The Florida Panthers will try to continue a playoff push at the expense of their cross-state rival.

 

Florida looks for its third straight win over the Tampa Bay Lightning when the Southeast Division rivals meet at BankAtlantic Center.

 

The Panthers, who have won five of their last six overall, start play with 65 points and are tied with the Bruins for 12th place in the East. Both Florida and Boston are six points behind Montreal for the eighth and final playoff spot, but the Panthers have played one fewer game.

 

With this contest, the Panthers close the season with nine of their final 15 games on home ice. "Right now, we're in the thick of the schedule," Florida coach Jacques Martin said. "We have three home games this week, and they're huge for us. It's up to us to make the most of it."

 

Florida also recorded its most lopsided win of the season with an 8-2 rout of the Lightning on Feb. 28 behind two goals each from Chris Gratton -- a former Tampa Bay player -- Olli Jokinen and Joe Nieuwendyk.

 

Nieuwendyk scored the lone shootout goal in Florida's last game, a 4-3 win Saturday over Washington.

 

"We can't control how the other teams play," said Jokinen, the Panthers' leading scorer. "But it was a big two points."

 

Jokinen has six goals and five assists in a six-game points streak against Tampa Bay.

 

Rostislav Olesz and Jay Bouwmeester scored 15 seconds apart in the second period against the Caps to erase a one-goal deficit. Bouwmeester, the third overall pick in the 2002 entry draft, has scored in consecutive outings for the first time in his 210-game NHL career.

 

Goaltender Roberto Luongo finished with 37 saves against the Capitals, and been in net for all four games against the Lightning this season, posting a 1.50 goals-against average and one shutout.

 

Tampa Bay is tied with New Jersey for sixth in the East with 76 points each. The Lightning defeated the New York Islanders 5-2 on Sunday for just its third win in nine games.

 

After Vincent Lecavalier tied the score at 2 with a goal in the final minute of the second period, Ruslan Fedotenko, Martin St. Louis and Fredrik Modin scored in an 8:16 span of the third to break open the game.

 

"We were having problems generating chances, having problems with their speed," Lightning coach John Tortorella said. "Obviously the second goal at the end of the period was key.

 

"That's what I like about what happened, we ended up finding a way."

 

Lecavalier also had an assist, giving him six goals and four assists in a seven-game points streak.

 

Vaclav Prospal added two assists to extend his points streak to six games. He has two goals and eight assists during the run.

 

 

Game Info: 7:00 pm EST Mon Mar 20, 2006

TV: Sun, FFLA

 

 

 

 

Keep making that push!!

They have been on fire lately, winning 5 out of their last 6 games. :cool Hopefully they can win most of their next games and make the playoffs. Competition is really tough though.

Nathan Horton back in the lineup tonight.

Ugh cats just got robbed on a goal.

1-0 cats at the intermission. the boys are playing with some great intensity. nice to see Gary Roberts back aswell

TB scores 9 seconds into the 2nd period. Silly goal to give up to give TB some momentum.

 

Stumpl!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Booooyackasha. Cats up 2-1

GOAL!!! STUMPEL FROM ROBERTS! WELCOME BACK ROBERTS!

 

Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy! Wow this team looks good with Roberts back!

steve montador goal #2 on the year! 3-1 cats. defense is stout tonight!

Two first goals of Panthers careers tonight! Montador!

 

GOAL!!!!

 

KOLNIK!

4-1 cats. yumm

STUMPEL!!!

Stumpl!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

 

PANTHERS GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAL!

 

5-1. as denny says... They are eatin em up!

I don't know about anyone else but this team has a good feeling about it.

Crap Montreal up 4-1 in the second period over the Caps.

Lightning score on PP. Amazing shot by St. Louis.

I don't know about anyone else but this team has a good feeling about it.

 

doesnt it?

 

I was talking to me friend Jesse(Agler) who does some radio for the Panthers...

 

he says the lockeroom is real upbeat and practices are enjoyable

 

if only we didnt suck for that whole month earlier eh?

sh*t. 5-3/.

I don't know about anyone else but this team has a good feeling about it.

 

doesnt it?

 

I was talking to me friend Jesse(Agler) who does some radio for the Panthers...

 

he says the lockeroom is real upbeat and practices are enjoyable

 

if only we didnt suck for that whole month earlier eh? I dream of what our record would be if we didnt have that crap November. On that note St Loooooey scores another one.

I don't know about anyone else but this team has a good feeling about it.

 

doesnt it?

 

I was talking to me friend Jesse(Agler) who does some radio for the Panthers...

 

he says the lockeroom is real upbeat and practices are enjoyable

 

if only we didnt suck for that whole month earlier eh? Yeah. But we can't not say it wasn't for lack of trying. Just an incredible spate of bad luck hit the team. But I really like the direction this team is going in. For the first time since 2000, it has felt good to be a Cats fan again.

 

 

Oy vey schmear. 5-4! Come on guys!

And quickly its a 1 goal game. sh*t sh*t!

Well, since I put it on it's 3-0 Lightning. Panthers need a goal, bad.

Shut off the game Mabdul.

 

Wow. I cannot believe it.

Roberto Luongo is looking very ordinary.

I'm determined to keep it on for experimental purposes. I apologize in advance for anything that happens.

Roberto needs to friggen focus dammnit.