Feb 4, 2026; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers center Sam Reinhart (13) speaks to defenseman Gustav Forsling (42) against the Boston Bruins during the second period at Amerant Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
The Florida Panthers are idle for the next three weeks. Ten of the club’s skaters will be heading to Milan for the 2026 Winter Olympics. Matthew Tkachuk will play for the Unites States; Sam Bennett, Sam Reinhart and Brad Marchand wil skate for Canada; Anton Lundell, Eetu Luostarinen and Niko Mikkola will suit up for Finland; Sandis Vilmanis and Uvis Balinksis are part of the Latvian team; and Gustav Forsling will patrol the blue line for Sweden. Group Stage games will begin on Wednesday.
Cooper Black made 27 saves in the Charlotte Checkers 3-0 win over the league-leading Grand Rapids Griffins at Bojangles Coliseum last night. It was Black’s first shutout of the season and fourth overall in the AHL. Mike Benning (7), Noah Gregor (2) and Wilmer Skoog (17) scored second period goals in a torrdi 1:17 span for the Checkers. Assists went to Hunter St. Martin, Mitchell Vande Sompel, Jack Studnicka, Trevor Carrick and Robert Mastrosimone. The two teams will go at it again tonight in Charlotte.
Tyler Muszelik stopped all 16 shots in Connecticut’s 2-0 road victory over Northeastern. It was Muszelik’s second shutout of the NCAA season. Fellow Panthers prospect Brendan Dunphy made his 25th appearance of the campaign and took a cross-checking minor. Muszelik is now 15-5-3 with a 2.06 GAA and .931 save percentage. Dunphy, a 20-year-old freshman defenseman, has produced two goals and three assists.
Vladislav Lukashevich registered three shots on goal and finished with an even rating in the Miami RedHawks 3-2 overtime win over Western Michigan. The sophomore defenseman has two goals and 16 assist in 27 games played.