Florida Panthers Close Season Against Red Wings Amid Injury Challenges The Florida Panthers will conclude their 2025-26 season with a matchup against the Detroit Red Wings at Amerant Bank Arena on Wednesday, April 15, at 7 p.m. ET. The game marks the final opportunity for the team to reflect on a season marred by injuries, which disrupted their pursuit of a third consecutive Stanley Cup title. Despite the setbacks, the Panthers aim to finish on a positive note, having won eight of their last 10 games in Sunrise. Forward Matthew Tkachuk, a key player for the Panthers, will return to the lineup after taking time off to celebrate the birth of his first child, a daughter named Camille. Tkachuk expressed gratitude for the support from teammates and fans, calling the experience “the greatest thing that’s ever happened to me.” However, his return comes alongside further injuries to the team’s roster. Tomas Nosek, who had already missed significant time due to a knee injury, broke his leg during a 3-2 victory over the New York Rangers. Additionally, Gustav Forsling, a critical defenseman, will miss the game due to a back injury. Mikulas Hovorka, recalled from the AHL, will step in as Forsling’s replacement. The Panthers’ injury woes have been unprecedented, with the team approaching 600 man-games lost to injuries this season. Head coach Paul Maurice described the situation as “the most dangerous job in pro sports,” highlighting the challenges faced by the team. Despite the setbacks, the Panthers have managed to remain competitive, with players like Mackie Samoskevich and Cole Reinhardt contributing significantly. Samoskevich, who has scored in six of his last nine games, led the team against the Rangers, while Reinhardt extended his goal-scoring streak to three games.#florida_panthers #detroit_red_wings #amerant_bank_arena #matthew_tkachuk #tomas_nosek
Updates from Practice – April 7 The Montreal Canadiens held a morning skate at the Bell Centre ahead of their second game of a four-game homestand against the Florida Panthers on Tuesday night. With five regular-season games remaining and a playoff berth secured, the team gathered 23 players for the session, which served as preparation for the matchup. The Panthers-Canadiens game was scheduled for 7:00 p.m. ET at the Bell Centre, with ticket information provided for interested fans. The Canadiens’ homestand included a critical matchup against the Panthers, marking the second game of the four-game stretch. The team’s focus shifted to refining strategies and maintaining momentum as they approached the playoffs. The morning skate highlighted the players’ readiness to compete, with the coaching staff emphasizing the importance of execution in high-stakes games. The Panthers-Canadiens showdown was part of a broader schedule that included several other games, such as the previous matchup against the New Jersey Devils and the upcoming contest against the New York Rangers. The Canadiens’ management also addressed fan engagement through special promotions, including a charity raffle supporting the Canadian Cancer Society. Key players were spotlighted in pregame analyses, with discussions on line combinations and defensive pairings. For instance, Jakub Dobes was recognized for his performance in March, earning the Molson Cup honor as the top player in the league. Additionally, Alexandre Carrier’s injury status was noted, with an expected absence of 2–4 weeks. Adam Engstrom’s recall from the Laval Rocket affiliate was also highlighted, underscoring the team’s depth and flexibility in roster management.#florida_panthers #montreal_canadiens #bell_centre #canadian_cancer_society #molson_cup
Florida Panthers Set for Back-to-Back Games Against Islanders The Florida Panthers are set to face the New York Islanders in a back-to-back matchup this weekend, with the first game scheduled for Saturday at UBS Arena in Elmont, New York. The Panthers, who are currently struggling with a lengthy injury list, will be without several key players as they attempt to secure a playoff spot. The Panthers’ roster is missing several forwards and defensemen, including forward Evan Rodrigues, who suffered a broken finger during a recent loss to the Minnesota Wild. Rodrigues joins a growing list of injured players on the team, which includes Sasha Barkov, Sam Reinhart, Brad Marchand, Anton Lundell, Niko Mikkola, Uvis Balinskis, Jonah Gadjovich, and Cole Schwindt. Young forward Mackie Samoskevich, who has missed the past three games due to a neck laceration, could potentially return for Saturday’s game. The Islanders, on the other hand, are in a strong position to secure a playoff berth. Entering Saturday’s matchup, New York holds the second Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference with 87 points, one point ahead of both the Ottawa Senators and Detroit Red Wings. The team is also tied with the Columbus Blue Jackets for third place in the Metropolitan Division and just one point behind the Pittsburgh Penguins for second place in the conference. The Panthers, meanwhile, remain in a tight race to retain their top-10 protected first-round draft pick. Currently, the team holds the eighth-worst record in the league, one point behind the Seattle Kraken and two points behind the Toronto Maple Leafs.#florida_panthers #new_york_islanders #ubs_arena #elmont_new_york #mackie_samoskevich
Islanders Set to Face Panthers in Key Regular Season Clash The New York Islanders will host the Florida Panthers in a crucial regular season matchup on Saturday afternoon, set for 1 PM at UBS Arena. The game will be broadcast on MSGSN and streamed via the Gotham Sports App, with live radio coverage available on 88.7FM, 103.9FM, and the Islanders + UBS Arena App. The contest marks the third and final regular season meeting between the teams this season, with the Islanders holding a 1-1-0 record in the series. The Islanders, currently sitting in second place in the Eastern Conference with 87 points, secured their position after edging out the Ottawa Senators 2-1 on Thursday. Bo Horvat and Cal Ritchie scored the goals, while Ilya Sorokin made 26 saves to secure the win. The victory moved the Islanders past the Senators for the second Wild Card spot, though they still trail the Pittsburgh Penguins (88 points) in the Metropolitan Division. The Penguins, who beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-3, now hold second place with one game in hand on the Islanders. Sorokin is expected to start Saturday’s game, continuing his strong performance this season. The Russian goaltender has a league-leading seven shutouts and a .914 save percentage, with a 2.48 goals-against average. Against the Panthers, Sorokin has a 3-3-1 record with a 3.17 GAA and .904 SV% in his career. Florida’s netminder, Daniil Tarasov, will face off against Sorokin. Tarasov, who stopped 47 shots in Florida’s 3-2 loss to the Minnesota Wild on Thursday, is 1-0-0 with a 2.31 GAA and .917 SV% in two career games against the Islanders. The Islanders’ recent success has been fueled by Horvat, who tallied his 30th goal of the season in Thursday’s win. The forward now has 52 points (30G, 22A) and leads the team in scoring.#florida_panthers #new_york_islanders #ubs_arena #bo_horvat #cal_ritchie
Panthers Acquire Vinnie Hinostroza From Wild The Florida Panthers have acquired winger Vinnie Hinostroza from the Minnesota Wild in a trade that clears up some forward depth for both teams. The deal was announced by both organizations, with Michael Russo of The Athletic being the first to report the transaction. The move allows Minnesota to shed a player who has been a rotational option for much of the season, while giving Florida an additional scoring threat as they navigate a challenging stretch of their schedule. Hinostroza, 28, was acquired by the Wild in the offseason after being claimed off the waiver wire from the Nashville Predators. He signed a two-year, two-way contract with Nashville in 2024 and is set to become a free agent this summer. Despite his NHL experience, Hinostroza has primarily served as an AHL call-up in recent seasons. However, a strong scoring performance with the Milwaukee Admirals last year, where he posted 24 points in 55 games, helped him reestablish himself in the league. He broke camp with the Wild in the fall and has since contributed as a depth forward, recording 3-7–10 in 48 games while averaging 10:18 of ice time per night. The trade comes as the Wild’s forward group is nearing full health following a series of injuries. With the addition of Bobby Brink and Nick Foligno in separate deals earlier in the day, Hinostroza’s role on the team has diminished. Minnesota is likely to let him play a bottom-six role in Florida, where the Panthers are also dealing with injuries and are expected to move on from winger A.J. Greer. This arrangement gives Hinostroza valuable playoff experience and increases his chances of securing a one-way contract as a free agent this summer. Hinostroza’s situation is complicated by the trade deadline.#minnesota_wild #vinnie_hinostroza #florida_panthers #michael_russo #milwaukee_admirals
Minnesota Wild Trades Forward Vinnie Hinostroza to the Florida Panthers Minnesota Wild President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Bill Guerin announced on Thursday that the team has traded forward Vinnie Hinostroza to the Florida Panthers in exchange for future considerations. The deal marks the latest move in the team’s roster adjustments ahead of the 2025 season. Hinostroza, 31, played in 48 games for the Wild this season, recording 10 points (3 goals, 7 assists) and 46 shots on goal. He contributed eight points (5 goals, 3 assists) in 25 games during the 2024-25 season after being acquired off waivers from the Nashville Predators on February 5, 2025. Over his 11-year NHL career, Hinostroza has accumulated 171 points (62 goals, 109 assists) in 460 games. His NHL tenure includes stints with the Chicago Blackhawks (2015-17, 2021), Arizona Coyotes (2018-20), Florida Panthers (2020-21), Buffalo Sabres (2021-23), Pittsburgh Penguins (2023-24), Nashville Predators (2024-25), and the Minnesota Wild (2024-26). The trade comes as the Wild prepare for their next game against the Vegas Golden Knights, set for tonight at 9 p.m. CT on FanDuel Sports Network and KFAN FM 100.3. The team also released details about single-game ticket sales, noting that tickets are available through wild.com/tickets, ticketmaster.com, and the Grand Casino Arena Box Office. Flex, 11-game, half-season, and full-season memberships are also on offer. For group reservations or suite rentals, the Wild provided specific contact information and links. Additional updates from the team include announcements about acquiring other players, such as Nick Foligno from the Chicago Blackhawks and Bobby Brink from the Philadelphia Flyers.#minnesota_wild #bill_guerin #vinnie_hinostroza #florida_panthers #nashville_predators
NHL Rumour Roundup: Latest buzz on Myers, Trocheck, Bobrovsky and more One week before the NHL trade deadline, speculation about potential deals is intensifying across the league. With the Olympic break delaying roster decisions until earlier this week, teams have had time to evaluate their options and prepare for the final stretch of the season. Sportsnet’s Nick Kypreos outlined several names likely to be involved in trades, while NHL insiders like Elliotte Friedman and Kyle Bukauskas provided deeper insights into the shifting dynamics of the league. The Vancouver Canucks remain active in trade discussions, with their focus centered on moving veteran defenseman Tyler Myers. After dealing star defender Quinn Hughes earlier this season, the team is open to trading multiple players, excluding young prospects and veteran defender Filip Hronek. Myers, 36, is entering the final year of his three-year, $9-million contract, with a modified no-move clause this season. Friedman noted that Myers’ trade protection expires on July 1, giving the Canucks more flexibility to move him now rather than waiting for the offseason. Despite rumors of a potential deal with Detroit, Myers’ agent has not confirmed any agreement, leaving other teams to consider him as a possible target. Meanwhile, the St. Louis Blues continue to be a focal point for trade interest, with their roster featuring high-value players like forwards Robert Thomas, Jordan Kyrou, and Brayden Schenn, as well as defensemen Justin Faulk and netminder Jordan Binnington. Friedman highlighted that the Blues’ asking prices remain steep, with Thomas’ value comparable to a Quinn Hughes-type deal. Kyrou’s price is likened to the Rasmus Andersson trade, which involved multiple assets.#florida_panthers #st_louis_blues #new_york_rangers #vancouver_canucks #edmonton_oilers
