CHICAGO – The Florida Panthers will look to get back on the right track when they continue their road trip with a clash against the Chicago Blackhawks at United Center on Sunday.
After scoring 18 goals during an impressive three-game winning streak, the Panthers have opened their four-game trip by being outscored 9-1 in back-to-back losses at Ottawa and Pittsburgh.
“I don't think it's a system issue,” head coach Paul Maurice said after Saturday’s practice in Chicago. “Like, that's an easy fix. Everybody understands the game. If we're off it in a certain area, we can fix that. Over the course of the year, you're going to have two or three kind of inflection points where the level of your game is not where it needs to be.”
For the Panthers, the unusual dip has shown up in the numbers.
Starting the season as one of the best 5-on-5 teams in the NHL, they’ve trailed 74-67 in shot attempts and 37-28 in scoring chances during their surprising two-game skid.
In both of their recent losses, the Panthers have also garnered a sub-50% share of expected goals.
Looking back at their previous nine games, that has only occurred two other times this season.
“We’re going to come into seven [games] in eleven [days] here in the early part of November,” Maurice said. “We will be tired in that stretch, and we’re still going to have to win hockey games. I didn't feel that was the case against Pittsburgh, so we're working on it.”
Less than week removed from their goal-scoring spree, the Panthers (5-4-2) are confident they can bounce back against the Blackhawks (3-7-0) and nip their current dip right in the bud.
In order to do so, they know they’ll have to reach a certain level of intensity.
As we know, “Panther Hockey” can’t be played at anything below 100 percent.
“We didn't really like our game at all last two games, so it's a good chance to bounce back,” forward Eetu Luostarinen said. “We have to hard on pucks. We have to just do what we're good at. Just finish checks and then just be on the puck.”
VILMANIS MOVES UP
Sandis Vilmanis looks like he's moving up.
After being scratched in Pittsburgh, the 22-year-old rookie was skating alongside Sam Reinhart and Carter Verhaeghe on the second line during Saturday’s practice.
“We gave him a little bit of a reset," Maurice said. "He should have some good legs and good urgency in this game."
Given that Vilmanis is only 29 games into his NHL career, Maurice believes getting to watch Thursday’s game from the press box should yield positive results for the youngster.
“Especially for young players, they get too many things rattling around in their head and they forget to just go play the game,” Maurice said. “Obviously there's more to hockey than just running around out there playing your game. When the video's new, the interaction with the coaches is new, you're seeing teams that you haven't played against before, there's just a lot. It’s just a little step away from the game. You watch it from upstairs, you realize you got a little more time than you think, but you probably have to go faster than you're going.”
After posting five points (3G, 2A) in 19 games with the Panthers in 2025-26, Vilmanis, a fifth-round pick in the 2022 draft, has notched an assist through his first 10 games this season.
Looking at his underlying numbers, more points should be in his future.
A bit unlucky to start the season, Vilmanis has produced the fifth-best expected goals for percentage (62.60%) and registered the sixth-most individual scoring chances (16) at 5-on-5 on the Panthers, according to the numbers at NaturalStatTrick.com.
“He's awesome,” Verhaeghe said of his new linemate. “He's such a good guy. It's so funny seeing all the new guys and young guys come in and watching them grow. It feels like Lundy (Anton Lundell) was there a little bit. I was there a little bit ago. It'll be fun playing with him.”
500 FOR SWAGGY
Verhaeghe will lace up his skates for the 500th time in his NHL on Sunday.
Of those 500 games, 448 will have come in a Panthers sweater.
“It feels amazing,” Verhaeghe said. “It’s really special. I never thought I'd even be able to play in this league, so it’s a dream come true. I’m just so blessed every day to be able to play in the NHL.”
The Panthers are also blessed to have him.
Since joining the Panthers as a free agent in 2020, Verhaeghe has recorded 352 points (169G, 183A) in 447 career games, including an incredible 42-goal campaign in 2022-23.
Helping the Panthers win back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2024 and 2025, Verhaeghe is also the franchise’s all-time leader in goals (33) and game-winning goals (13) in the playoffs.
“He’s one of the best playoff players I've ever coached,” Maurice said. “His ability to get on a puck, be physical. He's not a heavy guy, but he's very physical in games and then gets the puck off his stick faster than anybody expects. I love the way he's a great skater, but I love the way he physically competes in those playoff games. That's really what his strength is.”
SATURDAY’S PRACTICE LINES
Forwards
Brady Tkachuk – Sam Bennett – Matthew Tkachuk
Carter Verhaeghe – Sam Reinhart – Sandis Vilmanis
Eetu Luostarinen – Anton Lundell – Lars Eller
Boko Imama – Cole Schwindt – Garnet Hathaway
Cole Reinhardt
Defensemen
Gustav Forsling – Aaron Ekblad
Niko Mikkola – Seth Jones
Dmitry Kulikov – Radko Gudas
Uvis Balinskis
Goaltenders
Akira Schmid
Cooper Black
