• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers
• Game Tracker

Panthers aim for a victory in Colorado

Jan 18, 2012 - 3:46 PM (Sports Network) - The Florida Panthers will try for just their second win in 2012 when they visit the Colorado Avalanche for tonight's interconference clash at the Pepsi Center.

The Panthers have a 1-2-2 record in January but are still leading the Southeast Division with 51 points -- one more than second-place Washington.

Florida, which hasn't made the playoffs since 2000, recently lost two of its three games on a homestand after beating Vancouver in the opener of the residency. After losing 4-1 to Pittsburgh on Friday, the Panthers were able to salvage a point in Monday's shootout loss to Boston.

The Panthers have lost six straight on the road (0-3-3) and will try to post their first win as the guest since Dec. 8 in Boston when they open a three- game swing tonight. Florida is 10-9-3 as the road team this year compared to an 11-5-6 mark at home.

Colorado, meanwhile, is back home for just its second game as the host in its last nine trips to the ice. The Avalanche, who will play their next two games and three out of four on the road following tonight, are 13-11-0 as the host this season.

Like Florida, Colorado has struggled lately with just one win in its last five (1-3-1) trips to the ice and the Avalanche are currently just one point out of a playoff spot in the West.

The Panthers dropped a 3-2 decision Monday against the Bruins, as David Krejci scored the winner in the fourth round of the shootout to lift the defending Stanley Cup champions to victory.

Florida's Mikael Samuelsson lost control and failed to register a shot to start the final round, then Krejci ended the game by beating Scott Clemmensen on the forehand.

Jason Garrison and Shawn Matthias tallied for the Panthers in regulation, while Clemmensen was strong in defeat, stopping 33-of-35 shots.

"It was definitely one of those games that you knew would have a little bit of testosterone to it," said Florida head coach Kevin Dineen. "There was some jump out there, but unfortunately we weren't able to get that final goal."

Panthers defenseman Ed Jovanovski suffered a hand injury while fighting Boston's Daniel Paille in the first period on Monday. Jovanovski did not return to the game and is not with the team on this road trip.

Florida goaltender Jose Theodore could return tonight after sitting out the last five games with an injured right knee. Theodore is 14-8-4 with a 2.43 goals-against average this year and hasn't played since getting hurt against Montreal on New Year's Eve.

Meanwhile, Jean-Sebastien Giguere will likely get the call in net for Colorado tonight after Semyon Varlamov was tagged for six goals on 33 shots in the Avalanche's 6-1 loss Monday in Phoenix. Shane Doan and Boyd Gordon both beat Varlamov for a pair of goals in the rout, while Chuck Kobasew tallied in the first period to provide all of Colorado's offense.

The Coyotes went 1-for-3 on the power play in the blowout and didn't allow Colorado to land a single opportunity on the man advantage.

"When you go through a whole game when the other teams plays a perfect game it's something to be said for how they play," said Avalanche head coach Joe Sacco.

This marks the one and only scheduled meeting between the Panthers and Avs this season. Florida recorded an overtime decision in Sunrise on Dec. 7 of last year and has taken three of four in this series overall. Colorado has won two straight and four of the last five matchups in Denver.