FORT LAUDERDALE - The Florida Panthers absorbed their first regulation loss of the 2026-27 season Saturday, falling 4-1 to the Minnesota Wild in their home opener at Sunrise, and will now face a back-to-back road trip starting Monday against the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center at 1 p.m. ET before traveling to Columbus to face the Blue Jackets on Tuesday.
The loss dropped Florida to 2-1-2 through five games, though defenseman Gustav Forsling expressed confidence the team’s play will turn after Sunday’s practice at Baptist Health IcePlex. “We know with our game, it’s going to come,” Forsling said. “It’s just a matter of time here. We’ve just got to stick with our game.”
The Panthers received good news Sunday on forward Eetu Luostarinen, who left Saturday’s game in the third period after being struck by a shot and did not return. The 28-year-old Finnish forward was on the ice practicing Sunday, clearing concerns about his availability for the road trip. Head coach Paul Maurice offered a candid assessment of the physical toll Luostarinen routinely absorbs. “He gets hit with a lot of pucks because he’s not afraid to go to the net,” Maurice said. “He’s blocked a lot of shots, broke his leg once doing it, so we kind of hold our breath. Then he’s walking around the next day and everything’s good, so that’s just his life. He’s going to be a penalty-killing shot blocker, and he’s a net front guy. He’s going to take some pucks.”
Through five games, Luostarinen is averaging 15:29 of ice time and has recorded two goals, eight shots, and nine hits. He leads all Panthers forwards with five blocked shots.
Despite the overall record, Florida’s five-on-five play has been among the league’s best to open the season. Per NaturalStatTrick.com, the Panthers hold a 56.94% offensive advantage at even strength, sixth in the NHL, and a 57.14% high-danger chance advantage, seventh in the NHL, along with an 86-66 shot advantage. Forsling credited the team’s defensive structure for keeping games close. “All the games have been tight games, and I feel like our five-on-five game has been really solid,” he said. “We don’t give up much.”
The road trip offers Florida a chance to build on early-season road success. The Panthers went 2-0-2 in their first four road games, earning at least a point in each contest. The back-to-back against Buffalo and Columbus begins Monday.