Paul Maurice reveals plan to deal with Florida Panthers injuries

Florida heads into Buffalo banged up, and the schedule is not slowing down for anyone. Maurice confirmed that Wednesday's practice, a «rare treat» for this team, will be especially important for the injured group.

That line matters because the Panthers have been living in maintenance mode, day-to-day updates, optional skates, and constant shuffling. Marchand is still battling an undisclosed issue, while Seth Jones is on injured reserve, and the list keeps forcing uncomfortable lineup choices.

Maurice also has a very «Maurice» way of handling injuries, and it's not random. He builds a step-by-step return that starts with timing, then contact, then game-like pace, and he sticks to it because re-injury risk is the silent killer in January.

As a fan, I know the urge to rush back has to be brutal when the team needs wins.

This is why a game-like practice can be gold, because you can test reads and chemistry without the scoreboard punishing every half-second hesitation. Maurice even said they can «get some timing done» with those guys, and the goal is to see them soon, but see them right.

The players deserve credit too, because buying into the plan takes real discipline. It's easy to say you'll be patient, it's harder when the standings tighten and the calendar starts sprinting.

Florida's record sits at 23-18-3, and that is good enough to keep you in the race but not good enough to relax. The season still has runway, but the next few weeks will feel like a grind, especially with division matchups stacking up.

So Wednesday becomes more than a practice, it's a pressure valve. If the injured guys can take a harder, cleaner workload and keep responding well, it steadies the room and helps everyone breathe.

Until then, the message is simple, survive, bank points, and let the plan do its job. If Florida gets Marchand and others back with legs under them, not just names on a lineup card, that's how you make the spring feel possible again.

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