ASK A PANTHER | D KEITH BALLARD

Topic: The Panthers have three members of the University of Minnesota's 2001 national championship team on their roster. What's it like being reunited with Jordan Leopold and Jeff Taffe?

Answer: The guys definitely give it to us for that. If the three of us are talking -- or even just two of us -- someone will come in and say something about it. But it's great. We played one year together at Minnesota and had great success there. The three of us kept in touch over the years. We never thought we would be together at this level though.

CAT CONFIDENTIAL | WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE HALLOWEEN COSTUME YOU SAW THIS YEAR?

Forward Nathan Horton: There were a lot of good ones at our party, but I thought the best was Gregory Campbell dressed as [former Panther] Anthony Stewart. He had all the gear on. It was funny.

Defenseman Jordan Leopold: I love it when adults dress up because you can be anything you want, someone you aren't and no one knows who you are. Two years in a row I saw Venus and Serena Williams and didn't know who it was.

Forward Michael Repik: Gregory Campbell as Anthony Stewart was real funny, but Cory Stillman and his wife going as the Williams sisters was great.

Goalie Scott Clemmensen: I saw a lot of great ones in St. Louis in the stands, but I don't want to comment on my favorite one from there. I might get in trouble. But I was impressed with the level of commitment our guys put in at the party. They went all out it. It was tough to choose between the Williams sisters and Anthony Stewart.

FLORIDA PANTHERS WEEK AHEAD

PANTHERS @ BRUINS -- 7 P.M. THURSDAY (FSNF)

Player to watch: Center Patrice Bergeron has enjoyed a good run against the Panthers in his career and scored two goals with an assist in four games last season. Bergeron led the Bruins in scoring through their first 15 games with five goals and four assists.

Analysis: The Bruins are off to a disappointing start and started the month with three consecutive losses. Boston started off the season with five consecutive home games and didn't get the desired result in three of them. In two of the losses, the Bruins got beat by a combined 10-2. The Bruins won three of four against the Panthers last season.

Series: Panthers lead 28-25-6.

ISLANDERS @ PANTHERS -- 7 P.M. SATURDAY (NO TV)

Player to watch: Center John Tavares was the first pick of the 2009 draft, and the kid hasn't disappointed Islander fans hoping for a star. The 19-year-old made the team out of training camp and scored five goals with six assists in his first 15 games with the Isles.

Analysis: The Islanders aren't as bad as many expected them to be this season, with the team winning four in a row at one point with wins over Washington, the Rangers, Buffalo and Edmonton. The Islanders won two of four games against the Panthers last season. In 2007-08, Florida swept the four-game series.

Series: Panthers lead 31-27-8.

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