Shawn Matthias netted his first goal of the season in Sunday's shootout loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning. He ended a 23-game goal drought, dating back to last season. Mathias has one goal and two assists in 12 games this campaign.

Shawn Matthias has two assists in 10 games this year. He hasn't scored a goal in 22 straight games dating back to last season. "I want to have a good year. There's 72 games left and right now in my head I'm starting fresh [Friday night]," said Matthias. "I've had a lot of good chances. Once that first one goes in a lot of weight will be off my shoulders." He scored a personal-high of 14 goals in 48 games last season.

Shawn Matthias (flu) was able to play Thursday. He didn't skate in the morning and rested in bed in order to try to get over a flu bug. Matthias logged 14:28 of ice time and posted one shot in Florida's 7-2 loss against Tampa Bay. He has no points and six shots in four games.

Shawn Matthias missed Thursday's morning skate because of a flu bug. He rested in bed to try to get over it, but he could still be available to play against the Lightning tonight. Still, you should probably consider him doubtful.

Shawn Matthias intends to be Florida's top-line center in 2013-14. He is preparing to battle with Panthers' prospects Nick Bjugstad, Aleksander Barkov and Vincent Trocheck to retain a scoring line spot. Matthias would like to stay at center and not shift to the wing, but our guess is that he'd accept whatever role the coaching staff gives him. He signed a two-year contract worth $3.5 million this past July after recording 21 points in 48 games last season.

Center Shawn Matthias, who was signed to a two-year/$3.5-million deal by Florida in the off-season, wants to emerge as the go-to guy for the Panthers in the coming season. Matthias did not have a big April last season, going without a goal in 12 games, but said he was playing through an injury. "The thing a lot of people don't know is I was pretty banged up near the end of the year there," he said. "I think the key is to stay healthy, and I'm going to come to camp ready to go. . I want to be the best player on the team." That title in the past was held by close friend and former housemate Stephen Weiss. The forward signed with the Detroit Red Wings as a free agent, leaving Matthias, at 25 and with 253 games, as the longest-tenured Florida player. "He's a special guy. He's been with the team for so long and he really cared about the Panthers. . I learned a lot from him," Matthias said of Weiss. "Saying that, I want to be the guy now. He's a good guy, he's my buddy, but at the same time, I'm not too sad to see him go. I want to take on that bigger role now."

The Florida Panthers have inked Shawn Matthias to a two-year/$3.5 million deal. Matthias was eligible to become a restricted free agent. He had 14 goals and 21 points in 48 games with Florida last season.

Shawn Matthias is hoping to sign a long-term contract with the Florida Panthers. "I think I opened eyes," Matthias said. "I want to prove that month of March wasn't a fluke. I want to show I'm a big-game player and help this team win. I want to carry this team; I don't want to be a guy that's just a passenger." He had 11 goals and 13 points in 16 March games. However, he followed that up with a 12-game goal scoring slump to end the 2013 campaign. He had 14 goals and 21 points in 48 games last season.

Florida Panthers extend qualifying offer to Shawn Matthias. Matthias will be a restricted free agent and the Panthers have the right to match any offer he receives once the market opens Friday. That said, it'd be pretty surprising if the Panthers let him get away following a breakout year in 2013. Matthias had 14 goals and 21 points in 48 games this season after posting 10 and 24 in 76 games the year before. We're a little wary of Matthias' red-hot, 11-goal March, but he's worth a shot later on in shallower formats.

With 14 goals this season, Shawn Matthias has shattered his previous career-high. That's pretty impressive given that this is obviously a shortened campaign. Matthias broke out in March, netting 11 goals in 16 games. Obviously that pace is unsustainable and once he cools down, he might not score another goal for what little is left of the 2013 campaign.