PREGAME BY THE NUMBERS: Panthers host Blackhawks at 7:30PM

The Florida Panthers host the Chicago Blackhawks tonight, looking to get back on track after a loss to Detroit.

Puck drop is 7:30 p.m. EST at home, the third game of a three-game homestand.

Two teams headed in opposite directions in the standings

Florida sits 7th in the Eastern Conference at 8-5-2, holding WC2 with a +0 gap. That means the Panthers are level with the first team outside the playoff line, so every point matters.

Chicago is 4-10-1 and 15th in the West, 8 points behind the last qualifying team. The Blackhawks have lost three straight, and they haven't won on the road all season at 0-5-1.

The Panthers aren't exactly cruising either. They dropped a 5-3 decision to Detroit on Monday after back-to-back wins over Winnipeg, and an empty-net goal sealed it.

Both teams had one day of rest. Chicago is starting a three-game road trip here, so the Blackhawks arrive in Sunrise with the trip just beginning.

Florida owns the better goal differential at +3, while Chicago sits at -25. The Blackhawks are scoring 33 goals through 15 games and giving up 58, and that gap is the story of their season.

Florida also outshoots opponents at 28.7 shots per game to 24.3 against. Chicago is the reverse, 23.1 for and 30.0 against.

Special teams: a power play in trouble

Chicago's power play is last in the league at 10.6% (5/47), 32nd out of 32. That's a unit that has cashed in on five of 47 chances all year.

Florida's power play ranks 10th at 23.5%, and its penalty kill is 9th at 83.9%. Chicago's penalty kill is 15th at 79.6%.

The Panthers have allowed 2 shorthanded goals, so they can't get careless with the man advantage. Chicago has also given up 2 shorthanded goals, with none scored.

Goaltending: three options in Florida, and a shaky Chicago duo

Florida has leaned on Akira Schmid, who went 4-1-0 over his last five starts with a 2.40 GAA. He last started Oct. 30 against Winnipeg, with four days of rest before this game.

Jacob Markstrom started the loss to Detroit on Monday. His career numbers against Chicago are strong, 13-4-4 with a .914 save percentage over 22 games.

Chicago's Spencer Knight has started 12 games and is 4-8-0. He has started three of the last four games, including the loss to Colorado on Monday, and his career record against Florida is 0-3-0.

Arvid Soderblom has a .829 save percentage over three starts. He last played Oct. 31 in Boston, and the Blackhawks gave up five that day.

Florida has owned this series lately

This is game 2 of 2 between the teams this season, and there are no more meetings after tonight. Florida won the first one 3-2 on Oct. 25 in Chicago, with Lars Eller scoring the winner.

Last season the Panthers swept both games, outscoring Chicago 8-3. Florida has won four straight in the series and is 4-1-0 in the last five meetings.

Injury report: Barkov and Marchand on the list

According to the latest injury report, updated Nov. 3, Florida has Aleksander Barkov listed as injured reserve with a knee injury since Nov. 2. Brad Marchand is listed the same way, also a knee, since Nov. 2.

Jonah Gadjovich is listed on injured reserve with an upper-body injury since Oct. 17.

For Chicago, Patrick Kane is listed as day to day with an upper-body injury, and Bowen Byram is listed on injured reserve with an upper-body injury. Both are since Nov. 3.

Ryan Ellis has been listed on injured reserve since July 1.

Three things to watch

Chicago's power play. Five goals in 47 chances is the worst conversion rate in the league, and Florida's penalty kill ranks 9th.

Goaltending usage. Schmid has four days of rest and Markstrom one. Neither starter is confirmed, and the crease is a live question for Florida.

The shot gap. Chicago gives up 30.0 shots per game, while Florida allows only 24.3, so the Panthers can control the puck at home.

Florida goes into this one with a chance to stop a skid before it grows, and the Detroit loss is fresh. The Panthers have already beaten Chicago once this season, and the Blackhawks aren't walking in with a lot to hold onto.

But a team with a -25 goal differential still has to be respected, because Chicago can score when its power play finally connects. The Panthers close the homestand tonight, and they sit exactly on the WC2 line with a hard road schedule ahead.

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