News Category: Florida Panthers

Panthers looking to put away Lightning on home ice

The Florida Panthers are one win from eliminating the Tampa Bay Lightning from the playoffs for the first time in the franchises’ histories. The Lightning won the rivals’ two previous playoff encounters in 2021 and 2022. Though Florida leads the best-of-seven series 3-1 — with Game 5 set for the Panthers’ home ice in Sunrise on Monday — the leaders are not overconfident. That’s especially true after Tampa Bay’s 6-3 home win on Saturday in

Lightning get crack at home ice down 2-0 to Panthers

The Florida Panthers defended home ice with an overtime victory on Tuesday. Now it’s up to the Tampa Bay Lightning to try and match it. The best-of-seven Eastern Conference playoff series shifts to Tampa for Game 3 on Thursday night, with the Atlantic Division champions Panthers leading 2-0. Tied 2-2 in the third Tuesday night, the Lightning’s NHL-best power play unit had a four-minute opportunity after Eetu Luostarinen committed a double-minor for high-sticking, but the

Panthers set for stern test in series opener vs. Lightning

In theory, winning the NHL’s Atlantic Division should have given the Florida Panthers an “easier” first-round playoff opponent. But, if history is any judge, that hardly is the case. The Panthers will open an Eastern Conference first-round series against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Sunday afternoon in Sunrise, Fla. “I think we’re one of the best teams in the league, and we’ve shown it all season,” Florida forward Matthew Tkachuk said. “But we’re not getting

Leafs’ Auston Matthews chases elite list in clash with Panthers

Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews needs one more goal to become just the ninth single-season 70-goal scorer in the 106-year history of the NHL. Matthews will try to get that goal Tuesday night when the Leafs (46-24-10, 102 points) visit the Florida Panthers (51-24-6, 108) in Sunrise, Fla., in a matchup of playoff-bound teams. The game will serve as a bit of a rematch and a possible preview. It’s a rematch because the Panthers

Panthers gear up for playoffs vs. Blue Jackets

The Florida Panthers are playing what can be considered the “soft” part of their remaining schedule before the season ends with a bang next week. On Thursday night, the Panthers — currently the second seed in the Atlantic Division — will play host to the out-of-contention Columbus Blue Jackets in Sunrise, Fla. This soft stretch also includes Buffalo, which is on tap for Saturday. But then the Panthers will end their regular season with a

Bruins return home for pivotal encounter vs. Panthers

Returning from a six-game road trip for their first home game since March 21, the Boston Bruins host the Florida Panthers in a Saturday afternoon showdown between the top two teams in the Atlantic Division. The Bruins (45-17-15, 105 points) finished the trip with three straight wins, making a statement against a fellow Eastern Conference playoff competitor with a 4-1 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday. “First place is on the line,” coach Jim

Sluggish Panthers seek better outcome against Senators

The Florida Panthers will look to avoid a third straight loss when they travel to Ottawa to face the Senators on Thursday. Florida (47-24-5, 99 points) fell 5-3 in Montreal on Tuesday night and has lost four of five. The Panthers have just two wins over their past 10 (2-7-1). “I think we gave way too many chances to them to score,” Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov said. “They’re a high-skill team, a fast team. They

Panthers keep bigger picture in view ahead of clash vs. Canadiens

A superb first half of the season has given the Florida Panthers some much-needed wiggle room as they barrel down the stretch. The Panthers will continue their four-game trip with a matchup against the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday night, five days after clinching a berth in the playoffs. Florida (47-23-5, 99 points) is two points back of the Bruins for first place in the Atlantic Division with seven games left for each team, including a

Auston Matthews, Leafs face Panthers in Atlantic showdown

Auston Matthews will return home as a two-time 60-goal scorer when the Toronto Maple Leafs play host to the Florida Panthers on Monday night. Matthews reached that plateau for the second time Saturday night when the visiting Maple Leafs defeated the Buffalo Sabres 3-0. A large contingent of Leafs fans made the drive to nearby Buffalo. “If you’re not going to get it at home, this is probably second best,” Toronto coach Sheldon Keefe said.

Panthers aim to pick up pace vs. desperate Red Wings

It promises to be a battle between two good, albeit struggling teams, on Saturday afternoon when the Detroit Red Wings visit the Florida Panthers in Sunrise, Fla. The Panthers (46-22-5, 97 points) have clinched a playoff spot. That happened on Thursday. But there wasn’t much joy in that since Florida also fell for the sixth time in seven games (1-5-1) with a 3-2 setback to the New York Islanders. Detroit, which has lost three straight