Panthers at Jets
THE STORY: The Florida Panthers have rebounded from a 0-3-1 stretch with three consecutive victories. The Panthers can earn their first four-game win streak since March 2008 - and gain breathing room in their quest for the playoffs - when they visit the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday. Florida, which has also won four consecutive road games, leads the Washington Capitals by three points and the Jets by four in the Southeast Division. The Panthers are 3-0-1 against the Jets this season.
TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, FS-FL (Florida), TSN-Jets (Winnipeg).
ABOUT THE PANTHERS (30-20-12): Florida has failed in three other chances this season to win its fourth straight. The Panthers will have to break through without their leading scorer Kris Versteeg, expected to be out for a few more games with a lower-body injury. Top-six forward Tomas Kopecky also missed the Toronto game Tuesday with an undisclosed injury and is day-to-day. Stephen Weiss has stepped up the last two games with three goals and an assist and Tomas Fleischmann reached 20 goals for the second time in his career. Goaltender Jose Theodore has allowed 11 goals in his last six starts.
ABOUT THE JETS (30-27-8): The Jets are 3-1-2 with two games left on an eight-game homestand, but have just one win in the last four. Winnipeg has outshot opponents 73-41 the last two games, but came away with only a single point. The Jets have allowed 15 goals the last four games, but their top guys are producing. Defenseman Dustin Byfuglien and forward Evander Kane are on seven-game point streaks and Blake Wheeler has 13 points in his last seven contests. Grant Clitsome, claimed on waivers Monday, and injured Zach Bogosian could join the defense Thursday. Both are likely game-time decisions.
OVERTIME
1. The Panthers are 11-2-2 against Canadian teams and 5-1-1 playing in Canada this season.
2. Florida's Brian Campbell (43 points) and Byfuglien (42) are the second- and third-highest scoring defensemen in the league.
3. Winnipeg is 19-10-4 at home and Florida is a division-best 15-12-4 on the road.