Scouting the Panthers

Tonight’s Kings opponents, the Florida Panthers, are coming off a 5-3 loss to Anaheim last night and have lost four of their last five. Scoring had been a problem for the Panthers of late — they scored three goals in three games last week — but they have scored three regulation goals in each of their last two games. Here’s what Terry Murray had to say about the Panthers this morning…

MURRAY: “They’re a very aggressive forecheck team. They come with a lot of speed. The D are really pinching hard. And their transition game is very similar to the Pittsburgh Penguins, actually. They go up to the post wingers on the blue line, and come with a lot of speed with their center from underneath, looking for those little tap-back return passes, to enter with that kind of speed. So we have to have great awareness on that. They’ve got Weiss, a real good, skilled young player, who can put numbers up, so we’ve got to make sure we’re covering that middle here tonight on a consistent basis.”

Here’s how the Panthers are expected to skate tonight, followed by their full lineup…

Shawn Matthias-Stephen Weiss-Michael Frolik
David Booth-Mike Santorelli-Steve Bernier
Chris Higgins-Marty Reasoner-Radek Dvorak
Darcy Hordichuk-Steve Reinprecht-Michal Repik

Dmitry Kulikov-Brian McCabe
Keaton Ellerby-Dennis Wideman
Jason Garrison-Mike Weaver

Tomas Vokoun/Scott Clemmensen

PANTHERS ROSTER
4 — Keaton Ellerby — D
5 — Bryan Allen — D
6 — Dennis Wideman — D
7 — Dmitry Kulikov — D
9 — Stephen Weiss — C
10 — David Booth — LW
13 — Mike Santorelli — C
14 — Radek Dvorak — RW
16 — Darcy Hordichuk — LW
18 — Shawn Matthias — C
19 — Marty Reasoner — C
21 — Chris Higgins — LW
24 — Bryan McCabe — D
26 — Steve Bernier — RW
27 — Steve Reinprecht — C
32 — Michal Repik — RW
37 — Bill Thomas — RW
43 — Mike Weaver — D
52 — Jason Garrison — D
61 — Cory Stillman — LW
67 — Michael Frolik — C

29 — Tomas Vokoun — G
30 — Scott Clemmensen — G

Injured reserve:
12 — Byron Bitz — RW
85 — Rostislav Olesz — LW

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