Panthers Begin Homestand With Matchup Against Rival Lightning
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SUNRISE (CBSMiami/SportsDirect) – Taking leads has not been a problem for the Florida Panthers this season, but keeping them has.
The Tampa Bay Lightning have found their offensive flow again after a brief slump and look to extend their point streak to four games when they visit the rival Florida Panthers on Monday.
The Lightning were held to a total of three goals during a three-game losing streak on the road before posting 13 over their last three contests, with all four forward lines contributing.
"As soon as we start playing our game – play fast defensively and transition from defense to offense – it builds confidence and every line picks it up," Tampa Bay right wing Nikita Kucherov told reporters after pushing his team-high total to 15 points with a goal and an assist in Saturday's 4-1 win over New Jersey.
The Panthers are in the middle of the pack in scoring and could be down another top forward as a pair close in on a return.
While Jussi Jokinen (knee) and Nick Bjugstad (hand) could be back in the lineup this week, veteran Jaromir Jagr suffered a groin injury in Saturday's 4-2 loss at Washington and is questionable.
Florida is 2-5-0 in its last seven contests but has won four of six at home and is warming up on the power play, converting three of its five opportunities in the last two games.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, FSN Sun (Tampa Bay), FSN Florida
ABOUT THE LIGHTNING (7-4-1): Kucherov, who has skated with captain Steven Stamkos and Ondrej Palat the last few games, has played a big part in Tampa Bay's uprising with three goals and five assists in the last four contests.
Stamkos is next with 14 points, including seven goals, while third-line center Valtteri Filppula is off to a strong start with four tallies and nine points.
Speedy forward Jonathan Drouin, who suffered a hit to the head in Tuesday's game against the New York Islanders and has missed the last two, skated on his own Saturday but is not likely to play in Florida.
ABOUT THE PANTHERS (5-6-1): Coach Gerard Gallant told reporters he did not think Jagr's injury was serious but said he was too sore to return on Saturday.
The 44-year-old right wing has managed just one point in his last five games while linemates Aleksander Barkov (no points, eight games) and leading scorer Jonathan Marchessault (12 points - one in the last three games) also have cooled off.
Defenseman Keith Yandle, who signed a seven-year contract in July, has notched five assists and shares the team lead with Marchessault at 37 shots but has yet to record his first goal of the campaign.
OVERTIME
- Tampa Bay D Victor Hedman (187) needs one assist to pass Dan Boyle for the most among blue-liners in club history.
- Florida waived Steven Kampfer on Sunday and recalled fellow D Jakub Kindl from Springfield of the American Hockey League.
- The Lightning recalled F Cory Conacher, who played one game with the club earlier in the season, from Syracuse of the AHL on Sunday to add depth.
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