Injury-Riddled Panthers Set To Host Surging Sharks
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SUNRISE (CBSMiami/SportsDirect) – With several regulars missing time, the Florida Panthers are hoping that the team's depth will shine through.
The Atlantic Division-leading Panthers must continue to fight the injury bug when they host the surging San Jose Sharks on Thursday.
The Panthers found a way to pull out a 2-1 shootout victory over Pittsburgh on Monday without five key regulars in the lineup and may have to go without them all again versus the Sharks, who are 4-1-1 in their last five contests.
Top center Aleksander Barkov (concussion) is closing in on a return while defensemen Willie Mitchell and Erik Gudbranson (upper body) still might be a few games away for the Panthers, who were 1-3-1 before Monday's triumph.
San Jose is coming off an impressive 4-2 victory at Tampa Bay that began a five-game road trip, improving to a Western Conference-best 19-8-2 away from home.
"It's a veteran group, and right now, there's a real good confidence level," Sharks coach Peter DeBoer told reporters. "We're feeling like we can win every game that we're playing."
Veteran Joe Thornton is red-hot, producing three goals and six assists during a six-game point streak for San Jose.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, CSN California (San Jose), FSN Florida
ABOUT THE SHARKS (30-20-5): Thornton has notched at least one point in 16 of his last 17 games to reach 50 overall – three behind captain Joe Pavelski for the team lead and two ahead of defenseman Brent Burns, who registered nine shots on Tuesday.
Matt Nieto and Joel Ward each recorded a goal and an assist against Tampa Bay as their line with Patrick Marleau combined for five points.
"It shows every night, any line can step up and be the game-changer and win games for us," Thornton told reporters. "It's been fun to be a part of."
ABOUT THE PANTHERS (33-18-6): Quinton Howden (upper body) also is day-to-day and fellow forward Brandon Pirri (ankle) is out a few weeks while No. 1 goaltender Roberto Luongo is expected to be rested in favor of Al Montoya for the second straight game.
Veteran Jaromir Jagr, who turned 44 on Monday, is tied for the team lead with 40 points and remains two goals shy of tying Brett Hull (741) for third place on the all-time list.
Jonathan Huberdeau also has 40 points but has been blanked the last two games.
OVERTIME
- Sharks D Marc-Edouard Vlasic has notched a point – all assists – in eight straight games, tying Burns' franchise record for blue-liners set earlier this season.
- Florida D Brian Campbell is one assist shy of 400 for his career and has recorded four points in his last four games.
- Marleau is scheduled to play his 1,385th game, which will move him past Larry Robinson for 39th in NHL history.
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