SUNRISE, Fla. — Without Matthew Tkachuk, Aleksander Barkov, Tomas Nosek, Cole Schwindt, Dmitry Kulikov and Jonah Gadjovich, the Florida Panthers knew there would be some bumps in the road.

With the Christmas break here, the Panthers (20-14-2), winners of eight of their past 10 games, are beginning to play like the team that has won back-to-back Stanley Cups.

The Panthers are expected to welcome back Tkachuk and Nosek soon, as both have been sidelined with injuries and have yet to make their debuts in the 2025-26 season.

During the key players’ absences, guys like new father Carter Verhaeghe, Brad Marchand, and Sam Bennett have taken control of the offense.

Marchand leads the team in goals (20), assists (21) and points (41).

In their previous game on Dec. 23, the Panthers erased a 2-0 third-period deficit to score five unanswered goals in a 5-2 win over the Carolina Hurricanes.

With 42 points, the Panthers currently hold the final Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference, after having been in last place at one point.

At the top of NHL’s Eastern Conference with 47 points are the Detroit Red Wings, followed by the Montreal Canadiens with 45 points and the Tampa Bay Lightning with 43 points.

The Lightning visit Amerant Bank Arena on Dec. 27 at 7 p.m. ET for the first game for both teams after the break in what will be a five-game homestand for the Panthers, including their Winter Classic contest at loanDepot Park on Jan. 2, home of the MLB’s Miami Marlins.

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