Florida Panthers Face Uphill Battle to Reach Playoffs

Defending champions must win key games this week to keep postseason hopes alive

Feb. 25, 2026 at 6:25pm

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The Florida Panthers, the defending Stanley Cup champions, are in a precarious position as they return from the Olympic break. Sitting eight points out of a playoff spot with 25 games left, the Panthers face a make-or-break week with crucial games against the Toronto Maple Leafs and Buffalo Sabres. The team's general manager, Bill Zito, acknowledges the importance of these next two games, saying they could provide "easy answers or easy questions to answer" about the team's playoff chances.

Why it matters

The Panthers' struggles this season have been surprising, given their recent success as back-to-back Stanley Cup champions. Their playoff hopes are hanging by a thread, and these next two games could make or break their season. A strong performance could reignite their playoff push, while losses would likely doom their chances of defending their title.

The details

The Panthers are currently last in the Atlantic Division and need to pass six teams to climb into a wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference. However, they are bolstered by the return of several players who won medals at the recent Olympic Games, including Matthew Tkachuk, Brad Marchand, Sam Reinhart, and Sam Bennett. The team is also hopeful that injured players like Seth Jones, Tomas Nosek, and Dmitry Kulikov will be able to return soon, and captain Aleksander Barkov is expected to make his season debut "soon" as he recovers from ACL and MCL injuries.

  • The Panthers open their post-Olympic schedule on Thursday, February 27, 2026, against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
  • The Panthers will host the Buffalo Sabres on Friday, February 28, 2026.

The players

Bill Zito

The Florida Panthers' general manager and president of hockey operations.

Matthew Tkachuk

A forward for the Florida Panthers who won a gold medal with Team USA at the Milan Cortina Olympic Games.

Aleksander Barkov

The captain of the Florida Panthers, who is expected to make his season debut "soon" as he recovers from ACL and MCL injuries.

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What they’re saying

“We are in trouble.”

— Matthew Tkachuk

“It's a veteran team that clearly understands what's ahead of us. We don't have 25 games left. We've got 25 one-games left. Just really narrow your focus and not get ahead of yourself. It's like a playoff series. You just can't carry your losses into the next night and there's no room to take a deep breath after a win. You just cut it off and really focus on the next day.”

— Paul Maurice, Panthers Coach

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

The Florida Panthers' playoff hopes are hanging by a thread, and the next two games against the Maple Leafs and Sabres will be crucial in determining their postseason fate. The team's recent Olympic success and the potential return of injured players provide some hope, but the Panthers face a daunting schedule down the stretch that will test their resilience and determination to defend their Stanley Cup title.