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.
As we enter the final week of the regular season, it's time to celebrate the rabid, rat-throwing fans that have supported the Florida Panthers throughout their entire 2016-17 campaign.
Cats and Coffee: Fan Appreciation Week
With only three home games remaining on Florida's regular-season slate -- April 3 vs. Montreal Canadiens, April 6 vs. St. Louis Blues and April 8 vs. Buffalo Sabres - Panthers fans will soon be treated to a wealth of special events, gifts and giveaways as part of the team's Fan Appreciation Week.
More than $100,000 in gifts and giveaways will be awarded throughout the week.
In the final home game of the regular season, when the Panthers host the Sabres at the BB&T Center, the organization will go all-out with its generous giveaways, awarding a slew of suites, tickets to concerts and shows, tech treats, merchandise, and more as part of Fan Appreciation Night.
And, even if you don't win one of the bigger prizes, you won't be leaving the arena empty-handed, as all fans in attendance at Saturday's regular-season finale will receive a Panthers collectible poster.
Here's everything you need to know for the week ahead…
THE GAMES
Monday: Montreal Canadiens, 7:30 p.m.
The Panthers will kick off their final homestand of the regular season against the Atlantic Division-leading Canadiens (45-24-9) on Monday at the BB&T Center. The Canadiens have won four straight games, including a 6-2 victory over the Panthers at the Bell Centre in Montreal on March 30. As they look to finish their season on a positive note, the Panthers, who defeated the Canadiens 4-3 in overtime on Nov. 15, will have a chance to split their season series against Montreal with a victory at home. Florida rookie defenseman Mike Matheson, who scored his sixth goal of the season in Thursday's loss at Montreal, has recorded two points (1-1-2) in three games against the Canadiens this season.
Panthers vs. Canadiens this season: 1-1-1TV: FSF English: 560 WQAM (Dade/Broward); 850 WFTL (Palm Beach); 100.3 WCTH (Florida Keys); 1370 WAXE (Treasure Coast) \WAXE Start Time 8PM; Spanish: 990 WMYM (Dade/Broward); 760 WEFL (Palm Beach)
Thursday: St. Louis Blues, 7:30 p.m.
The Panthers will be going for a season sweep of St. Louis when the Blues (43-28-7) visit the BB&T Center on Thursday. Florida, which defeated the Blues 2-1 in St. Louis on Feb. 20, will need its top-ranked penalty kill to be on point in this meeting, as the Blues currently own the league's eighth-ranked power play (21.2 percent). Colton Sceviour, who averages 1:58 of shorthanded ice time per game, has provided the Panthers with an offensive threat on the penalty kill throughout his first season in South Florida, scoring a team-leading three shorthanded goals.
Panthers vs. Blues this season: 1-0-0TV: FSF English: 560 WQAM (Dade/Broward); 640 WMEN (Palm Beach); 100.3 WCTH (Florida Keys); 1370 WAXE (Treasure Coast) \WAXE Start Time 8PM; Spanish: 990 WMYM (Dade/Broward); 760 WEFL (Palm Beach)
Saturday: Buffalo Sabres, 7:00 p.m.
The Panthers will play their final home game of the regular season against the Sabres on Saturday at the BB&T Center. As it was in their 4-2 loss in Buffalo on March 27, the Panthers will need to find a way to stifle the Sabres' top-ranked power play (24.9 percent) if they hope to end their home campaign on a high note. On the offensive side of the puck, look for Jonathan Huberdeau to give Panthers fans a lot to cheer about in this contest, as the 23-year-old winger has tallied seven points (2-5-7) over his last six games.
Panthers vs. Sabres this season 1-2-0TV: FSF English: 560 WQAM (Dade/Broward); 640 WMEN (Palm Beach); 100.3 WCTH (Florida Keys); 1370 WAXE (Treasure Coast) \WAXE Start Time 7PM; Spanish: 990 WMYM (Dade/Broward); 760 WEFL (Palm Beach)
Sunday: at Washington Capitals, 7:00 p.m.
The Panthers will close the book on their 2016-17 season with a tough test against the Metropolitan Division-leading Capitals on Sunday. In what should prove to be a good measuring stick match as they head into the offseason, the Panthers will have to overcome a Capitals team that currently owns the league's top-ranked defense (2.22 goals allowed per game) and second-ranked offense (3.23 goals per game). In the final game of his breakout season, look for Vincent Trocheck to have a big game for the Cats, as the 23-year-old All-Star has already tallied a team-leading 53 points (22-31-53) in 78 games this season.
Panthers vs. Capitals this season 0-2-0TV: FSF English: 560 WQAM (Dade/Broward); 640 WMEN (Palm Beach); 100.3 WCTH (Florida Keys); 1370 WAXE (Treasure Coast) \WAXE Start Time 7PM
AUTISM AWARENESS NIGHT
The Panthers and Autism Speaks are teaming up with South Florida Ford to host a special Autism Awareness Night on Monday, April 3, when the Panthers host the Montreal Canadiens at 7:30 p.m. at the BB&T Center.
Tweet from @FlaPanthers: Tomorrow, we will #LIUB with @SoFlaFord for Autism Awareness Night @thebbtcenter! Take a look at Meghan's day with the team ��#Ford4Autism pic.twitter.com/gNBaYBI7ba
In addition to the action on the ice, the Panthers will also be offering a quiet, private sensory-friendly lounge for families to enjoy throughout the evening. A portion of all ticket sales will go to Autism Speaks and buyers of the special ticket package will also receive an Autism Speaks/Panthers T-Shirt.
As a show of solidarity, Panthers social media accounts will also be turning blue in honor of National Autism Awareness Day's #LIUB campaign. Additionally, the evening's game presentation will also be featuring #LIUB and Autism Awareness facts. Fans are encouraged to use #Ford4Autism throughout the night on April 3, as Ford will donate $5 to Autism Speaks each time the hashtag is used. Fans can also use the hashtag #LIUB for Light it Up Blue. In September, Broward's Autism Speaks Walk will be held at the BB&T Center.
Fans can register for the walk by clicking
HERE
.
SHIRTS OFF OUR BACKS
Have you ever been watching a Panthers game and thought to yourself, "Hey, I really want that Jaromir Jagr jersey"? Well, now's your chance to get your hands on it!
The Panthers will be holding their annual "Shirts Off Our Backs Night" on April 6, when the team hosts the St. Louis Blues at 7:30 p.m. at the BB&T Center.
If you are lucky, you could be one of the fans randomly selected to win a game-worn jersey and participate in an on-ice presentation immediately following the game. Every Panther on the active roster, including Jagr, Jonathan Huberdeau and Vincent Trocheck, will present a randomly selected fan with a jersey.
Good luck, Cats fans!
JOIN OUR HOUSE
It's time to commit to the Cats again, join #OurHouse for the 2017-18 season.
Tweet from @FlaPanthers: This is #OurHouse.You're Invited: https://t.co/fwYZRfo4Y6 pic.twitter.com/MmJlIXn1g9
MILESTONE WATCH
- Panthers forward Jonathan Huberdeau is one game away from 300 for his career.
- Panthers forward Jonathan Huberdeau is five points away from 200 for his career.
- Panthers center Aleksander Barkov is two assists away from 100 for his career.
- Panthers defenseman Keith Yandle is two games away from passing Andy Hebenton for eighth all-time on the NHL's consecutive games played list.
- Panthers forward Thomas Vanek is four points away from 700 for his career.
- Panthers goaltender Roberto Luongo needs two victories to surpass Curtis Joseph for sole possession of fourth place on the NHL's all-time wins list.
- Panthers forward Jonathan Marchessault is one goal away from becoming the franchise's first 30-goal scorer since David Booth in 2008-09.
COLD COFFEE (IN CASE YOU MISSED IT)
-- The South Florida chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association (PHWA) recently announced that Panthers forward Shawn Thornton
has been selected
as the club's 2017 nominee for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy.
-- As part of their continued commitment to improving the local community, the Florida Panthers Foundation Community Champions Grant Program, presented by Moss Construction and the Moss Foundation,
recently awarded $25,000 to the Jason Taylor Foundation.
"It's important for young people to have people and programs around them that are consistent, positive and that help them build towards a future," said Taylor, who was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2017. "That consistency is key. For a kid to know that someone cares about them and they will be there for them is absolutely priceless and can truly shape who that child becomes."
-- The Springfield Thunderbirds recently announced that Panthers prospect Ian McCoshen has been named the team's winner of the IOA/American Specialty AHL Man of the Year award for
his outstanding contributions to the Springfield community during the 2016-17 season.
-- The Panthers recently recalled goaltender Adam Wilcox from Springfield (AHL)
on an emergency basis
.
--
The Panthers will host "Tech Night" on April 6.
