For the second straight game, the Panthers will play host to a team with a goalie who was formerly with the Florida franchise.
On Monday night, Daniil Tarasov — who was Florida’s backup goalie last season — helped the Detroit Red Wings defeat the Panthers 5-3.
Next up, Wednesday night in Sunrise, Fla., is a matchup against the Chicago Blackhawks and Spencer Knight, Florida’s first-round pick in 2019.
Knight played parts of four seasons with the Panthers, posting a 44-25-7 record, a .906 save percentage and a 2.76 goals-against average.
In parts of three seasons with the Blackhawks, Knight has posted similar metrics (.900 save percentage, 2.96 GAA), but his win-loss record has taken a tumble (28-41-13). Knight has gone 4-8-0 in 12 starts this season (.894 save percentage, 3.28 GAA).
Knight was in goal on Monday when the Blackhawks lost 5-2 to the visiting Colorado Avalanche. Chicago led that game 2-0, but Colorado scored five straight goals, including an empty-netter.
The Blackhawks lost star forward Patrick Kane in the second period due to an upper-body injury, and he will miss the Panthers game as well.
“He’s going to miss the next couple of games for sure,” Chicago coach Jeff Blashill said. “It’s a loss, but this is the NHL. You have to find a way for other guys to step up.”
Blashill said he has had “zero issues” with Chicago’s level of competition this season, except for blowout losses to Utah and Detroit.
Russian rookie Roman Kantserov leads the Blackhawks in goals with six. Connor Bedard leads the team in points with 10 in just nine games. The superstar captain has returned to form after offseason shoulder surgery.
The 2023 No. 1 overall draft pick had his first 30-goal season in 2025-26, producing 75 points in 69 games.
The Blackhawks, who have lost three straight games and six of seven, will try to get back on track against a Panthers squad that is playing solid hockey.
Florida has won three of its past four games despite playing without injured forwards Aleksander Barkov and Brad Marchand. Both have resumed skating but remain several weeks from returning.
With those two absent from the lineup, the Panthers have gotten inspired play from defenseman Seth Jones, who has 16 assists and 18 points. On the Panthers, he trails only forward Matthew Tkachuk (17 assists, 21 points) in both categories.
Three Panthers have scored eight goals apiece to lead the team — Brady Tkachuk, Carter Verhaeghe and Sam Reinhart.
Jacob Markstrom, who just returned from injury, and Akira Schmid have split the duties in net.
Markstrom is 3-2-1 with an .890 save percentage and a 2.50 GAA. Schmid is 5-2-1 with an .889 save percentage and a 2.86 GAA.
Coach Paul Maurice, who led the Panthers to Stanley Cup titles in 2024 and 2025, seems to keep his squad in contention, even when injuries would incapacitate other franchises.
Maurice will be looking for a bounce-back game after the loss to the Red Wings on Monday.
“It was a really strong game for Detroit,” Maurice said. “But I wasn’t in love with our game.”
