October couldn’t be a better month: hockey is back, the Stanley Cup is looking for another dream catcher, and the Florida Panthers are aiming for a three-peat.
The back-to-back NHL champions slid into a new season with three home wins, six points, and first place in the Eastern Conference. Sergei Bobrovsky earned three wins, a 1.67 GAA, and a .925 save percentage only to be named the Third Star of the Week. It looked like a powerful homestead.
I'm back on the market.
— The Stanley Cup (@StanleyCup) October 7, 2025
While Alexander Barkov, Matthew Tkachuk, and Tomas Nosek recover after their surgeries, others must step up. And they did. The Panthers’ system is about aggressive forecheck, constant pressure, and domination. It requires significant effort and physicality, and it’s logical to experience so many “wear-and-tear” issues after three consecutive finals, two championships, and short summers.
The second week added more challenges. A 6-foot-5 Russian-born goalie, Daniil Tarasov, debuted against the Philadelphia Flyers. Chosen by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the third round (86th overall) of the 2017 NHL Draft, Tarasov was traded to the Panthers in June 2025 after splitting four seasons between the Blue Jackets and its AHL affiliate, the Cleveland Monsters. Before signing with the Panthers, the goalie had 61 NHL starts with 19 wins and 34 losses, a 3.44 GAA, and a .898 save percentage in 65 overall NHL games.
On Oct. 13, the Cats lost their first road game against the Flyers 5-2. Two of the last goals were empty netters and don’t have much to do with Tarasov’s performance. Overall, he did a great job stopping 17 shots and making some solid saves. Paul Maurice rated his debut as “fantastic.”
But Wednesday, Oct.15, was officially marked as a bad news day. Dmitry Kulikov, a veteran defenseman drafted by the Panthers in 2009, will miss five months after having a labral tear repaired with surgery. The two-time champion was injured during the second home contest of the season against the Flyers. He spent 7:47 on ice and left the game early after being hit into the boards. The Panthers won 2-1. Kulikov isn’t a star player, but his reputation as a hard checker and penalty-killing specialist is undeniable.
Difficult day for injury news around the NHL …
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) October 15, 2025
▫️Vincent Trocheck heading to LTIR (upper-body)
▫️Dmitry Kulikov out 5 months after surgery (upper-body)
▫️Jakob Markstrom out a couple of weeks (lower-body)
▫️Brady Tkachuk (wrist) may require surgery pic.twitter.com/Y8TwcPC59D
Meanwhile, the Florida Panthers management made some fast moves by recalling a blueliner, Tobias Bjornfort, from the Charlotte Checkers and claiming a defenseman, Donovan Sebrango, off waivers from the Ottawa Senators.
The second road defeat, 4-1 against the Detroit Red Wings, had a few similarities with the matchup against the Flyers but with Bobrovsky in the net. It’s the same Florida Panthers team, the same coaching staff, and the same philosophy. But players looked emotionally tired. Is it related to a championship hangover? Is the franchise exhausted after another short summer and a chain of injuries? The rivals of the Tampa Bay Lightning know, like no one else, that “three-peat” is even more complicated than defending a winning streak.
In two road games, the Panthers allowed nine goals, four of them in the empty net, and scored just three. Sam Reinhart (shorthanded), Sam Bennett (power play), and Brad Marchand (5x5) made their contribution. So, what’s missing?
As the trip continues, the Cats must figure out their current mood. They will be back home at Amerant Bank Arena to face the Pittsburgh Penguins on Oct.23.