Panthers at Rangers
The Florida Panthers begin life on the road Tuesday when they play the first of five games away from home against the New York Rangers. The Panthers will remain in the Metropolitan area with stops versus the New York Islanders (Wednesday) and New Jersey (Saturday) before heading to Finland to face Winnipeg as part of the 2018 NHL Global Series.
After notching its first victory on Friday, Florida ventured past regulation for the third straight outing the following night before dropping a 4-3 overtime decision to previously winless Detroit. Mike Hoffman scored versus the Red Wings to extend his point streak to four games (two goals, two assists), however the 28-year-old was kept off the scoresheet in all three encounters versus the Rangers in 2017-18. While the Panthers posted a 2-0-1 mark against New York last season, the Rangers have recorded at least one point in 13 of 15 matchups (10-2-3) versus Florida since the start of the 2013-14 campaign. Chris Kreider, who collected two goals and two assists against the Panthers last season, has unleashed 15 shots on goal in his last three outings overall.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, FS Florida, MSG (New York)
ABOUT THE PANTHERS (1-2-3): Florida allowed three goals to Detroit in the second period to raise its total to 14 during the middle session, a stunning number considering it has permitted just eight in the first and third combined. "We come out strong, come away with a lead, but we seem to let it slip a little bit in the second period," Hoffman told reporters. "We can have our foot on the gas, but maybe we're just letting up a little bit too much in the second." Michael Hutchinson (1-0-2, 3.75 GAA, .853 save percentage) has been confirmed to start on Tuesday with fellow goaltender James Reimer likely to be in net the following night.
ABOUT THE RANGERS (2-5-1): New York has received a jolt from its power play with at least one goal in each of the last three games and five total in its last six heading into a tilt with Florida, which sports the 30th-ranked penalty kill (66.7 percent). Mika Zibanejad scored with the man advantage against Calgary in a 4-1 loss Sunday and has three goals along with an assist in his last four games. Defenseman Neal Pionk has three power-play assists in his last two contests while Mats Zuccarello also set up a goal on Sunday to claim the team lead in assists (six) while pulling even with Kreider in points (six).
OVERTIME
1. New York G Alexandar Georgiev, who yielded seven goals on 39 shots in his lone NHL start this season, was recalled on Monday and will be in net to face Florida.
2. Each of the Panthers' six games have been decided by one goal.
3. The Rangers have recorded 30 or more shots on goal in each of their last three games and in five of eight contests this season.