Panthers Keep Rolling Despite Matthew Tkachuk’s Absence
Missing star forward Matthew Tkachuk hasn’t slowed down the Florida Panthers. Heading into Saturday’s matchup against the Montreal Canadiens, Florida had posted an impressive 7-2-0 record since Tkachuk suffered a groin injury during the NHL’s 4 Nations Face-Off tournament in mid-February. This strong stretch has given the Panthers some breathing room at the top of the Atlantic Division. Before Saturday’s game, they held a four-point lead over the Toronto Maple Leafs and a six-point advantage over the third-place Tampa Bay Lightning, with 16 games left in the regular season. Notably, seven of their last nine games have been against teams either in a playoff position or within striking distance.
So, what’s been fueling Florida’s success? Three key factors stand out:
1.) Balanced Scoring
The Panthers’ depth has been on full display, with 16 different players finding the back of the net over the past nine games. Sam Bennett and Mackie Samoskevich, who have developed strong chemistry as linemates since January, each have four goals. Captain Aleksander Barkov has chipped in with three, while several others have contributed one or two. This scoring distribution highlights Florida’s well-rounded attack, which will only get stronger once Tkachuk returns—along with newly acquired forward Brad Marchand (recovering from an upper-body injury) and top defenseman Aaron Ekblad (suspended for the remainder of the regular season and the first two playoff games).
2.) Elite Goaltending
Florida’s netminders have been nearly unbeatable since Feb. 22, leading the NHL with a stellar .942 save percentage. The Panthers have surrendered just 12 goals on 205 shots, recorded three shutouts, and held opponents to two goals or fewer in seven of their last nine games. Veteran goalie Sergei Bobrovsky has shouldered most of the load, going 5-2-0 with a .934 save percentage and two shutouts—including a milestone win that moved him to 10th all-time in NHL victories. Before being traded to the Chicago Blackhawks, Spencer Knight made a strong final appearance with the Panthers, stopping 17 of 18 shots in a win over the Nashville Predators. Meanwhile, newly acquired backup Vitek Vanecek made an immediate impact, posting a 21-save shutout in his Panthers debut against the Buffalo Sabres on March 8.
3.) Dominant Penalty Kill
Florida’s special teams have been a difference-maker, especially their penalty kill, which has allowed just two power-play goals on 27 chances over the past nine games. Their 92.6% penalty-kill success rate leads the NHL during this stretch and is one of only two teams maintaining a rate above 90% (alongside the Calgary Flames at 90.3%).
With their depth, elite goaltending, and relentless defensive play, the Panthers are proving they can grind out wins even without one of their biggest stars.
