The Florida Panthers are set to face off against the Ottawa Senators this afternoon at Canadian Tire Centre, with puck drop scheduled for 2:00 p.m. ET. This matchup marks the third and final meeting between these two teams this season, and both squads are battling injuries as they vie for crucial points in the playoff race.
The Panthers, who are looking to clinch a playoff berth, come into this game amid a challenging stretch, having scored just two goals in each of their last four games. They are also riding a three-game losing streak following a narrow 3-2 overtime loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs on April 2. Coach Paul Maurice has had to navigate significant absences, with key players Aleksander Barkov, Matthew Tkachuk, and Aaron Ekblad all missing from the lineup due to injuries and suspension.
Barkov, the team's leading scorer, will not be playing today or in their next game against the Detroit Red Wings on April 6, 2025. "It’s not serious, but he’s not playing this weekend," Maurice said on Friday. Meanwhile, forward Nico Sturm is expected to return by the middle of next week after suffering an upper-body injury.
The projected lineup for the Panthers features Jesper Boqvist centering a line with Sam Bennett and Sam Reinhart, while Eetu Luostarinen, Anton Lundell, and Brad Marchand form another line. Carter Verhaeghe, Evan Rodrigues, and Mackie Samoskevich add depth, while A.J. Greer, Tomas Nosek, and Jonah Gadjovich round out the forward corps. Defensively, Gustav Forsling and Seth Jones are expected to lead the charge, with Niko Mikkola, Nate Schmidt, Jaycob Megna, and Uvis Balinskis providing support. In goal, Sergei Bobrovsky is slated to start.
On the other side, the Senators are also dealing with their own injury woes, missing captain Brady Tkachuk and forward Nick Cousins. Tkachuk, who has been out for two games, is questionable for today’s matchup and has not resumed skating since sustaining an upper-body injury from a hit against Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Ryan Graves. The Senators will look to their young stars, including Tim Stützle and Shane Pinto, to step up in Tkachuk's absence.
The Senators’ projected lineup includes Claude Giroux, Tim Stützle, and Fabian Zetterlund on the top line, while David Perron, Dylan Cozens, and Drake Batherson form the second line. Ridly Greig, Shane Pinto, and Michael Amadio provide additional scoring threats, and defensively, Jake Sanderson and Artem Zub will be key players. Linus Ullmark is expected to start in goal.
Historically, this matchup has favored the Panthers, who have won eight of the last ten meetings against the Senators. However, with both teams struggling with injuries, this game could be a tightly contested affair. The Senators will be eager to claim victory and secure the season series, currently tied at one game apiece. Their first encounter this season saw Ottawa win 3-1, with Stützle scoring twice and Ullmark making 31 saves. Florida responded with a decisive 5-1 victory in their second meeting, with Brady Tkachuk scoring the lone goal for Ottawa.
As the Senators continue their push for a playoff spot, a win against the Panthers could provide a significant boost. The Senators have shown resilience, giving up three goals or less in six of their last seven games. With both teams ranking among the top in goals allowed at five-on-five over the last ten games, this matchup is expected to be a defensive battle.
Betting lines indicate that the total for this game is set at under 5.5 goals, reflecting the expectations for a low-scoring contest. The Panthers opened with an implied win probability of 55.6%, which has since increased to 56.5% as the game approaches.
Fans can catch all the action on TSN5 and RDS, or listen live via radio on TSN 1200 or Unique FM. As the puck drops this afternoon, both teams will look to capitalize on their opportunities and secure a vital win in their respective playoff pursuits. Will the Panthers break their scoring slump, or will the Senators manage to stifle their offense once again? Only time will tell as the game unfolds.
