Florida Panthers News

With the Panthers effectively accepting their impending fate of missing the playoffs, the team has been more liberal with their goalie rotation. For the sixth time in the last 11 games, Tarasov will tend the twine for the Panthers. He has lost three straight (0-3-0) while facing more than 35 shots per game, posting a 4.17 GAA and .905 SV%. The Panthers enter Tuesday's contest as +153 home underdogs against an Ottawa Senators team that has lost two straight (0-1-1) while desperately fighting for a Wild Card spot.

A disappointing 2025-26 season for the Panthers has been capped off by a series of injuries, most recently Rodrigues, who will miss the remainder of the season after undergoing surgery. The 32-year-old Rodrigues was thrust into a bigger role this season due to injuries, seeing his ice-time creep up to 17:00 per game. He scored 31 points (11G / 20A) in 69 games this season.

Muszelik was a sixth-round pick of the Florida Panthers who just completed his fourth year of collegiate hockey. The 21-year-old goalie impressed this season, posting a 2.21 GAA and .926 SV% in 35 games (19-11-5) with the University of Connecticut, earning himself a two-year, entry-level contract.

Barkov underwent surgery to repair ACL and MCL injuries in late September and has been on the road to recovery ever since. He has been skating for the past several weeks and has been a more regular participant at practice lately. That said, with the Panthers effective out of playoff contention, he will officially be sidelined for the remainder of the season.

Samoskevich has not played Florida's previous two games and will miss at least one more, out on Thursday against the Minnesota Wild. The 23-year-old Samoskevich is averaging 14:15 time-on-ice, recording 23 points (6G / 17A), 123 hits, and 139 shots in 66 games this season. His next chance to return will be on Saturday against the New York Islanders.

Since returning from the Olympic break, the Panthers have been much more liberal with their goalie rotation, and will turn to Tarasov on Thursday against the Minnesota Wild for the sixth time in their last 13 games. That said, the 26-year-old Tarasov hasn't benefited from the extra playing time. In his last four games (1-3-0), he boasts an ugly 4.03 GAA and .862 SV%. Florida enters Thursday's contest as +134 home underdogs against a Minnesota team that has lost five of their last seven (2-4-1).

Samoskevich has not play Florida's previous two games, but he could re-enter the lineup on Thursday against the Minnesota Wild. The 23-year-old Samoskevich is averaging 14:15 time-on-ice, recording 23 points (6G / 17A), 123 hits, and 139 shots in 66 games this season.

Lundell has missed the past two games for Florida and is expected to miss another several weeks to due an upper-body injury. The 24-year-old Finnish forward has 44 pints (18G / 26A) in 64 games this season and is the latest in a string of lengthy injuries for the Panthers this season.

Forsling was scratched on Friday for unknown reasons. But with the injury to Niko Mikkola, Forsling is expected to draw back into the lineup on Tuesday. After scoring double-digit goals in four consecutive seasons, Forsling has just two goals in 68 games this season, shooting just 2.2%.

A 4-6-0 record in their last 10 games has effectively put a halt to Florida's late-season push for a playoff spot, but they will keep their slim hopes alive on Tuesday, turning to Bobrovsky against the Seattle Kraken. The 37-year-old Bobrovsky is playing his best hockey of the season, including saving all 21 shots he faced for his fourth shutout of the season in his most recent outing, a 4-0 win over the Edmonton Oilers. Since returning from the Olympic break, Bobrovsky has a 2.29 GAA and .916 SV% in seven games (4-3-0). The Panthers enter Tuesday's contest as -125 home favourites against a Kraken team that has scored two or fewer goals in three straight games (0-3-0).

Balinskis has not played in nearly two weeks and will be sidelined for several more, effectively ending his 2025-26 season due to an undisclosed injury. The 29-year-old Latvian defenseman had 15 points (5G / 10A) in 54 games this season.