New York @ Florida preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 17, 2018 ) Florida 2, NY Rangers 4

The Florida Panthers look to end a monster eight-game homestand on a positive note and avoid a sweep in the season series when they host the struggling New York Rangers on Saturday night. The Panthers are 3-2-2 during their season-high stay in Sunrise, Fla., after giving up three unanswered goals in the third period of a 5-2 setback against Colorado on Thursday.

“We talked about in the intermission being in good position, a 2-2 game going into the third period,” Florida defenseman Aaron Ekblad told reporters. “We didn’t get the job done. It’s been a recurring theme a few times this year, just not doing enough to win. We’ve got to get the pucks out at our blue line. That’s what’s costing us.” The Panthers, who have scored at least one power-play goal in 17 of their last 18 games, dropped a pair of decisions on the road against the Rangers earlier this season. New York has lost five of its last six contests after coughing up a three-goal lead in the third period before suffering a 4-3 shootout loss against Winnipeg on Sunday, but will be well rested coming into a two-game trip to the Sunshine State. “It would’ve been nice to play right away after that Winnipeg game, but it gives our injured guys a chance to get healthy again and not miss more games,” Rangers coach David Quinn told the New York Post. “It comes at a good time.”

TV: 7 p.m. ET, MSG2 (New York), FS Florida

ABOUT THE RANGERS (13-12-3): Forwards Mats Zuccarello (groin) and Vladislav Namestnikov (concussion), who missed the last five and three games, respectively, skated through a full practice Thursday and could play on the trip. Quinn told NHL.com about the scratch of defenseman Brady Skjei on Sunday: “It’s not a punishment, it’s more about just take a breath and let’s get back at it.” Center Mika Zibanejad boasts six of his team-best 25 points in the last four games and Chris Kreider scored two of his team-high 14 goals in the same span.

ABOUT THE PANTHERS (11-11-5): Forward Jonathan Huberdeau (298 career points) was kept off the scoresheet Thursday, falling one game short of Pavel Bure’s franchise record of seven straight multi-point contests. Evgenii Dadonov saw his four-game goal streak come to an end and owns 27 points - four shy of team leader Huberdeau - and one better than fellow forward Mike Hoffman. Huberdeau, Dadonov, Hoffman and captain Aleksander Barkov all posted a minus-3 rating in Thursday’s loss while Ekblad scored for the sixth time in 13 games.

OVERTIME

1. Rangers G Henrik Lundqvist improved to 25-10-3 with a .931 save percentage in 39 career games against the Panthers after the 4-2 victory Nov. 17.

2. Florida D Keith Yandle owns five assists in his last five games and is second on the team behind Huberdeau (24) with 21 overall.

3. New York F Ryan Strome has two goals and three assists in nine games since behind acquired from Edmonton.

PREDICTION: Panthers 4, Rangers 3