Jets at Panthers
THE STORY: Kevin Dineen has made it a priority to ignite the team's power play. After registering a franchise-low 35 goals with the man advantage last season, the Panthers have netted 10 in as many games under the first-year coach. Defenseman Jason Garrison's power-play goal late in the second period stood up as the winner as the Panthers took two of three on their road trip with a 3-2 triumph over the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday. Florida is 10 for 43 with the man advantage, fifth-best in the NHL. The Panthers will look to unleash their now-potent power play against the Winnipeg Jets when they open a three-game homestand on Monday. The Jets have struggled while shorthanded this season, yielding 10 power-play goals. Geography aside, these two Southeast Division rivals couldn't have played closer games last season. Every meeting was decided by one goal - with the last three being settled beyond regulation. As an added twist, current Florida assistant Craig Ramsay served as the coach of the Atlanta Thrashers last season. When that franchise relocated in Manitoba, Ramsay didn't head north. Now, he'll meet up with many familiar faces in Sunrise, Fla.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, TSN (Winnipeg), FS Florida
ABOUT THE JETS (3-6-1): Winnipeg tested both ends of the spectrum in a pair of one-goal contests to start its seven-game road trip. The Jets outslugged the Philadelphia Flyers 9-8 on Thursday before dropping a 1-0 decision to the Tampa Bay Lightning two days later. Ondrej Pavelec seems to have made himself at home in Florida, winning all three career decisions with a slim 1.63 goals-against average.
ABOUT THE PANTHERS (6-4-0): Marco Sturm will become the first German-born player to compete in 900 NHL games Monday. The 33-year-old Sturm has yet to crack the scoresheet in nine contests with the Vancouver Canucks and Panthers this season. Sturm has fared well versus his opponent, however, mustering 15 career points in 22 games against the Thrashers. Jose Theodore has fared well versus his opponent, posting a 14-5-0 career mark with a 2.63 goals-against average.
OVERTIME:
1. Prior to the Jets being blanked by Tampa Bay, Nik Antropov collected two goals and four assists in his last three games. Antropov has recorded 28 points in 37 career games versus Florida.
2. Yaroslav Kosov, who was Florida's fifth-round pick in the 2011 draft, suffered a concussion and injured a disk in his back in a car accident Saturday in Russia. The 18-year-old is expected to be fine, although his rehabilitation could be lengthy.