Even with star Matthew Tkachuk out indefinitely, Florida Panthers seems prepared to retain his place among the best in the Eastern Conference.
At the same time, Nashville Predators is still looking for all the positives in the route of a disappointing season.
Panthers aims to recover from a home strike when they visit the low predators on Tuesday night.
Florida entered the Play Monday Second in the Atlantic Division, a point behind Toronto. However, Tkachuk, who is second in the team with 57 points, will be out for an indefinite time while handling an groin injury that apparently suffered during the last 4 nations face-off tournament.
Panthers coach Paul Maurice told “Joe Rose Show” on Monday that Tkachuk seems to be dealing with long -term injury, “but he is playing for us this year.”
Whether it means during the regular season or not until the playoffs remains to be seen.
“I have no timeline on him,” Maurice added to the show. “We hope it’s not too serious.”
Minus Tkachuk, Florida fell 2-1 to Seattle at home Saturday in his return from 4 nation’s break. The Eetu Luostarin scored for Panthers, who only managed 27 shots while losing for the second time in seven matches.
“We had our chances,” said Luostarinen, who has four points in his last eight matches. “We can only improve this.”
Regardless of who is in its range, Florida seems to have a good chance to bounce back against predators. Carter Verhaeghe had two goals with one assist and Sam Reinhart registered one of his team-leading 31 goals during Panthers 6-2 home victory over Nashville on November 7.
The predators are located near the basement of the Western conference with 47 points – before only Chicago and San Jose, two teams in undisputed redevelopment mode. Nashville lost six straight before winning two in a row and then fell 5-0 to New Jersey at home on Sunday.
“It’s one of the toughest years I’ve been a part of, who came in with so much expectations and just didn’t live up to it,” Predators said forward Ryan O’reilly, a 16-year-old veteran.
“It’s not been fun, but we still have a lot of hockey left. We have to try to build on something here, and we won’t end.”
Among the NHL’s lowest score with 2.59 goals per match, Nashville was just 18 in his last nine competitions. Star Steven Stamkos, the predator’s most prominent acquisition of the season, is captured in a career worth nine-game drought.
“I really feel for the group,” said Nashville coach Andrew Brunette, whose team has been closed eight times this season.
Stamkos scored one of its 17 goals this season in November in Florida. Filip Forsberg, the team leader with 53 points, had an assist in that meeting, but he has become empty in six of the last eight matches for Nashville.
Juuse Saros made 31 rescues during Saturday’s 2-1 victory over Colorado after allowing 10 goals in its previous two starts.
At the same time, Floridas Sergei Bobrovsky has been on a tear in the last seven starters with five wins, a 1.74 goal-for average and a .933 savings percentage. Panthers Backup Spencer Knight stands 5-2-0 with a 1.84 GAA and a .935 savings percentage as a start since the calendar turned to 2025.
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