Los Diablos: New Jersey Devils @ Florida Panthers ... Rostislav Olesz Skates ... Standings, Scoreboard Watch & Review.

The Devils are in town, just another tough team the Panthers have to play in the coming weeks.

New Jersey, 2-0 against the Cats this season, are atop the Atlantic Division and playing very well. The Devils have won four straight and have won their past five games away from that monstrosity in Newark.

According to Rich Chere at the Newark Star-Ledger, both Brendan Shanahan and Paul Martin are out for the Devils. Florida is going with its same lineup.

-- Rostislav Olesz smiled Sunday when I saw him in the Florida locker room. ''I'm skating,'' he whispered as I spoke to Jay Bouwmeester.

Yes he is.

Olesz, who had sports hernia surgery a few weeks ago, was back on the ice today before practice and stayed on for a bit while the team went through the morning skate. Will have more from Rusty once I speak to him tonight. Will also get an update on his status from JM the GM.

-- Last night: The Panthers get a little help from the Islanders, who hold Pittsburgh to one point as the Isles win in a shootout. Penguins now four back of the Panthers in the playoff hunt ... Panthers got lots of love from St. Loo, the Blues beating the Rangers on Versus 2-1. Rangers have now lost eight straight away from Gotham ... The Thrashers did it again; a night after beating the Ducks down on the Pond, Atlanta goes to Hollywood and drops the Kings in a shootout thriller 7-6.

-- Tonight's Games (and the teams Florida is rooting for):

Bruins @ Canes, 7: All about the Bs. Carolina is three points back 'o the Cats.

Sabres @ Leafs, 7: Panthers are tied with Bison, so, Go Leafs Go.

Blackhawks @ Lightning, 7:30: Doesn't really matter, although the Panthers would like to see a happy Chicago team come Thursday not a surly one.

Sens @ Avs, 9:30: Senators ae playing well and might get themselves back into this thing. So, an Avs win wouldn't be the worst thing in the world.

Luongos @ Keenans, 9:30: It's the Trade Game live from Calgary. Doesn't matter to the Panthers. So it's who do you love? Roberto Luongo or Mike Keenan? Hubba hubba, hubba, who do you love?

Oil @ Sharks, 10:30: Western Conference clash of no significance to the Panthers.

Today's Standings courtesy of Gary Bettman

1	Boston Bruins	NE	57	39	10	8	86	192	130	19-4-4	20-6-4	5-2-3	Lost 4
2	New Jersey Devils	ATL	57	37	17	3	77	179	141	19-10-1	18-7-2	8-2-0	Won 4
3	Washington Capitals	SE	57	36	16	5	77	191	163	22-4-1	14-12-4	6-2-2	Won 2
4	Philadelphia Flyers	ATL	55	30	16	9	69	179	161	16-7-3	14-9-6	6-4-0	Won 2
5	Montréal Canadiens	NE	57	30	21	6	66	172	172	17-6-4	13-15-2	3-7-0	Lost 1
6	New York Rangers	ATL	58	30	22	6	66	144	162	17-9-3	13-13-3	2-6-2	Lost 3
7	Florida Panthers	SE	56	28	20	8	64	160	155	15-7-5	13-13-3	7-3-0	Lost 1
8	Buffalo Sabres	NE	57	29	22	6	64	168	159	16-11-2	13-11-4	5-4-1	Lost 1
9	Carolina Hurricanes	SE	57	28	24	5	61	146	166	14-12-1	14-12-4	6-4-0	Won 1
10	Pittsburgh Penguins	ATL	58	27	25	6	60	173	178	15-12-2	12-13-4	4-4-2	Lost 2
11	Ottawa Senators	NE	55	22	25	8	52	137	155	12-9-5	10-16-3	6-3-1	Won 5
12	Toronto Maple Leafs	NE	56	21	25	10	52	171	206	10-10-6	11-15-4	4-3-3	Won 1
13	Tampa Bay Lightning	SE	56	19	26	11	49	142	176	10-11-7	9-15-4	4-5-1	Lost 1
14	Atlanta Thrashers	SE	58	21	32	5	47	172	204	9-17-2	12-15-3	4-6-0	Won 2
15	New York Islanders	ATL	56	17	33	6	40	137	189	11-12-4	6-21-2	5-4-1	Won 1

Comments

[season ticket holder since day one]

have love Luongo over Keenan and hope when he is unrestricted that he shows he misses the family in South Florida

[Bo]

I don't like Luongo or Keenan, they both got into a personal spat and the Panthers fans paid the price. Keenan took Luongo to arbitration and Luongo started making primadonna demands. Thank goodness the team is on new track and we can leave those two in the past.

[mr. obvious]

I liked Louie, however goaltending is rarely a weakness on any Florida Panthers team.

Pizza Time hasn't been the same lately though.

[young newman]

no luongo + no jokinen = possible 09 playoff appearance?

[Pat]

Thanks for the fixture and standings updates, G.

It's handy because I've already started with the playoff beard. No shaving while the Cats are in the top 8!