FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — The Florida Panthers had a league-leading 10 players and five staff members representing their respective nations at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026.

In the end, seven players returned home with medals – notably Matthew Tkachuk, who brought home gold after the United States defeated Canada 2-1 in overtime in the gold medal game – marking the first gold medal for the U.S. men’s hockey team since 1980.

It’s now back to work for the Panthers, who are currently eight points out of the final Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference with 25 games to go.

Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice addressed reporters following the gold medal game and provided positive updates on multiple injuries.

Defenseman Dmitry Kulikov and forward Tomáš Nosek both practiced Saturday with the main group and were seen wearing yellow no-contact jerseys.

Kulikov has been out of the lineup since suffering an upper-body injury in the second game of the season on Oct. 9.

Nosek hasn’t appeared in a game this season following offseason surgery to repair a lower-body injury.

When Maurice was asked about timelines, he said Nosek and Kulikov, as well as forward Jonah Gadjovich (upper body), sidelined since Oct. 25, could possibly return to the lineup during the Panthers’ first road trip after the Olympics break, which begins March 1.

Maurice also said defenseman Aaron Ekblad and forwards Brad Marchand and Evan Rodrigues, all of whom did not play in Florida’s 6-1 loss to Tampa Bay on Feb. 5, are expected back when the Panthers take the ice Thursday against Toronto at 7 p.m. ET at Amerant Bank Arena. Twenty-four hours after facing the Maple Leafs, the Panthers will welcome the Buffalo Sabres to Sunrise for a 7 p.m. ET faceoff.

Florida Panthers return to business after memorable Olympics

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Brandon Liguori