Brady Tkachuk gave the Panthers an early jolt with two first-period goals, but Florida never found enough behind him in a 4-3 loss to the Washington Capitals on Saturday afternoon.
The Panthers had won seven of their previous 10 entering the game, but this one left them with back-to-back losses in three games as they head into Sunday’s matchup at Atlantic-leading Boston.
Washington struck first, only for Tkachuk to answer almost immediately and swing the momentum back Florida’s way. Later in the opening period, the Panthers cashed in on a five-minute power play after Tom Wilson was ejected for a boarding major on Sandis Vilmanis, and Tkachuk finished off the chance to put Florida in front 2-1.
That lead didn’t last. The Capitals scored twice in the second period against Akira Schmid and carried a 4-2 edge into the third, then protected it despite Florida’s late push.
The Panthers made one last charge after pulling Schmid late, and Matthew Tkachuk helped set up the finish by sending the puck to the net for Sam Bennett’s goal with 45 seconds left. It cut the deficit to one, but Florida couldn’t find the equalizer.
Florida was already missing Anton Lundell because of an undisclosed injury, and the loss of Vilmanis midway through the first period made the afternoon even tougher. Vilmanis was driven into the boards from behind by Wilson, did not return, and Wilson was assessed a five-minute major for boarding and ejected.
Brady Tkachuk’s second goal also put him in a notable spot in Panthers history. He matched Kristian Huselius, who needed 17 games, for the third-fewest games to reach 10 career goals with Florida, behind only Pavel Bure, who did it in nine, and Sam Bennett, who did it in 14.
He also became the third Panther to record three multi-goal games in fewer than 20 appearances, joining Bure, who did it in nine games, and Mark Parrish, who did it in 14. Matthew Tkachuk needed 39 games to reach that mark in the 2022-23 season.
Washington’s goals came from Jack St. Ivany in the first, Alex Tuch and Aliaksei Protas in the second, and Pierre-Luc Dubois early in the third to make it 4-2. Logan Thompson was named the game’s top star, with Brady Tkachuk second and Dubois third.
The Panthers now move on to Game No. 18 on Sunday at Boston Garden, with puck drop set for 1 p.m. The game will air on NHL Network, stream on Panthers+, and be carried on WQAM, WBZT 1230-AM in Palm Beach, WCTH 100.3-FM in the Florida Keys, and SiriusXM. The Panthers’ radio stream is available on SiriusXM and the NHL App.
Florida and Boston meet again later this season on Dec. 8 and April 9 in Florida, and Sunday’s game is the first of two in Boston, with another set for Dec. 15.
Last season, Florida won the season series 3-0. The all-time regular-season series favors Boston, 66-42-7 with six ties, while the Panthers lead the postseason series 3-0 after winning the 1996 first round, the 2023 first round, and the 2024 ECSF.
The Panthers’ next game after Boston is Tuesday at Columbus against the Blue Jackets at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN+/Hulu.
In Other News...
Panthers Fans Can Dream On Kucherov But One Obstacle Looms
Nikita Kucherovs future in Tampa Bay has suddenly become one of the biggest talking points in the NHL, and naturally it has stirred up speculation closer to home for Florida fans. With contract extension talks with Lightning general manager Julian Brisebois having gone nowhere, the star wingers situation has shifted from routine offseason chatter to a genuine trade watch, with the Panthers quickly surfacing as a team worth monitoring.
For Florida, the appeal is obvious. A player of Kucherovs caliber would change the conversation around the roster in an instant, but the path to any deal is anything but simple. The in-state rivalry between the Panthers and Lightning looms over everything here, and it is the kind of obstacle that can make even the most intriguing idea feel far more complicated than it looks on paper. [Read more 🡒]
Panthers Suddenly Have A Tom Wilson Problem To Worry About
Sandis Vilmanis night ended early against Washington after he was injured on a hit from Tom Wilson, a sequence that immediately shifted attention from the scoreboard to the Panthers health. Wilson was assessed a five-minute penalty and a game misconduct for boarding, and Florida was left to sort through the fallout from a play that once again put one of the leagues most scrutinized hitters at the center of the conversation.
Paul Maurice said Vilmanis will be evaluated further, and the early expectation is that he will not be available for the next game. For Florida, the concern is not just one injured player, but the broader reality of facing a Capitals team with Wilson on the ice, given his long history of discipline issues with the Department of Player Safety. [Read more 🡒]
Panthers Have A Bigger Worry Than The Loss After Vilmanis Exit
Sandis Vilmanis night ended early after a hard hit from Tom Wilson in the game against Washington, leaving the Panthers to deal with more than just the result on the scoreboard. Wilson was assessed a five-minute major for boarding and a game misconduct before being ejected, while Vilmanis left with an undisclosed injury and did not return.
For Florida, the immediate concern now is less about the loss itself and more about how long it might be without Vilmanis. Head coach Paul Maurice said the forward will be further evaluated before the team has a clear read on his status, and that kind of uncertainty is never welcome this time of year when every lineup spot matters. [Read more 🡒]