Panthers News

EASTERN ATLANTIC

Carter Verhaeghe • C • Panthers

Carter Verhaeghe Wins it for Florida on Tuesday

Florida Panthers left winger Carter Verhaeghe had two goals late in the third period to help the Panthers defeat the Detroit Red Wings 4-3 on Tuesday night. His team was trailing 3-2 until Verhaeghe tied it up with 1:30 left in the third period, then just 75 seconds later, he had the game-winning goal for Florida. Verhaeghe is now having another solid season with 19 goals and 27 assists in 63 games this season.

Yesterday

Sam Reinhart • C • Panthers

Sam Reinhart Out Tuesday

Florida Panthers forward Sam Reinhart (undisclosed) won't play on Tuesday against the Detroit Red Wings. He is dealing with an unspecified health issue and must sit out his first game of the season. Even with the Panthers struggling this season, Reinhart has remained productive on the offensive end, scoring 28 goals and 59 points in 63 games. Florida's frontline is also without Brad Marchand (lower body), allowing Luke Kunin and Vincent Hinostroza to enter the lineup. However, the two will skate in fourth-line roles, making them unlikely to offer fantasy value.

Yesterday

Brad Marchand • LW • Panthers

Brad Marchand to Miss "Weeks"

Florida Panthers winger Brad Marchand (lower body) could be done for the rest of the season. Panthers head coach Paul Maurice said Monday that Marchand is expected to miss "weeks." The veteran forward may need surgery to fix a lingering lower-body injury. He has played through the issue for a couple of months. The Panthers are 11 points from a playoff spot, so shutting down Marchand for his long-term health makes sense. Marchand has notched 54 points (27 goals, 27 assists) in 52 games during his first full season in Florida.

2 days ago

Matthew Tkachuk • LW • Panthers

Matthew Tkachuk Dishes Out Three Assists Sunday

Florida Panthers winger Matthew Tkachuk tallied three assists in a high-scoring 5-4 loss to the New York Islanders on Sunday. Tkachuk kicked things off with a power-play assist before registering two even-strength helpers, becoming the third player in Panthers history with 10-career three-assist games. After missing the start of the season due to offseason surgery, Tkachuk has posted five goals and eight assists in 13 games. 10 of his points have come in the last eight contests, showing that Tkachuk has hit top gear after dealing with some rust. He also played well in the Olympics, contributing six assists in six games during Team USA's road to glory.

Mar 2

Uvis Balinskis • D • Panthers

Uvis Balinskis Out Sunday

Florida Panthers defenseman Uvis Balinskis (undisclosed) won't play on Sunday against the New York Islanders, Julian Gaudio of The Hockey News reports. The Latvian blue-liner was hurt during Friday's tilt against Buffalo, and Panthers head coach Paul Maurice labeled Balinskis day-to-day on Sunday. Balinskis has registered 14 points (five goals, nine assists), 61 shots, 37 blocks, and 63 hits in 50 games this season. Dmitry Kulikov (upper body) was activated from long-term Injured Reserve on Sunday and is set to take Balinskis' spot in the lineup. Kulikov is a stay-at-home defenseman and doesn't offer much fantasy value.

Mar 1

Dmitry Kulikov • D • Panthers

Dmitry Kulikov Comes Off Injured Reserve

Florida Panthers defenseman Dmitry Kulikov (upper body) has been activated from long-term Injured Reserve, Julian Gaudio of The Hockey News reports. In a corresponding move, the Panthers placed forward Cole Schwindt (lower body) on Injured Reserve. Kulikov will be available to return to action on Sunday against the New York Islanders. He has been out for 57 games after sustaining an upper-body injury in Florida's second game of the season. While Kulikov doesn't have significant fantasy value, he will bring experience and physicality to the Panthers' lineup. Last season, Kulikov finished with 13 points (four goals, nine assists), 64 shots, 71 blocks, and 114 hits in 70 appearances.

Mar 1

Uvis Balinskis • D • Panthers

Uvis Balinskis Exits Early Friday Night

Florida Panthers defenseman Uvis Balinskis (undisclosed) was unable to finish Friday's 3-2 loss to the Buffalo Sabres. He exited the game with an undisclosed injury in the second period, finishing with 8:38 of ice time. Balinskis recorded two shots and one block in the contest. The team plans to evaluate Balinskis on Saturday. The Latvian blue-liner has logged 14 points (five goals, nine assists), 61 shots, 37 blocks, and 63 hits in 50 outings across the season. If Balinskis can't suit up on Sunday against the New York Islanders, the Panthers will likely turn to Tobias Bjornfot to fill in for him.

Feb 28

Sergei Bobrovsky • G • Panthers

Sergei Bobrovsky Sharp In Victory

Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky had a quality performance in Thursday's 5-1 victory against the Maple Leafs. The veteran goalie stopped 28 of 29 shots on goal and allowed just one goal in the contest, which was a power-play goal in the opening minute of the third period by Maple Leafs center John Tavares. Bobrovsky has struggled throughout the 2025-26 season, with totals of a 3.08 goals-against average and .874 save percentage through 41 appearances, but the two-time Vezina trophy-winning netminder is worth rostering across standard formats.

Feb 27

Brad Marchand • LW • Panthers

Brad Marchand Scores Two Goals in Victory

Florida Panthers winger Brad Marchand scored two goals in Thursday's 5-1 victory against the Maple Leafs. Marchand opened the scoring in the first period to give the Panthers the lead, and he added an empty-net goal with just over three minutes remaining in the contest while finishing with a plus-two rating. Marchand now has 27 goals through 47 games, which ties him for the team lead, while the veteran forward has totaled 52 points on the season and remains a valuable option across all fantasy leagues.

Feb 27

Daniil Tarasov • G • Panthers

Daniil Tarasov Available for Panthers

Florida Panthers goaltender Daniil Tarasov (lower body) will be available on Thursday when the team continues its season against the Toronto Maple Leafs, David Dwork of The Hockey News reports. Tarasov has used the Olympic break to recover from a lower-body injury he suffered on Feb. 5 against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Before the break, Tarasov suffered back-to-back defeats, but he has been solid overall as Sergei Bobrovsky's backup. Across 18 starts, Tarasov has posted an 8-8-2 record, a 2.83 goals-against average, and a .899 save percentage. With the Panthers facing a back-to-back set in their return to action, Tarasov is poised to get some work next week.

Feb 21

Evan Rodrigues • C • Panthers

Evan Rodrigues Set to Return Next Week

Florida Panthers forward Evan Rodrigues (illness) will be available on Thursday against the Toronto Maple Leafs, David Dwork of The Hockey News reports. Just before the Olympic break, Rodrigues missed his first game of the season due to illness. The 32-year-old has contributed 10 goals and 15 assists in 58 outings. However, Rodrigues has made it on the score sheet just 10 times since the start of December, making him an unreliable fantasy option. He has gone five consecutive games without a point against his hometown Maple Leafs.

Feb 21

Aaron Ekblad • D • Panthers

Aaron Ekblad Expected to Play Thursday

Florida Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad (undisclosed) is expected to play Thursday against the Toronto Maple Leafs, David Dwork of The Hockey News reports. An undisclosed health issue kept Ekblad out of Florida's last game before the Olympic break. Having Ekblad back is a big boost for the Panthers, who remain without Seth Jones (upper body) and Dmitry Kulikov (upper body) on defense. Tobias Bjornfot (undisclosed) is also expected to be an option on the back end next week. On Thursday, Ekblad will aim to end a six-game scoring drought. He has notched 21 points (three goals, 18 assists) in 55 games this season, adding 88 blocks and 67 hits to his tally.

Feb 21

Anton Lundell • C • Panthers

Anton Lundell Good to Go Wednesday

Florida Panthers center Anton Lundell (illness) will be available for Wednesday's Olympic quarterfinal against Switzerland, Julian Gaudio of The Hockey News reports. The Finnish forward sat out the preliminary-round finale against Italy on Saturday due to illness. Lundell has recorded one goal, two shots, and a plus-two rating across two outings in Milan. On Wednesday, Lundell is expected to skate with his Panthers teammate Eetu Luostarinen and Kaapo Kakko of the Seattle Kraken. This has been a very effective line for Team Finland, as Luostarinen and Kakko share a team-high plus-five rating, and Kakko is also tied for the team lead in scoring with four points.

Feb 17

Anton Lundell • C • Panthers

Anton Lundell Battling Illness

Florida Panthers center Anton Lundell was unable to play for Team Finland on Saturday against Italy due to illness. He missed a historic game in which Finland set a new scoring record for an Olympic tournament featuring NHL players, winning 11-0. Montreal's Oliver Kapanen also didn't play for Finland, as he's Lundell's roommate at the tournament. With 40 points (16 goals, 24 assists) in 54 appearances, Lundell is having a career year in the NHL this season. He has recorded one goal in two outings at the Olympics. It's unclear whether Lundell and Kapanen will be cleared to rejoin the team for the next game.

Feb 14

Brad Marchand • LW • Panthers

Brad Marchand Good to Go for Olympic Opener

Florida Panthers winger Brad Marchand (undisclosed) is on track to play for Team Canada against Czechia at the Olympics on Thursday. The veteran forward practiced on Sunday, skating on a line with Nathan MacKinnon and Nick Suzuki on a stacked team. Marchand has been banged up this season and played in only five of the Panthers' final 15 games before the Olympic break. Florida has received great production from Marchand when he has been on the ice, as the 37-year-old has tallied 25 goals and 50 points in 46 outings. Marchand could also be a scoring machine for Canada if he sticks with MacKinnon.

Feb 9

Daniil Tarasov • G • Panthers

Daniil Tarasov Injured in Battle of Florida

Florida Panthers goaltender Daniil Tarasov (undisclosed) missed the end of Thursday's 6-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Russian netminder left the penalty-filled game with 6:09 played in the third period, right after the Lightning scored their fifth goal. It was a tough night for Tarasov, who allowed five goals on 25 shots. Sergei Bobrovsky, who started Wednesday's shootout win over Boston, stopped two shots in relief. Tarasov will be re-evaluated on Friday. Florida will return from the Olympic break with a back-to-back set on Feb. 26, and it will be important for the team to have Tarasov available. The 26-year-old holds an 8-8-2 record for the campaign and has allowed 2.83 goals with a .899 save percentage.

Feb 6

Brad Marchand • LW • Panthers

Brad Marchand, Evan Rodrigues Among Panthers Absentees Thursday

Florida Panthers forwards Brad Marchand (undisclosed) and Evan Rodrigues (illness) won't be in action on Thursday against the Tampa Bay Lightning, Doug Plagens of the Florida Panthers Radio Network reports. Marchand will sit out the second leg of a back-to-back after making a surprise return from a two-game absence in Wednesday's win over Boston. Rodrigues will come out of the lineup for the first time this season. Florida also won't have defensemen Aaron Ekblad (undisclosed) and Tobias Bjornfot (undisclosed) on Thursday. Luke Kunin, Jesper Boqvist, Donovan Sebrango, and Mikulas Hovorka will enter the lineup, with the latter making his NHL debut.

Feb 5

Sandis Vilmanis • LW • Panthers

Sandis Vilmanis Injured in Wednesday's Win

Florida Panthers left wing Sandis Vilmanis (upper body) left Wednesday's 5-4 shootout win over the Boston Bruins early, Adam Lichtenstein of the Sun Sentinel reports. The Latvian forward was limited to four shifts and 2:35 of ice time. Vilmanis has contributed two goals and two assists through his first 13 career games this season. He had three points in four games before Wednesday's contest. Given his early exit against Boston, Vilmanis should be considered questionable for Thursday's tilt against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Florida also lost defenseman Tobias Bjornfot (undisclosed) in Wednesday's game.

Feb 5

Sam Bennett • C • Panthers

Sam Bennett, Anton Lundell Available for Panthers Wednesday

Florida Panthers centers Sam Bennett (upper body) and Anton Lundell (upper body) are expected to play on Wednesday versus the Boston Bruins. This is a welcome boost for Florida's frontline, with Brad Marchand (lower body) still unavailable. Lundell has been out for three games, while Bennett exited Monday's loss to Buffalo early due to an upper-body injury. The two will operate as Florida's top-two centers. While Bennett has been playing well lately, notching 13 points (six goals, seven assists) in 16 appearances since the turn of the year, Lundell had been quiet. He boasts only five points (two goals, three assists) in 2026 and has finished scoreless in four of his last five appearances.

Feb 4

Sam Bennett • C • Panthers

Sam Bennett Exits Early Monday

Florida Panthers center Sam Bennett (upper body) played only a handful of minutes in Monday's 5-3 loss to the Buffalo Sabres. He suffered an upper-body injury, and there was no update on Bennett after the game. The Panthers were already without Brad Marchand (undisclosed) and Anton Lundell (upper body) on Monday night. With the team lacking quality options up front, Sam Reinhart, Evan Rodrigues, Matthew Tkachuk, and Carter Verhaeghe all played heavy minutes in Monday's loss. While Brad Marchand (undisclosed) and Anton Lundell (upper body) could be available for Wednesday's game against Boston, it's unclear whether Bennett can play.

Feb 3

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