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Pre-game reading: The Panthers are back home and feeling good

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Kelsey DiClaudio is defying expectations as the first woman to compete with the U.S. Development Sled Hockey Team.

-- Up top, Kelsey DiClaudio from Pittsburgh is defying expectations as the first woman to compete with the U.S. Development Sled Hockey Team. “As long as I can play hockey, I’m fine,” she says.

-- The Florida Panthers, after winning all five games of a season-defining road trip, return home to face the Edmonton Oilers tomorrow. Last night, they beat the Blues on a Vincent Trocheck goal with just 4.6 seconds remaining in regulation. “It felt like we won the Stanley Cup for just a second,” Trocheck told reporters afterward. “I think to do it with four seconds on the clock, we showed a lot of poise there in the third period.” (Miami Herald)

-- As the finally-healthy Panthers surge, their Atlantic Division rivals, the Ottawa Senators, are being forced to endure an injury nightmare. “I don’t remember, to be honest, seeing that many (injuries), in so little time. These are some of your better players too,” coach Guy Boucher said. “We’re not talking about our 12th or 13th forward, we’re talking about high-end players.” Perhaps Eugene Melnyk spoke too soon about his team making a deep playoff run. The way things are trending, the Sens are in danger of dropping out of the postseason picture altogether. (Ottawa Sun)

-- A pending unrestricted free agent on a team currently outside the playoff picture, Flyers d-man Michael Del Zotto knows he could be traded before March 1. “It happens every year. It’s not like it’s the first time. I’ve been traded before. It is what it is. It’s a business. You realize that pretty early in your career. I understand where I’m at as far as my contract, being a UFA this summer.” (CSN Philly)

-- Jarome Iginla is another pending UFA, and his Colorado Avalanche are definitely not going to make the playoffs. The 39-year-old winger would like to be traded, but with just seven goals in 57 games, it remains to be seen if there will be much of a market. “I’m not playing bad, but I still think I can get better,” he says. “There’s so many things that go into it and there are chances you’d like back, but I believe I’m going to get on a roll here in the next little bit to help us win some.” (Denver Post)

-- A list of the best trade-deadline additions in NHL history, starting with Ron Francis, who joined the Penguins from the Hartford Whalers late in the 1990-91 season and then proceeded to put up 17 points in 24 playoff games to help Pittsburgh to its first Stanley Cup in franchise history. Francis then stuck around to win another title in 1992, so that trade turned out OK for the Pens. (Sportsnet)

Enjoy the games!