Akira Schmid is back in the crease for the Florida Panthers tonight, and Jacob Markstrom’s return is getting closer by the day.
The Panthers will start Schmid against the Winnipeg Jets, while Markstrom was back at practice as he works his way toward a comeback. For a team that entered the season with plenty of questions in goal, the position hasn’t been nearly as shaky as expected.
That uncertainty started with a major change. Sergei Bobrovsky, who had been the Panthers’ No. 1 for seven years, moved on to the Toronto Maple Leafs, and Florida answered by bringing in Markstrom and Schmid. Markstrom came in after two difficult seasons with the New Jersey Devils, while Schmid arrived as the less established option of the pair.
So far, the numbers have been serviceable rather than flashy. Markstrom has a .897 save percentage in six games, and Schmid sits at .885. But with Markstrom sidelined, Schmid’s work has mattered a lot more than the raw percentage suggests.
Markstrom has not played since Oct. 17 because of an upper-body injury. He was placed on injured reserve on Oct. 20 and was expected to miss 10 to 14 days. Since then, the Panthers have played four games, and Schmid has started three of them.
The 26-year-old handled those assignments with mixed results but also gave Florida enough to keep moving. He posted a .833 save percentage against the Ottawa Senators, a .905 against the Chicago Blackhawks, and a .960 against the Jets.
Winnipeg has not yet announced its starting goalie, though Nico Daws is expected to get the nod. Daws and Schmid were teammates with the Devils before both were moved out of the organization, and Daws was recently dealt to the Jets in the Connor Hellebuyck deal. If he starts, it would be his Winnipeg debut.
The timing on Markstrom’s recovery lines up neatly with the Panthers’ schedule. It has now been 10 days since the injury, and Florida is back in action Monday after tonight. If Markstrom can’t go against the Detroit Red Wings, Wednesday against the Blackhawks could be the next likely chance for his return.
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Panthers Are About To Unveil A Look Fans Will Definitely Debate
The Panthers are adding a little more flash to their home wardrobe this season, rolling out a pink-themed jersey as part of their Hometown Remix collection for 10 home games. It will be the first time Florida wears a pink sweater in a regular-season game, and the design goes well beyond a simple color swap, with a bright pink body and a modernized version of the clubs stick-and-palm look.
The jersey is set to be unveiled Monday morning, and it is already the kind of alternate fans are likely to have strong opinions about. Florida is also expected to pair the new look with matching goalie pads, giving the whole presentation a fully coordinated feel as the Panthers introduce a style that is bound to stand out at home. [Read more 🡒]