Panthers Hit the Road with Playoff Urgency Building
FORT LAUDERDALE - The Florida Panthers are packing their bags and heading north, and they’re doing it with a sense of urgency that’s hard to miss. With the Olympic break looming and the playoff race tightening by the day, the Panthers know there’s little room left for error.
After a disappointing 4-1 loss to the San Jose Sharks on home ice Monday night, Florida (25-20-3) is looking to reset and refocus as they kick off a three-game road swing through the Central Division. First up: the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday at Canada Life Centre, followed by back-to-back games against the Minnesota Wild and Chicago Blackhawks over the weekend.
The standings don’t lie - and they’re not particularly forgiving right now. With 53 points in the bank and two games in hand, the Panthers sit five points behind the Boston Bruins, who currently hold the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference. That gap can close quickly - or widen just as fast.
“From now on, every game is really important,” forward Eetu Luostarinen said after Wednesday’s practice at Baptist Health IcePlex. “We just have to find the energy, play hard, play more physical, and win more battles.”
That mindset is going to be critical on this trip. The Panthers have been solid on the road since November 1, going 10-6-0 in that span. But as head coach Paul Maurice made clear, consistency is the next step.
“We really, really like three of our last five, and then we really, really don't like two of them,” Maurice said, summing up the recent stretch with a mix of honesty and expectation. “Get off the extremes and get to a manageable game.
I think we can play the way we did in the games that we like. I don't think we were lucky or anything special happened.
We were just very patient and played really hard, so that's the goal.”
Mikkola Trending Toward Return
There was a positive development on the injury front this week. Defenseman Niko Mikkola, who exited Monday’s game against San Jose in the second period, is expected to be back in the lineup Thursday in Winnipeg.
That’s a big boost for Florida’s blue line. The 6-foot-6 Mikkola has quietly become a steadying presence on the back end, especially with Seth Jones sidelined.
Mikkola is averaging just over 20 minutes a night and has taken on even more responsibility in recent weeks. Through 48 games, he’s chipped in eight points (1 goal, 7 assists), blocked 52 shots, and delivered 79 hits.
His +4 plus-minus rating is tied for the team lead with A.J. Greer.
Marchand Getting Closer
Another key piece could be inching closer to a return. Brad Marchand, who’s been out since January 6, is officially listed as day-to-day. While there’s no guarantee he’ll suit up during this road trip, the signs are trending in the right direction.
“He’s certainly close,” Maurice said Wednesday. “Day-to-day.
Whether it happens on this road trip, we don't know yet. We're just kind of building off of how he comes in each day.
He felt better today than he expected to; got through practice.”
Marchand has been a force for the Panthers all season, both in production and leadership. Despite missing seven games, he still ranks tied for first in assists (23) and sits second on the team in both goals (23) and points (46) through 41 games.
Seth Jones to Miss Olympics
In a tough blow for both the Panthers and Team USA, defenseman Seth Jones will not participate in the upcoming Olympic Winter Games in Milan and Cortina. USA Hockey announced Wednesday that Jones is out due to an upper-body injury, and Anaheim Ducks defenseman Jackson LaCombe will take his place on the roster.
Jones sustained the injury on January 2, the same day he was named to the Olympic team, during the Winter Classic at loanDepot Park. A deflected puck off the stick of Rangers forward Alexis Lafreniere struck him in the first period, and he hasn’t played since.
“It was originally that week-to-week idea, 2-4, but it’s going to be the full extent of it now,” Maurice said Wednesday.
Jones has been on long-term injured reserve since the injury. Prior to that, he was a key cog in Florida’s defensive core, logging 24 points (6 goals, 18 assists) in 40 games and playing a major role in last season’s Stanley Cup run after being acquired from Chicago at the deadline.
Wednesday’s Practice Lines
Here’s how the Panthers lined up in practice on Wednesday, with Marchand skating on the top line - a good sign, though not a confirmation of his return:
Forwards
Eetu Luostarinen - Anton Lundell - Brad Marchand
Carter Verhaeghe - Sam Bennett - A.J. Greer
Mackie Samoskevich - Evan Rodrigues - Matthew Tkachuk
Sandis Vilmanis - Cole Schwindt - Jesper Boqvist
Defensemen
Gustav Forsling - Aaron Ekblad
Tobias Bjornfot - Uvis Balinskis
Donovan Sebrango - Jeff Petry
Goaltenders
Sergei Bobrovsky
Daniil Tarasov
The road ahead won’t be easy, but it’s clear this Panthers team understands what’s at stake. With key players nearing returns and a chance to grab crucial points before the Olympic break, this trip could be a turning point in their season. Every shift matters now - and the Panthers are skating like they know it.