Ducks Face Panthers as Injuries Pile Up for Florida

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — The Florida Panthers are set to host the Anaheim Ducks tonight at the Amerant Bank Arena. Both teams come into this game with significant injuries impacting their lineups.

The Panthers will be missing key players, including Aleksander Barkov (knee), Matthew Tkachuk (lower body), and Jonah Gadjovich (upper body). Additionally, Brad Marchand is away due to a family emergency, pending a funeral. These absences put pressure on the team, which has seen an inconsistent start to the season.

“Brad is our leader on offense. Losing him is a tough blow for us,” said Panthers head coach Paul Maurice. “We need to rally together and make up for his absence.”

Florida, however, looks to capitalize on their recent home success. They have won four of their last five games at home, including a recent 3-0 shutout against the Vegas Golden Knights.

In contrast, the Ducks are trying to shake off a 4-3 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning, rounding off a five-game road trip that began in Chicago. Former Panthers coach Joel Quenneville now leads the Ducks and is expected to have a large impact in the match.

“Florida plays a strong team game. They are connected and know how to score,” Quenneville stated about the Panther’s style. “We need to adjust and adapt to their pressure.”

The Ducks’ lineup includes notable players like Cutter Gauthier, Leo Carlsson, and Alex Killorn, while the Panthers counter with a mix of veteran and rookie talent. This includes players like Carter Verhaeghe and Evan Rodrigues, who will need to step up in the absence of Marchand and others.

As both teams prepare for what promises to be an emotional and competitive match, the Panthers will look to continue their strong home form against the Ducks, who they have not lost to since November 2018.