Dmitry Kulikov

Florida activates Dmitry Kulikov off IR, listing the vet as a game-time call against New Jersey. Panthers blue line gets a timely boost as they chase playoff positioning with 63 points. Coaches weigh his minutes carefully in this wild-card fight where every defender counts.

The squad grinds through a pivotal road swing with Dmitry Kulikov rejoining the blue line after his stint on the shelf. Coaches lean on his veteran savvy to steady the ship amid travel wear. Stakes climb as every point shapes their postseason path.

Dmitry Kulikov clears waivers from injured reserve and rejoins the blue line, bringing his steady vet presence back to a defense that needs it. Coaches wasted no time slotting him in after his stint on the shelf, where minutes pile up quick for battle-tested guys like him. This activation signals stability returning to a blueline that's been patchwork lately.

Florida storms into UBS Arena to face a streaking Islanders side riding four straight wins and OT magic, with the Panthers eyeing a bounce-back sans Dmitry Kulikov if he's scratched. Paul Maurice's crew faces New York's home-ice fortress in a Metropolitan-Atlantic clash that screams playoff preview. National eyes lock on this ESPN tilt as both squads jockey for Eastern positioning.

Brooks Koepka, the South Florida native and diehard Panthers fan who's rubbed shoulders with the Cup twice in the last two years, refuses to count out his boys despite the brutal injury toll. With Barkov sidelined from knee surgery, Kulikov barely skating and Tkachuk out 47 games on adductor repair, Florida sits eight points back with 23 to play, but Koepka drops a casual "Don't worry" after his PGA round near the rink.

The Islanders welcome the Panthers to Belmont Park for their first home date since the Olympic break, carrying a hot streak that has the building buzzing. Florida counters with Sergei Bobrovsky back between the pipes and Dmitry Kulikov eyeing a return after months sidelined by a shoulder injury that sidelined him since October. New York leans on Mathew Barzal's playmaking and a rested David Rittich, while the Panthers sit eight points from the playoffs in a brutal Atlantic scrum.