Valentine’s Day isn’t just red roses, fancy dinners, and sweet texts. In February 2026, it is also about goals, excitement, and Olympic dreams. Here’s how your favorite Florida Panthers spent Love Day Weekend.
The Olympic action kicked off on Feb. 14, featuring four games. Panthers players took center stage, representing Latvia, USA, Sweden, and Finland, and collectively producing five points.
Kicking things off, the 29-year-old Latvian blueliner Uvis Balinskis earned an assist in a 4-3 win over Germany. However, with Team Latvia eliminated after falling 5-1 to Sweden on Tuesday, Balinskis’s Valentine’s point remains his lone milestone of the tournament.
Meanwhile, the Finnish team showed no mercy, winning 11-0 over host Italy. Niko Mikkola and Eetu Luostarinen each collected two assists. Later in the day, Team USA defeated Denmark 6-3, with Matthew Tkachuk contributing one assist, bringing his total to four in three Olympic matchups.
The next day was productive for Sam Reinhart and Sam Bennett, both assisting on Bo Horvat’s goal. The score was outrageous by the time of the tally (8-2), but it felt good for the Panthers players and fans. Chucky, who never stops his internal competition, registered two assists for Team USA against Germany (5-1). As a reminder, his legendary dad, Keith Tkachuk, has six Olympic points in his 23 matchups.
Shifting focus to those who stayed home in Florida, some Panthers players used the break to recharge for the playoff push. Aleksander Barkov, still waiting to debut this season, attended the Delray Beach Open tennis tournament and quietly cheered for American tennis player Sebastian Korda. The Florida Panthers shared a picture of two athletes on their IG story. As is typical for the team’s private captain, we may not have known how this two-time Stanley Cup winner spent the weekend otherwise. Even Sasha Barkov can't hide from social media.
On the other part of the state, defenseman Dmitry Kulikov, recovering from a shoulder injury and sidelined since October 2025, spent his Valentine’s Day weekend in Wesley Chapel, FL, watching his son play in the Tampa Bay Showdown tournament. The Jr. Panthers narrowly lost 0-1 in the final against the Jr. Everblades, while Kulikov hang out with youth hockey fans and players, signing autographs and taking pictures. That was a lovely selfless gesture.
Back on the ice, the 2026 Olympic hockey champions will be crowned on Sunday, February 22, and the NHL season resumes on Wednesday, February 25. The big question remains: which Panthers will bring GOLD to South Florida?