Panthers at Hurricanes
The Florida Panthers hope to continue their recent success on the road when they visit the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday. Florida has won two straight away from home, scoring a total of eight goals against New Jersey and the New York Rangers on back-to-back nights.
The Panthers' offense was absent on Friday, however, as the club had its bid for its first three-game winning streak of the season thwarted with a 2-1 home loss to San Jose. Carolina will be making a brief stop at PNC Arena for its only home contest during a span of nine games. The Hurricanes fell to 0-1-1 during the stretch with a 5-1 setback against the Rangers on Friday. Justin Williams scored the lone goal for Carolina, giving him two in his last three games and 700 points for his career.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, FSN Florida, FSN Carolinas
ABOUT THE PANTHERS (10-13-2): Radim Vrbata returned to the lineup Friday after missing five games with facial injuries and registered two shots in 13 minutes, 16 seconds of ice time. The 36-year-old Czech, who has reached double digits in goals in each of the last eight seasons, is in the midst of an 11-game drought. Jonathan Huberdeau, who leads the team with 25 points, has scored only one goal over his last eight contests.
ABOUT THE HURRICANES (10-9-5): Jeff Skinner's goal-scoring drought was extended Friday as he failed to tally for the eighth straight game. The 25-year-old, who last scored on Nov. 13 against Dallas, leads the team with nine goals and is on the verge of reaching double digits for the eighth time in as many NHL seasons. Teuvo Teravainen leads the Hurricanes with 21 points but has been kept off the scoresheet in each of his last three contests following a six-game streak during which he notched five goals and seven assists.
OVERTIME
1. Panthers C Vincent Trocheck leads the team with 10 goals but has scored just one in his last five contests.
2. Carolina begins a six-game road trip Tuesday in Vancouver.
3. Florida D Keith Yandle has received at least 21 minutes of ice time in 24 of his 25 games this season.