Florida Panthers, Dominant Away, Return Home to Take on Senators
The Florida Panthers, currently holding the second-best record in the Eastern Conference and tied for the third-most points in the NHL, are set to take on the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday night in Sunrise, Fla.
With nine wins in their last ten games, the Panthers have demonstrated formidable strength, securing victory by more than one goal in all but two of those matches.
Their defense has consistently limited opponents to two or fewer goals in each of the past ten games.
Despite the Ottawa Senators’ recent record of 8-3-2 in their last 12 games, they remain entrenched in last place in the Atlantic Division.
The Panthers have achieved an unprecedented franchise milestone with 11 consecutive road victories.
The NHL regular-season record for successive road wins stands at 12 games, a feat accomplished by both the 2005-06 Detroit Red Wings and the 2014-15 Minnesota Wild.
“Everyone is enjoying themselves out there,” remarked Florida center Aleksander Barkov regarding his teammates’ spirits. “We maintain our intensity regardless of the score.”
The Panthers showcased their enjoyment on Saturday night with a remarkable 9-2 triumph over the Tampa Bay Lightning. Now, they gear up to face the Senators, a team they previously defeated 5-0 on Nov. 27, marking the first of four scheduled encounters between the two teams this season.
On the other hand, the Senators find themselves with the second-lowest point total in the Eastern Conference, likely facing a seventh consecutive season without a playoff berth.
Leading Ottawa’s goal-scoring chart with 25 goals is Brady Tkachuk, the younger sibling of Florida’s Matthew Tkachuk.
In their initial clash this season, both teams faced off in a penalty-laden affair, with each side racking up 15 infractions.
While the Panthers capitalized on 3 out of 7 power-play opportunities, Ottawa failed to convert on all 6 of theirs.
Brady Tkachuk found himself in the penalty box four times, earning a game misconduct in the third period and restricting his ice time to just 16:45. Nevertheless, he managed to match the game-high with seven shots on goal.
“I believe playing with emotion isn’t a negative,” remarked Brady Tkachuk. “When our team channels that emotion, we become formidable opponents. It demonstrates our dedication to winning and our support for each other.”
Tim Stutzle leads the Senators in both assists, with 38, and points, tallying 51.
However, Stutzle, a 22-year-old drafted third overall by the NHL in 2020, is not matching his performance from last season, where he scored 39 goals and recorded 90 points.
On a positive note, Stutzle contributed a goal and an assist in the Senators’ 4-2 triumph over the Lightning, snapping a two-game losing streak. Mathieu Joseph shone for Ottawa with two goals against his former team.
“I was pleased with our effort,” commented Ottawa coach Jacques Martin, as reported by NHL.com. “I thought we executed well and made smart decisions. They boast some potent forwards, and I felt we effectively contained them while also minimizing our time in the penalty box.”
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