Photo credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images
Florida Panthers momentum grows with Winter Classic buzz and Carter Verhaeghe leading as January hockey starts to matter.
The Panthers are finally catching their stride at the perfect time. Florida was last in the Eastern Conference as recently as December 3. Fast forward, and the two time defending Stanley Cup champions are 6-1-1 over their last eight games, now one point behind the New Jersey Devils for a wild card spot.
On January 2, the Panthers will host the New York Rangers at loanDepot park in Miami in the 2026 Winter Classic. It will be the first outdoor NHL game ever played in the Sunshine State, a milestone moment for the franchise.
Florida Panthers rediscover identity before Winter Classic
Carter Verhaeghe summed up the shift best. After three long seasons and short summers, Florida needed time to find its footing again. He has 11 points over the last 8 games.
Injuries made everything harder. Aleksander Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk have not played this season, Tomas Nosek remains out, and Dmitry Kulikov and Jonah Gadjovich have missed extended time. Even Eetu Luostarinen lost eight games after a bizarre barbecue burn accident.
Through December 3, Florida ranked 15th in scoring and 19th defensively, with special teams lagging. Since December 4, the turnaround has been sharp. The Panthers rank fourth in goals per game, their penalty kill has jumped to first, and details have tightened across the board.
Paul Maurice pointed to patience and Luostarinen's return stabilizing the lineup. Anton Lundell echoed that improvement came from cleaner details and staying inside structure.
Tkachuk is projected to return around January, and the Winter Classic now sits clearly in view. Maurice called it the light at the end of the tunnel, and you can feel it.