![\"SUNRISE,](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/2269581272-GI.JPG\" "\\"SUNRISE,")
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SUNRISE, FLORIDA – APRIL 02: Mackie Samoskevich #11 of the Florida Panthers celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal against the Boston Bruins during the first period of the game at Amerant Bank Arena on April 02, 2026 in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Megan Briggs\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n
Megan Briggs<\/p>\n
Getty Images<\/p>\n
The Florida Panthers have had a simple request for Mackie Samoskevich: Keep shooting.<\/p>\n
That was easier said than done sometimes.<\/p>\n
The Panthers know how lethal Samoskevich can be with the puck on his stick. His straight-end speed makes him a weapon on the wings. His quick release has the potential to be a goaltender\u2019s nightmare if he can learn to finish more consistently.<\/p>\n
But try as he might all season, the 23-year-old Samoskevich struggled to find the back of the net during his second full NHL season.<\/p>\n
It wasn\u2019t for a lack of effort. He has had his share of opportunities, so many moments where things could have broken his way. They just … didn\u2019t.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve never seen a guy that snake bit,\u201d Panthers coach Paul Maurice said. \u201cTruly, the number of good chances \u2014 he\u2019s a good shooter. He can shoot the puck.\u201d<\/p>\n
But even with the lack of results, Samoskevich kept shooting.<\/p>\n
And with the season winding down to its final days, Samoskevich and his shot is finally getting rewarded.<\/p>\n
He entered Florida\u2019s road game against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday having scored goals in three consecutive games \u2014 the first goal streak of his young NHL career.<\/p>\n
\u201cI feel like I\u2019ve been playing well enough to score,\u201d Samoskevich said. \u201cJust for whatever reason, they haven\u2019t gone in. I think the difference is they\u2019re going in now.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sounds simple.<\/p>\n
But the numbers back up Samoskevich\u2019s claim.<\/p>\n
According to the advanced hockey statistics website Natural Stat Trick, Samoskevich\u2019s expected goals scored<\/a> (which takes into account shot selection and quality to measuring the probability that a specific unblocked shot attempt will result in a goal, based on historical data) this season is 20.15. He has actually scored just nine goals.<\/p>\n Samoskevich\u2019s minus-11.15 difference between actual goals and expected goals is by far the largest on the Panthers\u2019 roster<\/a> (Eetu Luostarinen is second at minus-6.36) and is the fifth-largest discrepancy across the entire NHL. The only players with worse differentials: the New York Islanders\u2019 Anders Lee (18 goals, 36.77 expected goals, minus-18.77 differential), the Vancouver Canucks\u2019 Jake DeBrusk (18 goals, 31.6 expected goals, minus-13.6 differential), the New Jersey Devils\u2019 Timo Meier (22 goals, 35.48 expected goals, minus-13.48 differential) and the Detroit Red Wings\u2019 Andrew Copp (9 goals, 21.07 expected goals, minus-12.07 differential).<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s been tough,\u201d Samoskevich said. \u201cBut that\u2019s the cool thing about the sport; you get to try again the next night.\u201d<\/p>\n And as usually seems to be the case when streak-busting goals, his first of these three was a particularly fluky one. In the final minute against the New York Rangers on Sunday, Samoskevich got a feed from Jesper Boqvist and sent a shot toward Igor Shesterkin. Samoskevich\u2019s stick broke on the attempt, the puck fluttered in the air, Shesterkin tried to swat at it and it ended up in the net. It was Samoskevich\u2019s first goal since Feb. 5, breaking a 12-game drought.<\/p>\n \u201cIt couldn\u2019t have been an end-to-ender. It had to be exactly like that,\u201d Maurice said. \u201cAnd I\u2019m sure for that young man, the weight of the world lifted off his shoulders.\u201d<\/p>\n Samoskevich has been playing freer since then.<\/p>\n He was part of Florida\u2019s five-goal first-period flurry against the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday, flicking a shot from up close past Linus Ullmark on the power play on a feed from defenseman Seth Jones 66 seconds into the game.<\/p>\n And on Thursday, Samoskevich opened scoring agianst the Boston Bruins when he scooped up a puck behind the Boston net, skated into the left circle and fired a wrist shot past Jeremy Swayman.<\/p>\n \u201cHis shot is what we see from him in practice, is what we saw from him last year,\u201d Maurice said. \u201cWe believe it\u2019s there. We believe he has that kind of shot.\u201d<\/p>\n Added center Sam Bennett: \u201cIt\u2019s awesome for him. He\u2019s played some great hockey. He\u2019s made some great plays. He\u2019s had some great looks. It\u2019s just sometimes it\u2019s the puck doesn\u2019t seem to want to go in the net, but he\u2019s been sticking with it, and it was nice to see him get rewarded.\u201d<\/p>\n