The Florida Panthers have won seven of their last eight games despite numerous injuries, positioning them just one point from a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. This surge comes as they prepare to host the New York Rangers in the 2026 Discover NHL Winter Classic at loanDepot park in Miami on January 2. Key players' returns and a focus on fundamentals have fueled their turnaround.
The Florida Panthers' recent 3-2 victory over the Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday highlighted their resurgence, with a camera crew capturing the post-game energy for a documentary series. As two-time defending Stanley Cup champions, the team started the season sluggishly, sitting last in the Eastern Conference on December 3. However, they have since posted a 6-1-1 record over eight games, trailing the New Jersey Devils by one point for the second wild-card position.
This improvement arrives at a pivotal time, with the NHL's first outdoor game in Florida looming. The Panthers will face the Rangers on January 2 at 8 p.m. ET, broadcast on HBO Max, truTV, TNT, SNW, SNO, SNE, and TVAS. Forward Carter Verhaeghe, who has tallied 11 points including seven goals in this stretch, emphasized the boost in confidence: “It gives us a ton of confidence. I think it took us a while to get our footing a little bit. Now we know how we want to play every night a little bit. Every year’s different.”
Injuries have plagued the roster, with captain Aleksander Barkov sidelined by a knee issue, Matthew Tkachuk out with a lower-body injury, and others like Tomas Nosek, Dmitry Kulikov, Jonah Gadjovich, and Eetu Luostarinen missing time—Luostarinen due to burns from a barbecue accident. Despite this, statistical gains are evident. Before December 4, Florida ranked tied for 15th in goals per game at 3.00 and 19th in goals against at 3.20, with a 17th-ranked power play and 24th penalty kill. Since then, they lead the league in penalty kill at 92.9 percent, rank fourth in scoring at 3.75 goals per game, and 13th defensively at 2.75.
General manager Bill Zito described the early struggles as a test of patience: “Guys are trying hard... It just seemed like we couldn’t get out of our own way.” Coach Paul Maurice credited Luostarinen's return for stabilizing the lineup, while center Anton Lundell noted progress in details: “It’s a long season, so whatever happens, you’ve got to reset... I think we’re on the right track.” Tkachuk is expected back around Christmas but has yet to practice. Verhaeghe summed up the mindset: “It’s just staying in the fight... Hopefully, we can keep on getting wins and get into a playoff spot.”
