FORT LAUDERDALE – Jacob Markstrom is expected to miss the next 10-14 days with an upper-body injury, Florida Panthers head coach Paul Maurice announced on Tuesday.
The veteran goaltender left Monday’s practice early after being struck with a puck.
In six appearances this season, Markstrom has posted a 3-1-1 record with a 2.21 goals-against average, a .897 save percentage and one shutout.
Among goaltenders that have appeared in at least five games this season, Markstrom’s 2.21 goals-against average is the ninth-best mark in the NHL.
In his absence, the Panthers have recalled goaltender Cooper Black from the AHL.
“He's going to see some action,” Maurice said.
In three games in the AHL this season, Black, who’s at the outset of his third professional campaign, gone 2-1-0 behind a 2.67 goals-against average and a .919 save percentage.
On Saturday, he made 33 saves for the Checkers in a 4-2 win over Hartford.
Originally joining the Panthers as an undrafted free agent in 2024, the 25-year-old goaltender was signed to a two-year, two-way contract extension on June 8, 2026.
Seeing action in one game during the preseason, Black turned aside 14 of 16 shots over two periods to help lead the Panthers to a 5-3 win over the rival Tampa Bay Lightning on Sept. 24.
“This is the progression of how these guys earn their opportunity to break in the league,” Maurice said of the promising young rookie. “He’ll get some games. He’s been good. He's been good in practice. He looks like he fits. He looks comfortable. It's the right time for him to get in.”
Standing 6-foot-8, Black will become the tallest starting goaltender in NHL history when he makes his eventual debut, which is expected to come during Florida’s upcoming four-game road trip.
“That’s a big lad, and he moves like an athlete,” Maurice said.
With Markstrom out, backup goaltender Akira Schmid will also see an increased role between the pipes.
Joining the Panthers on a two-year contract as a free agent this past summer, the 26-year-old goaltender has gone 2-1-1 with a .878 save percentage in four appearances this season.
In 2025-26, he manned the crease in a career-high 34 games for the Vegas Golden Knights.
“He’s dealt with it before,” Maurice said of Schmid. “It's not his first time. There's some pressure on that number one job, so it’s a great opportunity for both of them (the goaltenders).”
PANTHERS NOTES
- The Panthers will kick off their four-game road trip with an inter-division matchup against the Ottawa Senators on Wednesday. For Brady Tkachuk, it will mark his first game against his former team after being traded to the Panthers in June. Heading into his former stomping grounds on a roll, he was named the NHL’s First Star of the Week on Monday after racking up 10 points (6G, 4A) last week. "Once we get there, I will use that emotion to my advantage because it's going to be emotional both individually and in the building," Tkachuk said.
- With the Panthers starting to find their scoring touch as a whole, the team’s third line looks to be next in line for some good fortune. So far this season, the Panthers have led 38-21 in scoring chances and posted a 64.92 xGF% at 5-on-5 when the trio of Anton Lundell, Eetu Luostarinen and Sandis Vilmanis has been deployed. “We’re playing the right way, playing the way we have to play,” Vilmanis said. “Just a little unlucky with the goals. … I think when the first one goes in, the rest of them will come as well.”
- Radko Gudas is good to go, according to Maurice. Out since Oct. 12 with a lower-body injury, the grizzled veteran is expected to return to the blue line against the Senators. In six games this season, he's recorded 13 hits and 11 blocks while averaging 13:08 of ice time per contest.
TUESDAY’S PRACTICE LINES
Forwards
Brady Tkachuk – Sam Bennett – Matthew Tkachuk
Carter Verhaeghe – Sam Reinhart – Lars Eller
Eetu Luostarinen – Anton Lundell – Sandis Vilmanis
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
