Avs @ Panthers: Shaking it off in the Sunshine

The Avs road woes continue tread along. After losing to one of the league's worst teams in a shootout, the Avs are 0-2 on a crucial road trip and it's not going to get any easier.

The Panthers may have been one of the league's worst teams the last couple seasons, but they are just three points out of a playoff spot this season. The Panthers will be represented by goaltender Roberto Luongo and defenseman Aaron Ekblad at this year's all-star festivities. Both have proved to be strong additions for the Panthers this season. Ekblad especially has been shinning in his rookie campaign. The 18 year old leads the Panthers in both plus/minus (+10) and assists (19) and would likely be a shoe-in for the Calder Trophy if it wasn't for Filip Forsberg in Nashville. Ekblad and the Panthers will be looking to rebound from an 8-2 whipping in Winnipeg on Tuesday.

Let's hope the Avs can follow in the Jets' footsteps and put some pucks in the net.

LINES

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NOTES

- Don't expect many power play goals Thursday. Both teams rank in the bottom five of the NHL on the power play.

- You might not expect many goals at all actually. The Panthers have the fewest home goals in the NHL and the Avs road goal scoring is still less than stellar.

- If there are goals, you might expect them from one of the league's greatest goal-scorers. With two more goals, Jarome Iginla will pass Islanders legend, Mike Bossy and crack the top-20 goal scorers in NHL history.

GAME INFO

Game Time: 5:30pm, MT

TV: ALT