Desperate Panthers Face Bruins Looking to Rebound

Florida seeks to end four-game skid as Boston aims to bounce back from tough loss

Feb. 3, 2026 at 10:55pm

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The Florida Panthers, the two-time reigning Stanley Cup champions, have lost four straight games and trail the Boston Bruins by nine points in the battle for the final Eastern Conference wild-card spot. The Panthers will face the Bruins on Wednesday night in Sunrise, Florida, with a sense of urgency surrounding the team as they have 27 games left in the regular season and just two before a three-week Olympic break. The Bruins are coming off a 6-5 shootout loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning in an outdoor game and are looking to bounce back before their own Olympic break.

Why it matters

This matchup between the struggling Panthers and the Bruins, who are trying to rebound from a tough loss, is crucial for both teams' playoff aspirations. The Panthers are dealing with a number of key injuries, while the Bruins have been one of the hottest teams in the NHL since the start of the new year.

The details

The Panthers have lost four straight games and are trailing the Bruins by nine points in the race for the final Eastern Conference wild-card spot. Florida coach Paul Maurice said his players are 'grinding and battling' as hard as possible, but the team's injuries are an issue, with several prominent players sidelined. Meanwhile, the Bruins are coming off a tough 6-5 shootout loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning in an outdoor game, blowing a 5-1 second-period lead. Boston has not lost consecutive games this calendar year, going 12-2-2 since Dec. 31, and is led offensively by David Pastrnak, who is gunning for his fourth straight 100-point season.

  • The Panthers and Bruins will face off on Wednesday night (February 4, 2026) in Sunrise, Florida.
  • The game will be Boston's final one before the Olympic break.

The players

Matthew Tkachuk

A star forward for the Florida Panthers who has only played eight games this season due to injuries.

Paul Maurice

The head coach of the Florida Panthers.

David Pastrnak

A forward for the Boston Bruins who leads the team in assists and points and is gunning for his fourth straight 100-point season.

Marco Sturm

The first-year head coach of the Boston Bruins, who is a former Bruins player.

Jeremy Swayman

The starting goaltender for the Boston Bruins who has bounced back this season after a losing record last year.

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What they’re saying

“We're in trouble right now.”

— Matthew Tkachuk

“If the shots were 40-20 the other way, we'd be shook.”

— Paul Maurice, Florida Panthers head coach

“From an individual standpoint, they have us by a lot. We have a certain style, and if we play it, we are successful. We just haven't played it enough.”

— Matthew Tkachuk

“The game was over. We had them.”

— David Pastrnak, Boston Bruins forward

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

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.