Dmitry Kulikov

Sam Bennett buries his 26th of the season as the Panthers push for a rare sweep against a Bruins squad clinging to that wild-card lifeline. Florida's blue line gets a shakeup with Ekblad and Kulikov sidelined, bringing up Bjornfot and Hovorka to face Boston's hot attack led by Pastrnak's playmaking. Tkachuk's tearing it up with eight points in four games, but the Bruins roll in off a four-game streak and just two points from Atlantic glory.

Fresh details surface on Aaron Ekblad and Dmitry Kulikov's status, critical for Florida's defensive stability. The Panthers navigate bumps like this every spring, but timelines matter now more than ever. A quick return bolsters their Cup repeat bid amid fierce competition.

Aaron Ekblad and Dmitry Kulikov become the latest Panthers to hit the shelf, swelling Florida's injury list to crisis levels as they prep for Boston. This duo's absence rips holes in a defense already patchwork from prior ailments, putting immense pressure on the remaining corps to hold the fort. The Panthers' depth gets a true test tonight, with implications rippling through their Atlantic standing.

The Panthers shuffle a depleted lineup as they host Seattle, missing key pieces like Sam Reinhart who sits out at least four games and Sam Bennett who might not suit up until Vancouver. Guys like Carter Verhaeghe and Anton Lundell return just in time, but the blue line remains patchwork with Dmitri Kulikov and others plugging gaps. Florida clings to wildcard hopes at 33-29-3 while the Kraken lurk at 30-26-9, making this Climate Pledge rematch a survival test for Paul Maurice's crew.