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Vegas Golden Knights Vs. Florida Panthers Storylines

ByAndrew Steele-Davis|
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - FEBRUARY 28: Aaron Ekblad #5 of the Florida Panthers and Mark Stone #61 of the Vegas Golden Knights chase after the puck in the second period of their game at T-Mobile Arena on February 28, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Golden Knights defeated the Panthers 6-5 in a shootout. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - FEBRUARY 28: Aaron Ekblad #5 of the Florida Panthers and Mark Stone #61 of the Vegas Golden Knights chase after the puck in the second period of their game at T-Mobile Arena on February 28, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Golden Knights defeated the Panthers 6-5 in a shootout. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

The end is in sight as the Vegas Golden Knights bring a long road trip to an end in Florida against the Panthers.

Having not played at T-Mobile Arena since Jan. 11, the Vegas Golden Knights have had two road trips either side of the All-Star Break.

They are currently 2-1-0 on this current swing having dropped a tough one to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday, and it is imperative they bounce back against a Florida team also fighting to make the postseason.

It is all set up to be a mouthwatering feast of hockey between two teams determined to extend their respective seasons, and we have some storylines we want to share with you…

TAMPA, FL – FEBRUARY 4: The Vegas Golden Knights celebrate a goal against the Tampa Bay Lightning during the third period at Amalie Arena on February 4, 2020 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Scott Audette/NHLI via Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL – FEBRUARY 4: The Vegas Golden Knights celebrate a goal against the Tampa Bay Lightning during the third period at Amalie Arena on February 4, 2020 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Scott Audette/NHLI via Getty Images)

Storyline 1 – Craving for home comforts

Although they had the All-Star Break in-between, it has been a long time on the road for the Vegas Golden Knights who haven’t played on home ice since Jan. 11.

They have just one more road game to navigate before they can enjoy home comforts again, but it is going to be a tough one.

The Florida Panthers are a stellar 7-2-1 in their last 10 outings and are currently third in the Atlantic Division with a 29-17-6 record.

The Panthers boast a plethora of firepower and they have the weapons to hurt the Golden Knights and send them back to Vegas empty-handed.

SUNRISE, FL – JANUARY 16: Goaltender Sam Montembeault #33 of the Florida Panthers celebrates with teammate Brian Boyle #9 their 4-3 win over the Los Angeles Kings at the BB&T Center on January 16, 2020 in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Eliot J. Schechter/NHLI via Getty Images)
SUNRISE, FL – JANUARY 16: Goaltender Sam Montembeault #33 of the Florida Panthers celebrates with teammate Brian Boyle #9 their 4-3 win over the Los Angeles Kings at the BB&T Center on January 16, 2020 in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Eliot J. Schechter/NHLI via Getty Images)

Storyline 2 – Beware home ice advantage

As already mentioned, the Florida Panthers are a damn good hockey team and they are particularly formidable on home ice.

They are 16-8-2 at BB&T Center and 7-1-0 over their last eight home contests, while they rank first in the NHL in home goals with 103.

So, in a nutshell, the Panthers are an absolute juggernaut in their own barn and the Vegas Golden Knights are going to have to be at their best in order to be one of the rare road teams to steal a win in Florida.

SUNRISE, FL – JANUARY 16: Aleksander Barkov #16 of the Florida Panthers on the ice during warm ups prior to the start of the game against the Los Angeles Kings at the BB&T Center on January 16, 2020 in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Eliot J. Schechter/NHLI via Getty Images)
SUNRISE, FL – JANUARY 16: Aleksander Barkov #16 of the Florida Panthers on the ice during warm ups prior to the start of the game against the Los Angeles Kings at the BB&T Center on January 16, 2020 in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Eliot J. Schechter/NHLI via Getty Images)

Storyline 3 – No Barkov

One major positive for the Vegas Golden Knights heading into today’s showdown is the fact that Florida Panthers Captain Aleksander Barkov, who will miss his third straight game with a lower-body injury.

Barkov, who took part in morning skate today, is second on the Panthers in points with 54 (16 goals, 38 assists) and you can no longer call the center underrated.

The elite two-way forward is one of the best at what he does and his absence is a major boost for the Golden Knights.

COLUMBUS, OH – FEBRUARY 4: Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky #72 of the Florida Panthers protests a goal against him during a game against the Columbus Blue Jackets on February 4, 2020 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/NHLI via Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OH – FEBRUARY 4: Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky #72 of the Florida Panthers protests a goal against him during a game against the Columbus Blue Jackets on February 4, 2020 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/NHLI via Getty Images)

Storyline 4 – Duel of the goalies

Marc-Andre Fleury will go in goal again for the Vegas Golden Knights and the future Hall of Famer will hope to backstop his team to what would be a huge win.

For Florida, they will go with Sergei Bobrovsky who is finally starting to hot up with a 5-1-1 record and a .926 Save Percentage in his last seven starts.

And Bobrovsky also owns a 12-5-2 record with a .914 Save Percentage, and we all know what he’s capable of when he’s on song.

TORONTO, ON – FEBRUARY 03: Florida Panthers Right Wing Mark Pysyk (13) celebrates his hat trick with Florida Panthers Left Wing Frank Vatrano (77) during the NHL regular season game between the Florida Panthers and the Toronto Maple Leafs on February 3, 2020, at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, ON, Canada. (Photo by Julian Avram/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON – FEBRUARY 03: Florida Panthers Right Wing Mark Pysyk (13) celebrates his hat trick with Florida Panthers Left Wing Frank Vatrano (77) during the NHL regular season game between the Florida Panthers and the Toronto Maple Leafs on February 3, 2020, at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, ON, Canada. (Photo by Julian Avram/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Storyline 5 – Beware the Hat Trick

Mark Pysyk recorded his first career hat trick against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Monday, a fact made significant by the fact that it was the fifth hat trick scored by the Florida Panthers this year.

A simply incredible stat.

The Panthers lead the NHL in that category and it is something the Vegas Golden Knights will have to be wary of, unless they want to see the ice covered in hats.

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