Paul Maurice said Florida Panthers prospect Sandis Vilmanis made new fans, the ones that matter most
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Jonathan Ouimet
Jan 11, 2026 (0:36)
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Photo credit: Marc DesRosiers-IMAGN Images
Sergei Bobrovsky steadied the Florida Panthers, and Sandis Vilmanis debuted as the road trip finally breathed in Ottawa.
Paul Maurice sounded genuinely proud talking about the newer names who do not always grab headlines. He singled out Sandis Vilmanis for showing poise, playing hard, and earning fans in the coaches' room.
Maurice's best compliment was simple and telling:
''I thought, for his first game in the National Hockey League, Sandis Vilmanis held on to some pucks and showed some poise and kind of earned some fans in the coaches' room because I thought he played hard. But he didn't play not to make a mistake.'' Maurice said.
The rookie just played, and you could see how that trust starts forming.Vilmanis logged 11:48 in his NHL debut, finishing with a takeaway and a shot while looking comfortable on the walls. The 21-year-old was the 157th pick in 2022, and patience looks smart when the first night feels steady.
As a fan, I love when a kid protects pucks instead of dumping them out of fear.
A big win to turn this road trip around
Florida held off the Ottawa Senators 3-2 on Saturday, leaning on two power-play goals and a composed finish. The win pushed the Panthers to 23-18-3, exactly the kind of points you cannot waste in January.
Ottawa played with real pace early, but Bobrovsky stayed square and turned away 17 of 19 shots. Florida had lost two straight to open the six-game trip, so this felt like a reset more than a celebration.
Gustav Forsling wore the opener off his stick, then answered with a goal and an assist that flipped the night back. Aaron Ekblad chipped in two assists, and those touches mattered with so many big men out of the lineup.
Evan Rodrigues and Carter Verhaeghe made the power play count, then Forsling's early third-period blast stood up as the winner. Florida went 2-for-4 on the power play and survived five Ottawa advantages on the penalty kill.
Bobrovsky called it «a really tight game,» and Florida's third period matched that mood with short shifts and cleaner exits. When Ottawa ramped the forecheck, the Panthers chipped past pressure, then reset in the neutral zone.
Next up is Buffalo on Monday, and the mission is bringing this same low-mistake mindset on the road again. If Vilmanis keeps playing free and hard, the fan club is only getting started.
Read more on SunriseHockeyInsider
Injury-hit Panthers looked in trouble on this road trip, until tonight in Ottawa
Injury-hit Panthers looked in trouble on this road trip, until tonight in Ottawa
Also read on Sunrise Hockey Insider :
Injury-hit Panthers looked in trouble on this road trip, until tonight in Ottawa
Injury-hit Panthers looked in trouble on this road trip, until tonight in Ottawa
Previously on Sunrise Hockey Insider
| POLL | ||
JANVIER 11 | 11 ANSWERS Paul Maurice said Florida Panthers prospect Sandis Vilmanis made new fans, the ones that matter most Did Sandis Vilmanis look ready in his Florida Panthers debut? | ||
| Loved it | 3 | 27.3 % |
| Solid start | 4 | 36.4 % |
| Need more | 1 | 9.1 % |
| Wait and see | 3 | 27.3 % |
| List of polls | ||