FLORIDA PANTHERS

The Panthers started their home game with two of three wins over the Dallas Stars before falling to the Carolina Hurricanes in the shootout on Saturday.

Florida, now second in the division behind Tampa Bay with a 13-4-3 record, recently showed a propensity to come back after wiping out two-goal third-period deficits in each of their last two games. The Panthers’ clash against Carolina, which follows them by just two points, was particularly entertaining, with both going into overtime and the Panthers coming back by two points in each game.

Florida starts the week with a rematch against Alex Nedeljkovic and Carolina tonight and will later travel to Nashville for games Thursday and Saturday. Panthers / Hurricanes Part Four is scheduled for Sunday in Raleigh.

ask us how we feel rn pic.twitter.com/gDuasceVZt

– Florida Panthers (@FlaPanthers) February 26, 2021

SYRACUSE CRUNCH

The Crunch only played one game last week as Wednesday’s scheduled game against Rochester was moved to tonight under COVID-19 protocols. They lost their only outing to Utica on Saturday by a score of 4-2 and are now 1-4-1 this season. Defenseman Brady Keeper was the only Panthers prospect to make the scoresheet on Saturday with an assist and a career-high seven shots on goal. Samuel Montembeault suffered the loss despite 27 saves and a saved penalty shot.

There have been a handful of Crunch deals involving Panthers prospects in the past week. Forward Grigori Denisenko and defenseman Riley Stillman are now part of the Panthers’ NHL taxi team, while veteran forward Scott Wilson is on the way. Additionally, the Crunch recalled Greenville forward Greg Meireles and the Panthers loaned rookie defenseman Max Gildon, who had yet to play this season, to the AHL Bakersfield.

There was a penalty shot.

Monty said no. #UTIVsSYR pic.twitter.com/aqZBpde6tU

– Syracuse Crunch (@SyracuseCrunch) February 28, 2021

GREENVILLE SWAMP RABBITS

The Swamp Rabbits won two of their three games against the Allen Americans last week, with an offense that had suffered back-to-back shutouts exploding for at least four goals in each game.

Prior to his recall to Syracuse, Meireles scored twice and currently sits second on the team with 19 points (6g, 12a) in 24 games. Another Panthers prospect Patrik Bajkov has also scored twice and now has 11 points (6g, 4a) in 14 outings. Goalkeeper Ryan Bednard made a 42-save performance in a 4-1 win on Thursday.

The Swamp Rabbits, who sit fourth in the Eastern Division with a 12-9-7 record, will play a three-for-three at Rapid City starting Friday.

NOT YET

Greg Meireles reduces the lead to 1 pic.twitter.com/SyEJOZlk6F

– Greenville Swamp Rabbits (@SwampRabbits) February 27, 2021

IN OTHER NEWS

• Jake Bean became the last former Checker to score his first NHL goal as he scored on the power play against the Panthers on Saturday. Earlier in the week against Tampa, Bean led the team with seven shots on goal.
  

  A special moment for Jake Bean 🙏 pic.twitter.com/Xg6MwC2nUu

  – Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) February 28, 2021

• Later in the same game, Warren Foegele scored his fourth goal of the season to put the Canes ahead late before Florida responded again.
  

  Warren when we needed him! pic.twitter.com/AMD9AAlQoP

  – Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) February 28, 2021

• Finally, from Saturday’s match, Martin Necas won the shoot-off.
  

  We had to slow this one down to really appreciate it. 👀 pic.twitter.com/ccbSE6nYgw

  – NHL (@NHL) February 28, 2021

• Morgan Geekie’s stint in the AHL was short-lived as the Hurricanes called him back following the Player of the Week’s performance last week. He hasn’t played for Carolina since that promotion.
• On the heels of his gold at the World Junior Championships with Team USA, Spencer Knight, a 2019 first-round pick and future Panthers goaltender, is enjoying another outstanding season at Boston College.
  

  In his last 25 starts, @ slknight30 is 22-1-2. His next start will be the 50th of his career.#Challenge accepted // #ForBoston🦅 pic.twitter.com/nYANrAxJtT

  – BC Hockey (@BCHockey) February 24, 2021

• Julien Gauthier appeared to score his second goal of the season for the New York Rangers on Friday, but credit ultimately went to another former Checker, Phil Di Giuseppe, on the deflection.
  

  Second goal of his career.

  First in front of our fans. 🥺 pic.twitter.com/YJQPkhzP02

  – New York Rangers (@NYRangers) February 27, 2021

• Support player for the Checkers’ Calder Cup team Nick Schilkey enjoys a bigger role for the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins as he leads the team with eight points (2g, 6a) in seven matches. More information on how his experience in Charlotte prepared him for this step forward in this Citizen’s Voice article.
  

  .@ Schilks007 has benefited from an expanded role with the @WBSPenguins lead the team to points.

  : @CVPiccotti | https://t.co/kIlBgLzPpD pic.twitter.com/DptQyeOvD5

  – American Hockey League (@TheAHL) February 28, 2021

• After spending last season and the start of this season in the KHL, Ryan Murphy continues his successful return to the AHL with Henderson. His 10 points (3g, 7a) in nine games lead defensemen in the league and tie him for second.
• Victor Rask appears to be enjoying a rebounding season in Minnesota. After scoring 22 points in 92 games over the past two seasons, he has nine in 16 for the Wild this season.
• Veteran defenseman Tommy Cross, a Panthers prospect who was an assistant captain at their Springfield branch last season, is now on loan with the Providence Bruins.
• Former Checker Jacob Pritchard, who had yet to play this season, joined the ECHL Wheeling Nailers last week.