Cats & Coffee: Panthers Continue to Pile Up Points

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 Florida Panthers keep picking up points and climbing the standings.

After opening up their current eight-game point streak with back-to-back losses in the shootout, the Panthers appear to be hitting their stride and consistently turning those one-point efforts into two-point triumphs, coming away big wins in four out of their last six games entering this week.
"We're not thinking about it too much," Panthers winger Noel Acciari said. "We just want to play our game and continue on what we've accomplished. We just want to keep it going on this trip."
Acciari was one of six different Panthers that found the back of the net during a dominant 6-2 win over the Pacific Division-leading Oilers in Edmonton on Sunday afternoon, joining Aaron Ekblad, Brian Boyle, Evgenii Dadonov, Frank Vatrano and Jayce Hawryluk on the scoresheet.
Heating up on offense, Florida has scored at least four goals in five of its last six games.
"I thought we had a heck of a game tonight in a lot of ways," Panthers coach Joel Quenneville said. "I thought we had good offensive zone time and a lot of nice plays, some good individual plays on the goals. Bob [Sergei Bobrovsky] also made some big, key saves early in the game."
Currently sitting in third place in the Atlantic Division, the Cats have another big week ahead.
After wrapping up their road trip with matchups against the Vancouver Canucks and Colorado Avalanche on Monday and Wednesday, respectively, they'll return home to kick off a two-game homestand at BB&T Center, starting with a battle against the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday.
"The depth and the ability and the skill level, you see it throughout the league, and you see it here on this team," Boyle said of Florida. "I've only been here a week, but it's very evident… Up and down the lineup, there's a lot of ability. I think everybody wants to contribute and expects to."
Here's everything you need to know for the week ahead…

THE GAMES

Monday: at Vancouver Canucks, 10:00 p.m.
The Panthers will look to extend their point streak to nine games when they close out a back-to-back set against the Canucks (6-3-1) at Rogers Arena on Monday. Vancouver has won six of its last eight games, but is coming off a 6-5 shootout loss to Washington on Friday. Owning the fourth-ranked defense in the league, the Canucks are allowing an average of 2.40 goals per game and have surrendered two or fewer goals in six of their last eight contests. Elias Pettersson and J.T. Miller are tied for the team-scoring lead with 11 points, while Bo Horvat has the most goals (5). For the Panthers, look for Evgenii Dadonov to do some damage on offense in this meeting, as the 30-year-old winger leads the team with six goals, including lighting the lamp in two straight games. In four career games against Vancouver, Dadonov has one goal.
TV: FSF
Radio: 790 WAXY (Dade/Broward); 640 WMEN (Palm Beach); 100.3 WCTH (Florida Keys); 1370 WAXE (Treasure Coast)
Wednesday: at Colorado Avalanche, 10:00 p.m.
The Panthers will conclude their four-game road trip when they close out their season series against the Avalanche (8-2-1) at Pepsi Center on Wednesday. Colorado has lost two of its last three contests, including a 5-2 loss against Anaheim on Saturday. Nathan MacKinnon leads the team in both goals (6) and points (15), and also scored the game-winning goal in overtime when the Avalanche topped the Panthers in overtime during the first meeting between the two clubs this season on Oct. 18 in Sunrise. In this rematch, look for Aleksander Barkov, who was taken one pick after MacKinnon in the 2013 NHL Draft, to set up a goal or two for the Panthers. Tied for third in the league in assists (13), the 23-year-old center has racked up seven helpers over the last three games. In 10 career games against Colorado, he has three goals and four assists.
TV: FSF
Radio: 560 WQAM (Dade/Broward); 640 WMEN (Palm Beach); 100.3 WCTH (Florida Keys); 1370 WAXE (Treasure Coast)
Saturday: Detroit Red Wings, 7:00 p.m.
After more than a week on the road, the Panthers will return home to host the Red Wings (3-8-1) at BB&T Center on Saturday. With a 5-4 overtime loss against St. Louis on Sunday, Detroit's losing steak reached eight games, a stretch that has sent the team to the bottom of the Atlantic Division. As of right now, the problems for the Red Wings appear to be at both ends of the ice, as they are currently scoring the second-fewest goals in the league (2.25) and allowing the fourth-most goals against (3.75). Tyler Bertuzzi and Anthony Mantha are tied for the team-lead in points (12), while Mantha also paces the club in goals (7). In their first matchup of the season, look for Jonathan Huberdeau to put up some points for the Panthers, as the 26-year-old winger is tied for second on the team in goals (5) and first in points (13). A consistent producer on the offensive side of the puck, Huberdeau has cracked the scoresheet in nine of 11 games to start the season. In 21 career games against Detroit, he's racked up five goals and nine assists.
TV: FSF
Radio: 560 WQAM (Dade/Broward); 640 WMEN (Palm Beach); 100.3 WCTH (Florida Keys); 1370 WAXE (Treasure Coast)
In-Arena Activations:
50/50 Raffle
Tickets:
HERE

MILESTONE WATCH

• Keith Yandle is five goals away from his 100th NHL goal.
  - Anton Stralman is one assist away from his 200th NHL assist.
  - Colton Sceviour is four games away from his 400th NHL game.
  - Evgenii Dadonov is eight assists away from his 100th NHL assist.
  - Joel Quenneville is five wins away from his 900th win as a head coach in the NHL.

PROSPECT SPOTLIGHT

Owen Tippett had himself quite the weekend down in the AHL.
Helping the Springfield Thunderbirds capture just their second three-game weekend sweep in franchise history, the 20-year-old winger posted six points (three goals, three assists) in three straight wins over the Rochester Americans, Belleville Senators and Bridgeport Sound Tigers.

The 10th overall pick in the 2017 NHL Draft, Tippett has gotten off to a solid start since making the full-time jump to the pro ranks this season, tallying eight points through his first nine games.

'PUCKS & PINTS' RETURNS

Who's ready to start feeling funky?
Presented by Funky Buddha Brewery, the Panthers will host their bi-annual "Pucks & Pints" Beerfest on Saturday, Nov. 30 at BB&T Center when the Nashville Predators come to town.
All fans must be 21 or older to purchase tickets and attend the Beerfest, which will feature live music, giveaways and, of course, plenty of beer sampling from participating local breweries.
The three ticket options available are as follows:
- VIP Entry for $115: This includes a club endzone ticket for the game, early access to the beer garden at 3 p.m., parking, a $20 loaded ticket for food and beverage, and a 4oz sampling mug.
- General Admission for $65: This includes an upper-level ticket for the game, access to the beer garden at 4 p.m., parking, and a 4oz sampling mug.
- Student Rush for $35: This includes a student rush ticket to the game, access to the beer garden starting at 4 p.m., and a 4oz sampling mug. This offer is available for students only.
All of these ticket package options include unlimited sampling during the Beerfest, which stays open until arena doors open at 6 p.m., from this year's participating breweries, which includes: Barrel of Monks, Broski Ciderworks, Concrete Beach Brewery, Copperpoint Brewing Company, Funky Buddha Brewery, Lagunitas, LauderAle, M.I.A. Beer Company, Cigar City and more.
A portion of all proceeds from the Beerfest will benefit the Florida Panthers Foundation.
To purchase tickets, please click HERE or visit
FloridaPanthers.com/FoundationEvents
.

LUONGO'S BIG DAY IN BROWARD

Roberto Luongo will be inducted into the Broward County Sports Hall of Fame on Tuesday.
One of only three goaltenders to have competed in 1,000 NHL games, Luongo, 40, retired this summer after 19 seasons in the league, including parts of 11 with the Panthers. As it stands now, he currently ranks third in NHL history in goaltending wins (489) and ninth in shutouts (77).
Now in its 21st consecutive year, the 2019 Broward County Sports Hall of Fame class also includes five other prominent athletes: Dr. Guy Harvey (Fishing), Tamara James (Basketball), Otis James "OJ" McDuffie (Football), Eddie Rodger (Soccer), and Jesse Vassallo (Swimming).
In addition this this latest honor, Luongo's legacy will be celebrated again later this season when the Panthers retire his No. 1 jersey on March 7, 2020. Raising his number into the BB&T Center rafters against the Montreal Canadiens, he'll be Florida's first player to ever receive the honor.

GET YOUR YOGA ON

The Panthers will be hosting a "Yoga Day" at BB&T Center on Dec. 8.
By purchasing this package, fans will not only gain access to a one-hour morning yoga session at the arena at 10 a.m., but also receive a tank top and one ticket to watch the team play either the San Jose Sharks later that day at 5 p.m. or the Tampa Bay Lightning on Dec. 10 at 7 p.m.
To purchase tickets or for more information, click HERE.

CATS CLIP OF THE WEEK

What shows are the Panthers catching up on during this long road trip? Katie Gaus caught a few players before they left South Florida to find out.

CATS IN THE COMMUNITY

Tweet from @StanleyCPanther: ���Paging Dr. S. C. Panther... your fans are ready for you���I stopped by @BrowardHealth Children���s Hospital in #CoralSprings and #FtLauderdale. Smiles cure all! pic.twitter.com/4DYrDTc3Cs

TERRITORY TALK

Check out last week's episode of the Territory Talk podcast to hear conversations about the Cats with FOX Sports Florida analyst Jeff Chychrun and new Panthers center Brian Boyle.

COLD COFFEE (IN CASE YOU MISSED IT)

-- Did you miss Florida's thrilling 6-2 win in Edmonton?
Catch up with "5 Takeaways" right now! 
--
Postcard: Colton Sceviour checks in from the road. 
--
From the blue line to the wing, Mark Pysyk has been moving around a bit this season. 
--
If you're a student in South Florida, "The Library" is the place to be at BB&T Center.
--
The "Sahlen's Red Hot Value Pack" is back! 
--
The Panthers acquired Jack Rodewald from the Ottawa Senators.
--
Postcard: Brian Boyle is thankful for his opportunity with the Panthers. 
--
Play poker with the Panthers at "Ice & Dice" on Nov. 4! 
--
What did Sergei Bobrovsky give Frank Vatrano for No. 72? Find out here!
--
The Panthers recalled defenseman Riley Stillman from AHL Springfield. 
--
Florida acquired forward Aleksi Saarela from the Chicago Blackhawks. 
--
Check out interesting pieces of Panthers history in the Virtual Vault.