The defending Stanley Cup Champion Florida Panthers are hoping they're back to their consistent winning ways after a 2-1 shootout win ov

The Utah Hockey Club survived its four-game road trip after the Christmas break and can now enjoy a seven-game homestand — but don’t take that to mean it’s going to be easy. Its first opponents are the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers, who come to town Wednesday.

“I was really happy with that game tonight, I don’t know if you could tell,” said the Florida Panthers head coach, several minutes into a postgame press conference after a 2-1 shootout win over the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center on Tuesday night. As he should have been.

The new and improved — and heftier — Devils have earned Florida Panthers coach Paul Maurice’s respect after three intense games this season.