The Florida Panthers came home briefly, and the injury picture slowly shifts
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Jonathan Ouimet
Jan 15, 2026 (7:55)
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Photo credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
Matthew Tkachuk and Brad Marchand skating Wednesday gave the Florida Panthers a lift, and a rare home reset, in the middle of a heavy road swing.
Florida flew back to South Florida after Monday's win in Buffalo, using four off days before Friday in Raleigh to get bodies treated and minds settled. It's their longest trip of the season, so that breather matters.
Tkachuk worked in a regular rotation at Baptist Health IcePlex and got into contact-style drills, the closest practice can come to game chaos. Paul Maurice basically admitted the corner timing is the real test, not the straight-line skating.
The context is huge because Tkachuk has not played yet this season after summer surgery to repair a torn adductor and a sports hernia. Maurice said the healing and the numbers look good, but the player has to feel he can return and stay in.
«The healing has been pretty good, and his numbers are good, we just don't want him coming in before he feels he is ready,» Maurice said. «This is a guy who played with a broken collarbone, so he's going in as soon as he possibly can, we just don't want to influence him. It really has to be his decision, when he feels he can not only go in (the lineup), but he can stay in.»
Marchand's situation is different, but the direction is similar. Maurice held him out of the third period against Toronto last Tuesday as a precaution, and Marchand has missed three straight since.
Florida Panthers injury news meets Matthew Tkachuk return
As a fan watching this group grind, it's hard not to respect how they keep banking points while their stars rotate through the medical room.
Marchand was back on the ice Wednesday, still listed day-to-day, but he jumped into some contact drills with teammates staying off him. That's a real step up from where he was earlier in the week.
It also underlines how demanding this season has been on Florida's remaining healthy core. Marchand has carried a massive load, putting up 23 goals and 46 points in 41 games, and that kind of pace takes a toll.
The next stretch will answer a lot. The Panthers head north Thursday, with a planned White House visit in Washington, then finish the trip with a back-to-back against the Carolina Hurricanes on Friday and the Capitals on Saturday.
If Tkachuk and Marchand can turn these practice reps into game minutes, Florida's road grind suddenly looks a lot less lonely, and a lot more dangerous.
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| POLL | ||
JANVIER 15 | 24 ANSWERS The Florida Panthers came home briefly, and the injury picture slowly shifts Should the Florida Panthers be cautious with Matthew Tkachuk and Brad Marchand this weekend? | ||
| Be patient | 18 | 75 % |
| Bring them back | 6 | 25 % |
| List of polls | ||