The Florida Panthers are set to host the Boston Bruins in their final home game before the break at Amerant Bank Arena on Wednesday. The Panthers, currently with a 28-24-3 record and 59 points, sit nine points behind the Bruins (32-20-4, 68 points) for the second wild card spot in the Eastern Conference.
This matchup will be their second meeting of three scheduled for this season. The previous encounter took place on October 21 at TD Garden, where Florida secured a narrow 4-3 victory with Carter Verhaeghe scoring the game-winning goal in the last minute.
With two games remaining before break, players and staff acknowledge the importance of these contests. “We want to finish strong here,” said Gustav Forsling after morning skate. “Huge points on the line, so we want to come out already.”
The Panthers are looking to rebound from a recent 5-3 loss against Buffalo. They have faced challenges with injuries at center, as Anton Lundell missed his third straight game and Sam Bennett exited early in that match. Head coach Paul Maurice indicated that both players could return against Boston: “He had been in that one hole, in the Barkov hole, all year for us,” Maurice said about Lundell. “Then when he goes out of the lineup, I mean we lost a player in each of three of our last four games and twice it’s the centerman, so there’s some juggling on the bench there when he goes out of the lineup. It changes everything.”
Lundell has contributed 36 points this season along with leading team faceoff stats at 52.5%. The team also receives positive news as Bennett is expected back; he recently learned he would join Hockey Canada’s roster for Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. “To get that call yesterday, it’s something I’ve dreamt about as a kid and thought about every day since putting on that jersey last year (at 4 Nations),” Bennett said. “To say it meant a lot to me is a huge understatement.”
Bennett holds third place among Panthers’ goal scorers this season and ranks high in assists and total points.
Coach Maurice confirmed Brad Marchand will remain out for this matchup while Sergei Bobrovsky will start in net for Florida; Bobrovsky is approaching his 450th career win.
On Boston’s side, they enter having won seven of their past ten games but recently fell to Tampa Bay Lightning via shootout during Sunday’s Stadium Series game. Morgan Geekie continues his standout campaign leading Boston in goals (32) and ranking second overall in points (53). David Pastrnak leads assists (48) and total points (70), while Charlie McAvoy tops defensive stats.
Joonas Korpisalo is projected as starting goaltender for Boston with current season figures showing ten wins over nineteen starts.
Gustav Forsling commented on familiarity between teams: “Obviously we know them pretty well. Great power play and they got a lot of skill over there.” Sam Bennett added regarding his Olympic selection: “A lot of planning yesterday. It’s all going to be worth it. Tons of phone calls, lots of planning.”
The Panthers have recorded success against Boston recently by earning points in seven out of their last ten meetings dating back to January 2023.
Fans can watch or listen live via TNT or HBO Max streaming services as well as several local radio stations including WQAM-FM/560 WQAM-AM.
