week playing overseas in Liiga.
After lighting the lamp to help Tappara to a 6-1 win against JYP on Jan. 19, the 21-year-old defenseman then chipped in an assist the following day in a 6-1 win over SaiPa on Jan. 20.

Taken by the Panthers the seventh round (207th overall) of the 2018 NHL Draft, Kinnunen has been fine-tuning his game in his native Finland for a while now. He's currently in the midst of his third tour of duty in Liiga but first with Tappara, a team partially owned by Aleksander Barkov.
In 25 games this season, he's tallied a career-high 11 points (one goal, 10 assists). Averaging 16:03 of ice time per game, that point total places him third among Tappara's defensive corps.

CATS CLIP OF THE WEEK

Only two games into the season and we've already got some overtime heroics!
If you need a boost this morning, check out this goal from Frank Vatrano below.

CATS IN THE COMMUNITY

TERRITORY TALK

On the latest episode of the Territory Talk podcast, FOX Sports Florida sideline reporter Jessica Blaylock sits down with co-hosts Doug Plagens and Jameson Olive to discuss what she's seen from the new-look Panthers on the ice through the first two games of the 2020-21 campaign.
Territory Talk: Florida Panthers Podcast
·

COLD COFFEE (IN CASE YOU MISSED IT)

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Carter Verhaeghe and Aaron Ekblad each potted two goals in the latest scrimmage.
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After a stint overseas, Juho Lammikko is excited to be back in South Florida.
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Patric Hornqvist is already making quite the impact on and off the ice with the Panthers.
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Miss Florida's overtime win over Chicago last week? Catch up with "5 Takeaways."
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Cats and hot dogs living together! The Panthers have a new official hot dog.
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Q&A: Jonathan Huberdeau reflects on a huge Opening Night win at BB&T Center.
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Make sure to sign up for the new "93 Society" newsletter.
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Search for treasure within the Panthers Virtual Vault, presented by Baptist Health.