The Panthers have been stewing in the juices of a four game losing streak all week. Now they must take on a Chicago Blackhawks squad which just saw its hottest streak ever snapped. Buckle up, this one is sure to be wild.
The Numbers
[table id=TS02G47 /] [table id=IS02G47 /] [table id=GM02G47 /]* – Stats are courtesy of War-on-Ice.com, Puckalytics.com and Hockey-Reference.com
Projected Lineups
[table id=PF02G47 /] [table id=PD02G47 /] [table id=PG02G34 /] [table id=OF02G47 /] [table id=OD02G47 /] [table id=OG02G47 /]The Hat Trick
Requiem For A Beard: Wednesday brought good news in Pantherland – Aaron Ekblad was clear to return to practice and gameplay. However, it also brought a shocking revelation:
A clean-shaven Aaron Ekblad: "I feel good and I feel prepared to play." #FlaPanthers pic.twitter.com/6kXC0D0Tqr
— Jameson Olive (@JamesonCoop) January 20, 2016
Yes, the Ekbeard is no more. As a bearded man myself, I would like to take a moment of silence to remember the follical glory of this beard. May it return soon (preferably in late April into May).
On The Mend: The last two days of practice revealed something else – The Panthers will be without captain Willie Mitchell this weekend. While the Captain is out, but it seems as though either Stephen Kampfer will remain in the lineup, or Dylan Olsen will be recalled to take Mitchell’s spot. Much has been made on this site, and by our writers, about the quality of Mitchell’s performance. It will be interesting to see, small sample size aside, what kind of effect his absence may have on the Panthers.
A Dozen A Piece: The Panthers welcome in the Chicago Blackhawks tonight, who are fresh off their first loss of 2016. The Blackhawks were stymied 2-1 by the Tampa Bay Lightning at Amalie Arena, ending a 12 game win streak. That length obviously matches the win streak the Panthers had before their little mini-skid of late. I would imagine, given the rarity of long winning streaks, that this is the first time two teams that had 12 game winning streaks in the same season have faced each other. I’m sure someone will confirm this at some point today.
The closest instance I can think of is what unfolded in the 1992 Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Chicago Blackhawks won 11 straight games (3 vs. St. Louis, 4 each against Detroit and Edmonton) in order to reach the Stanley Cup Final. They were then swept by Jaromir Jagr’s Pittsburgh Penguins, resulting in another 11 game winning streak (3 vs. NY Rangers, 4 vs. Boston). This stage is not quite that big. However, still pretty cool to think about, histortically speaking.
Closing Thoughts
In case you didn’t know, The Sunshine Skate is raising money for the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN) this season through #CatsForACause. Whether this is a personal issue to you, or you just want to offer support, please make a donation. Every dollar counts, and all of it goes toward helping connect a victim with the support they need.
I will once again be putting up an increased #CatsForACause pledge of $10 for a win and $20 for a shutout for tonight’s game. I will also pledge $10 if the Panthers score a power play goal.
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