Hockey

Panthers Conclude Weekend Road Trip Against Struggling Rangers

by
William Caldwell
March 29, 2026

The Florida Panthers are set to conclude a brief two-game road trip with a visit to Madison Square Garden, a venue often hailed as The World’s Most Famous Arena. As they face off against the New York Rangers, both teams are looking to find some semblance of success amid disappointing seasons.

Heading into Sunday’s matchup, the Panthers and Rangers are languishing at the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings. New York currently holds the third-worst record in the NHL, tied with the Chicago Blackhawks at 67 points but boasting more wins. The Panthers sit just above them, tied for sixth-worst with the St. Louis Blues and San Jose Sharks.

This situation carries weight for Florida, especially with their 2026 first-round draft pick being top-10 protected. The Panthers had sent that pick to Chicago during last season’s Trade Deadline in exchange for Seth Jones. However, if the pick falls within the top 10, Florida retains it, providing a glimmer of hope for the future.

With just 10 games left on their schedule—only four of which will be played at home—the Panthers are eager to make the most of their opportunities. Should Sam Bennett remain unavailable, Florida is expected to field the same lineup that faced the Islanders on Saturday. The lone anticipated change is in goal, where Sergei Bobrovsky will likely take over from Daniil Tarasov.

Here are the Panthers’ projected lines and pairings for their Sunday showdown at the Garden:

Carter Verhaeghe – Eetu Luostarinen – Matthew Tkachuk
Mackie Samoskevich – Jesper Boqvist – Noah Gregor
Cole Reinhardt – Tomas Nosek – Vinnie Hinostroza
Nolan Foote – Luke Kunin – Jack Studnicka
Gus Forsling – Aaron Ekblad
Dmitry Kulikov – Seth Jones
Donovan Sebrango – Mike Benning

As both teams look to ignite their seasons, the stakes are high for the Panthers as they aim to finish strong in the remainder of the campaign.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.

William Caldwell

William Caldwell is a veteran journalist whose career has spanned the highs and lows of the sports world. With a focus on baseball and hockey, William’s articles are known for their depth and historical perspective, making him a favorite among fans who appreciate the rich traditions of sports. Outside the press box, William is an amateur historian with a particular interest in sports memorabilia.