Even with star Matthew Tkachuk out indefinitely, the Florida Panthers appear poised to keep up their spot among the many finest within the Japanese Convention.
In the meantime, the Nashville Predators are nonetheless looking for something constructive down the stretch of a disappointing season.
The Panthers purpose to rebound from a house defeat when visiting the lowly Predators on Tuesday night time.
Florida entered play Monday second within the Atlantic Division, one level behind Toronto. Nevertheless, Tkachuk, second on the staff with 57 factors, can be out for an undetermined period of time whereas coping with a groin harm apparently suffered through the current 4 Nations Face-Off event.
Panthers coach Paul Maurice advised the “Joe Rose Present” on Monday that Tkachuk appears to be coping with a long-term harm, “however he is enjoying for us this yr.”
Whether or not which means within the common season or not till the playoffs stays to be seen.
“I haven’t got a timeline on him,” Maurice added on the present. “We’re hoping it is not too severe.”
Minus Tkachuk, Florida fell 2-1 to Seattle at house Saturday in its return from the 4 Nations break. Eetu Luostarinen scored for the Panthers, who managed solely 27 pictures whereas dropping for the second time in seven video games.
“We had our probabilities,” stated Luostarinen, who has 4 factors in his final eight video games. “We are able to simply enhance from this.”
No matter who’s in its lineup, Florida would appear to have an excellent likelihood at bouncing again in opposition to the Predators. Carter Verhaeghe had two objectives with an help and Sam Reinhart registered certainly one of his team-leading 31 objectives through the Panthers’ 6-2 house win over Nashville on Nov. 7.
The Predators are near the basement within the Western Convention with 47 factors — forward of solely Chicago and San Jose, two groups in undisputed rebuilding mode. Nashville misplaced six straight earlier than profitable two in a row, then fell 5-0 to New Jersey at house on Sunday.
“It is one of many hardest years I have been a part of, coming in with a lot expectation and simply not dwelling as much as it” stated Predators ahead Ryan O’Reilly, a 16-year veteran.
“It hasn’t been enjoyable, however we nonetheless have a number of hockey left. We have now to attempt to construct on one thing right here, and we’re not going to stop.”
Among the many NHL’s lowest-scoring groups with 2.59 objectives per sport, Nashville has totaled simply 18 in its final 9 contests. Star Steven Stamkos, the Predators’ most outstanding offseason acquisition, is caught in a career-worst nine-game level drought.
“I actually really feel for the group,” stated Nashville coach Andrew Brunette, whose staff has been shut out eight occasions this season.
Stamkos did rating certainly one of his 17 objectives this season in November at Florida. Filip Forsberg, the staff’s chief with 53 factors, had an help in that assembly, however he is been blanked in six of the final eight video games for Nashville.
Juuse Saros made 31 saves throughout Saturday’s 2-1 win over Colorado after permitting 10 objectives in his earlier two begins.
In the meantime, Florida’s Sergei Bobrovsky has been on a tear in his final seven begins with 5 wins, a 1.74 goals-against common and a .933 save proportion. Panthers backup Spencer Knight stands 5-2-0 with a 1.84 GAA and a .935 save proportion as a starter for the reason that calendar turned to 2025.
–Discipline Stage Media