As the Florida Panthers tread deeper into their challenging six-game road trip, they find themselves in a frenzied race against time, attempting to reinforce their defense line. Thursday will witness yet another test of their mettle as they gear up to face the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Panthers’ defense took a significant hit with Dmitry Kulikov, a crucial figure in their strategy, being sidelined due to a suspected right arm injury. Kulikov’s misfortune occurred during Florida’s 4-2 defeat at the hands of the New York Islanders on Sunday.
The Panthers’ current journey has been a harsh one, with three losses out of four games, two of which saw them fritter away two-goal leads during the third period. Despite these setbacks, the team’s head coach, Paul Maurice, remains positive. He asserts, “Structurally, I’m very comfortable with our game. We are correct in that part of our game. I think foot speed, some of the other teams have an advantage on us right now. We can play a little faster.”
To offset Kulikov’s absence, the Panthers have brought in defenseman Tobias Bjornfot from Charlotte of the American Hockey League (AHL) on Tuesday. Previously, Bjornfot was called up from the AHL in January when the team was grappling with the absence of top-tier defensemen Aaron Ekblad and Niko Mikkola. Maurice, praising Bjornfot, stated, “This is normal for him. His games for us have been very good. He’s one of those that falls into that category of a guy that when you send him down, you feel bad because he hasn’t done anything wrong on the ice. His play has been solid for us.”
Further compounding the Panthers’ woes, star Matthew Tkachuk has been relegated to the long-term injured reserve due to a suspected groin injury. In addition, forward Brad Marchand is out of play with an upper-body injury, and Aaron Ekblad faces a suspension for the rest of the regular season and two playoff games for contravening the NHL/NHLPA Performance Enhancing Substances Program.
On the other side of the rink, the Blue Jackets, despite a stellar performance by goalie Jake Allen, and commendable efforts of the team, did not achieve the desired results in their last match. Yet, their head coach, Dean Evason, remains hopeful and inspired by the team’s performance, stating, “We had so many unbelievable opportunities. We played the right way, we played hard, we played disciplined, we played within the system structurally. We just didn’t get the result.”
One of the highlights for the Blue Jackets was Mathieu Olivier, who scored in the third period, ending the team’s scoreless run of 182 minutes and 55 seconds. Olivier has been in impressive form, with six goals under his belt in the last 10 games.
As the two teams face off on Thursday, the Florida Panthers are in a desperate scramble to fortify their defense. With key players sidelined due to injuries and suspensions, the game against the Columbus Blue Jackets promises to be a significant test of the team’s resolve and resilience.