Cats and Coffee: Preseason Starts with Doubleheader

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.
The Florida Panthers will make their return to the BB&T Center this week, kicking off their seven-game preseason schedule with an exciting doubleheader against the Nashville Predators on Tuesday.
"It's more about guys trying to prove themselves and getting their feet wet," center Nick Bjugstad said of the preseason. "It's a lot of guys first time with the organization. Throwing on that jersey will be fun, especially with the new logo. It'll be a lot of fun to play again."
The back-to-back contests will be played at 3:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., respectively, with any ticket purchased to either of the games also granting access to the other. If you are interested in attending, please click here.
"A lot of guys will be playing in those games," head coach Gerard Gallant said. "Kids deserve those chances. They like to play in exhibitions games. It'll be fun."
Following the doubleheader, the Panthers will head across the state to visit the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday, Oct. 6 at 7:30 p.m. at Amalie Arena. Then, after a brief stint back in Sunrise, the team will head to London, Ontario, for a special game against the Dallas Stars on Sunday, Oct. 2 at Budweiser Gardens, home of the Ontario Hockey League's London Knights.
"We are very excited to showcase Panthers hockey outside of South Florida to a great hockey town like London," Panthers Executive Chairman Peter Luukko said. "Budweiser Gardens is a first class facility and an excellent venue for fans to watch two exciting, 2015-16 division-winning teams, Florida and Dallas face off. It is sure to be a terrific event for both the players and the city of London."
Budweiser Gardens has previously hosted a number NHL teams through the years for preseason games, with the Philadelphia Flyers and Toronto Maple Leafs most recently playing an exhibition contest there on Sept. 22, 2014.
Tickets can be purchased at BudweiserGardens.com or by phone at 1-866-455-2849.

AUTISM SPEAKS WALK

In conjunction with South Florida Ford and the recently launched Panthers Pledge program, numerous Panthers employees participated in the Autism Speaks Walk over the weekend.
The Autism Speaks Walk is the world's largest fundraising event to support the diverse needs of the autism community. This grassroots movement is powered by parents of children on the autism spectrum, generating funds that fuel innovative research and make connections to critical lifelong supports and services.
The event raised $123,471, according to AutismSpeaksWalk.org.

OPEN HOUSE AT BB&T CENTER

Still need tickets for the upcoming season?
If so, make sure you head on over to the BB&T Center on Saturday, Oct. 1st for the team's Open House and choose your 2016-17 seats!
All prospective ticket buyers in attendance will have access to their own Panthers sales representative and also be given the chance to purchase plenty of merchandise featuring the team's new logo. Other perks include several child-friendly activities on the JetBlue tarmac and a unique on-ice photo opportunity.
Ticket packages start at just 10 games and include:
- Discounts from Box Office Pricing - Payment Plan Option Available - Priority Access to NHL Stanley Cup Playoff Tickets
RSVP for the Open House HERE to print out your ticket to the event
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COLD COFFEE (IN CASE YOU MISSED IT)

• The Panthers
  are ready to embrace the pressure of increased expectations
  following a season in which they set franchise records for both wins (47) and points (103).
  "We're ready to get going," Bjugstad said. "I'm honestly getting sick of playing shinny hockey. I'm ready to get going and play some real hockey, get training camp going. We'll have a hard working training camp and then be ready to go."
  - Denis Malgin, a fourth-round pick in 2015, scored six goals in three games to lead the Panthers to a perfect 3-0-0 record
  at last week's Rookie Tournament at the Panthers IceDen in Coral Springs.
  "He's a great player," Panthers winger Kyle Rau said of Malgin. "Every time he has the puck, something exciting seemed to happen. Hopefully he can keep it rolling, too."