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Pregame: Sharks @ Panthers

Recent history will not be on the Panthers’ side tonight when they host the Sharks at BankAtlantic Center. Florida has not won against San Jose since the 1999-2000 season and lost all five games against Pacific Division opponents last year.

Those matchups were all on the road last season, and all five are at BankAtlantic Center this year. Still, the Sharks (8-4-0) have the NHL’s top power-play unit and the league’s reigning Most Valuable Player in center Joe Thornton.

”It’s going to be a great test for us,” Panthers goaltender Alex Auld said. “They’re the type of team that when they’re hot and they’re going, they’re dangerous.”

Staying out of the penalty box will be critical for both teams. The Sharks have converted 28 percent of their power plays into goals, and the Panthers rank second in the league at 24.6 percent.

Even in 5-on-5 situations, though, the Sharks have a potent offense, largely because of their depth. Thornton is one of six San Jose players with 10 or more points this season. Right wing Milan Michalek leads the team with seven goals, and center Patrick Marleau has six goals.

”You’ve got a one-two punch with [Thornton] and then Marleau coming in behind him,” Panthers coach Jacques Martin said. “He’s a top-notch center as well. So they really have two great offensive lines, and their third line has been very productive. They move the puck extremely well.”

The puck movement begins with Thornton, whose 13 assists are tied for second in the NHL. Though Thornton did score 29 goals last season with the Bruins and Sharks, Panthers defensemen said they were far more concerned about his ability to set up his teammates.

Defenseman Mike Van Ryn said the Panthers will need to use good body position to keep Thornton to the outside.

”He protects the puck well, so I don’t think you can overcommit on him,” Van Ryn said. “You have to play off him a little bit and have a good stick.”

——-Notes——-

BERTUZZI STILL OUT

Right wing Todd Bertuzzi continues to be hampered by a nagging back injury, and the team gave no indication Monday when he might return.

Bertuzzi has been out since sustaining back spasms against Washington on Oct. 18. He received an anti-inflammatory shot Thursday, but Martin said Monday that Bertuzzi still was in pain. ”It hasn’t been better,” he said.

Bertuzzi met Monday with a back specialist and discussed other unspecified treatment options in an afternoon conference call with Martin, a team doctor and his agent, Patrick Morris. But a team spokesman said Monday evening that there was no update on Bertuzzi’s status, and Morris did not return a phone call placed to his office.

If the injury is nothing more than spasms, surgery is not a likely option.

ELSEWHERE

• Van Ryn skated Monday and said he expects to play tonight. He missed Saturday’s game against the Islanders with a bruised shoulder but said the soreness had subsided enough for him to play through it.

• Martin said he will likely keep center Olli Jokinen and left wing Ville Peltonen together on the top line for the time being.

[HERALD]

I will be heading out to tonights game. Will have some pictures updated tomorrow for everyone. GO CATS!!!