The Vancouver Canucks (0-1-2) face the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers (3-2) tonight at Amerant Bank Arena. 
Between injuries, illness and off-season turnover, the Panthers will have a much different line-up tonight than the one that clinched the cup on home ice last June. The Canucks will have a couple of changes in their line-up for tonight’s game, too.
Erik Brännström is expected to make his Canucks debut after being recalled from Abbotsford and travelling across the continent yesterday. The 25-year-old left-shot defenceman is expected to slot in for Derek Forbort, who has left the Canucks for personal reasons. With no morning skate, Brännström’s first time on the ice with the team will come during tonight’s warm-up. 
To make room for the blueliner on the roster, the Canucks sent Aatu Räty to the minors. That means one of Nils Aman or Daniel Sprong will draw into the line-up upfront; however, it will be closer to game time before we know line combinations for tonight’s game.
After Arturs Silovs played Tuesday, the Canucks are expected to turn to Kevin Lankinen in goal tonight. He was sharp in his lone appearance so far this season, stopping 29 of 31 shots in a 3-2 shootout loss to the Philadelphia Flyers last Friday night.
The search continues for the Canucks first win of the new season. The team is coming off a 4-1 loss in Tampa Bay on Tuesday in the opener of a four-game road trip.
Conor Garland scored Vancouver’s lone goal on a third-period power play. Garland now has a share of the team lead in goals (2) and points (3). He is the only Canuck to find the scoresheet in each of the team’s first three games.
The Canucks scored four goals in the first period of their season opener against Calgary last week. They have managed four goals in eight periods (plus a pair of overtimes) since.
The quartet of Elias Pettersson, Brock Boeser, JT Miller, and Quinn Hughes has combined for 3+5=8 through three games but collectively has just one point in the past two outings—a Boeser assist on Tuesday in Tampa.
Today is Jake DeBrusk’s 28th birthday. The summer free agent acquisition is still looking for his first goal as a Canuck.

The opponent

The Panthers have won back-to-back games following a 4-3 victory in Columbus on Tuesday. Sam Reinhart scored twice and had a helper and leads the Cats in goals (4), assists (4) and points (8). His eight points give him a share of second spot in NHL scoring in the early going. The West Vancouver native, who scored 57 goals last season, has a league-best two short-handed goals already. Reinhart has scored 11 goals in 16 career games against the Canucks.
Anton Lundell and Sam Bennett each have 3+2=5 and are tied for second in team scoring.
Despite winning more than they’ve lost so far this season, the Panthers have allowed three goals or more in each of their five games. Sergei Bobrovsky served as the backup on Tuesday in Columbus but will get the start tonight. The Russian veteran is sitting on 398 career victories. In short order, he will become the 14th goalie in league history to reach the 400-win mark.
Florida is without captain Aleksander Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk. Each has played just two games so far this season. Barkov is listed as out 2-3 weeks with a lower-body injury, while Tkachuk has an illness that is expected to keep him sidelined through the weekend.
Former Canuck Jonah Gadjovich leads the NHL with 25 hits. The Panthers, as a team, are third in the league in that category.
The Panthers raised their Stanley Cup banner in front of their home fans on opening night, October 8th; however, they have played their last four games on the road.
The Canucks and Cats meet again on December 12th at Rogers Arena. The Canucks prevailed in both games of the season series last season, including a 5-3 victory in South Florida.
Tonight’s referees: Brian Pochmara & Jean Hebert
Tonight’s broadcasters: John Shorthouse & Dave Tomlinson
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