The Florida Panthers are hitting the ice tonight against the St. Louis Blues, but they’ll be doing it without a key piece of their forward group.
Anton Lundell is officially out with an upper-body injury sustained earlier this week against the Utah Mammoth. While the team is keeping the specifics under wraps, Lundell exited Tuesday’s game after logging just 12:19 of ice time.
Head coach Paul Maurice had initially sounded optimistic about Lundell’s status, even suggesting there was a chance he could suit up tonight. But that won’t be the case.
The Panthers are playing it safe, listing him as day-to-day, and opting to give him at least one game off. In his place, Luke Kunin is expected to slot into the lineup, giving Florida a different look down the middle.
There is good news on the injury front, though. Defenseman Aaron Ekblad, who also left Tuesday’s game early, is cleared and ready to go tonight. That’s a big boost for a blue line that’s relied heavily on his experience and physical presence.
In net, the Panthers are turning to Daniil Tarasov, who’s been nothing short of rock-solid lately. The 26-year-old has been stringing together quality starts, posting a save percentage north of .915 in four straight games.
Even more impressive? He’s topped .940 in three of those outings.
For a team that’s dealt with its share of injuries this season, Tarasov’s steady presence in goal has been a welcome stabilizer.
He’s looked calm, confident, and in control-exactly what you want from a netminder stepping into a bigger role. While he may have started the year as a backup, his recent play has earned him more than just a spot start. He’s giving Florida a real chance to win every time he’s between the pipes.
Puck drops tonight at 8 p.m. EST at the Enterprise Center. With Lundell out and Tarasov in form, the Panthers will be looking to keep their momentum rolling against a physical Blues squad.