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20h ago

Panthers' Slide Deepens After 5-3 Loss as Tkachuk Sounds Alarm, Bennett Hurt

Florida sits nine points off a Wildcard with two games left before a three-week Olympic break.

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Winnipeg Jets goaltender Eric Comrie (1) stops a shot on goal as Florida Panthers center Sam Bennett (9) defends during the third period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

Overview

  • The 5-3 defeat to Buffalo extended Florida’s skid to four games and made it six losses in the last ten.
  • The Panthers are 28-24-3 with 59 points, last in the Atlantic Division and nine back of an Eastern Conference Wildcard.
  • Matthew Tkachuk said the club is "in trouble" and urged a simpler game, adding Buffalo is "way more skilled" on individual talent.
  • Sam Bennett left with an upper-body injury and will be reevaluated after the break, though Paul Maurice said Bennett and Anton Lundell could be cleared to play Wednesday pending the morning skate.
  • All four centers from last year’s Cup team are injured, nine Panthers are bound for the Olympics in Italy, and Boston on Wednesday followed by Tampa Bay on Thursday precede the league pause.