Mar 5, 2015; Sunrise, FL, USA; Dallas Stars goalie Jhonas Enroth (1) makes a save on a shot by Florida Panthers center Brandon Pirri (73) during a shootout at BB&T Center. The Stars won 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Robert Mayer-USA TODAY Sports

The Florida Panthers are back in action Saturday night against a team that already beat them this year, the Dallas Stars. Hopefully the Panthers picked up a couple good pointers from their first match-up, because the Panthers could really use a win.

But unfortunately, it doesn’t look like either Aleksander Barkov or Roberto Luongo will play tonight. Barkov has a hand/wrist injury that has him day-to-day, and is ruled out for at least tonight. Luongo isn’t injured, but Al Montoya will start instead tonight. Against a high-powered offense like Dallas, he’ll have to stop a ton of shots.

Gerard Gallant has his work cut out for him to replace Barkov, however. It looks like Nick Bjugstad will center Jonathan Huberdeau and Jaromir Jagr. Because of this, Vincent Trocheck will center a new line between Quinton Howden and Brandon Pirri. These two new lines bring an interesting new dynamics to the table: Gallant wants Trocheck and Howden’s speed to set-up good shooting opportunities for Pirri. If Bjugstad can keep up with Huberdeau and Jagr’s passing, that line could be as forceful as it is with Barkov.

The Stars are coming into this game on an excellent run, as they are 6-1-0 to start the season. Part of the formula has been great special teams (90.0% PK, 30.4% PP). Part of it has been thanks to the wickedly good duo of Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin (10 points apiece). In goal for the Stars is Kari Lehtonen, who is 3-0-0 with a .920 SV% and 2.35 GAA. Both he and Antti Niemi have been great to start the season, so great that neither can lay claim to the “starting job”. So far, the goalies have been yet another strong area for the Stars. The team will be without Jason Demers, however, who just had a two-game NHL suspension dropped on his head.

Without a doubt, the Florida Panthers need to improve on their recent performances in multiple facets. The defense needs to be better in the offensive zone, the passing needs to be crisper in every zone to prevent turnovers and odd-man rushes. The goaltending hasn’t been a problem to this point in the season, but until the Panthers can improve their possession they’ll need Montoya and Luongo to stand on their heads. There has been some rough hockey recently, but luckily the Panthers’ record hasn’t suffered that badly. That could change if the Panthers can’t find their higher gears, and this Stars match-up will be an intense test.

What beer are we drinkin’? Natural Light. Only because I happen to be in Gainesville as I write this.

What song are we singin’? Working Man – Rush. Simply put, the Panthers will have to out-work the Stars if they can’t out-skill them. The Panthers need a result, and they might have to grind one out.