The Florida Panthers are finally back home.
Although the NHL season only lasts a little over a month, the Panthers have already endured four- and five-game road trips, one of which took the team halfway across the country for a week.
After a forgettable first trip and an unfortunate opening game during last week’s trip to California, the Panthers are showing serious signs of positivity.
That 7-3 loss last Tuesday in Anaheim led to an intense team practice and video sessions the next day in Los Angeles, a practice that Panthers head coach Paul Maurice described as a sort of homecoming exercise.
Florida’s three games since have been three of their best games of the season, and certainly among the best they’ve played on the road thus far.
The question now will be whether they can continue this momentum during what will be an extended period spent almost exclusively in South Florida.
Starting Thursday, when the Panthers host the Washington Capitals at Amerant Bank Arena, Florida will play 12 games over a 24-day span.
Only one of these 12 matches will be on the road.
It all starts with a five-game homestand that begins Thursday and ends more than a week later, as the Cats host the Capitals, Tampa Bay Lightning, Vancouver Canucks, New Jersey Devils and Edmonton Oilers.
Next, a quick trip to Tennessee for a game against the Nashville Predators on Monday, November 24.
After that, we’ll head straight back to South Florida for a six-game homestand spanning 12 days, featuring games against the Philadelphia Flyers, Calgary Flames, Toronto Maples Leafs, Nashville, Columbus Blue Jackets and New York Islanders.
So far this season, the Panthers have played just seven of their 16 games at home, holding a solid 5-1-1 record at Sunrise.
If they can combine the recent momentum found on the road with their already formidable ability to win games at home, the next few weeks could be very prosperous for the Panthers.
Entering play on Wednesday, Florida holds a very poor 8-7-1 record on the season. That’s good for a tie for sixth in the Atlantic Division with Toronto and a spot within one point of the Wild Card lead Flyers.
The good news for the Panthers is that the standings remain extremely tight, as just five points separate Florida from the top of the division, with games in hand against the Boston Bruins and Ottawa Senators, who sit second and third in the Atlantic, respectively.
Ultimately, the Panthers have a wonderful opportunity in front of them to continue the momentum of their journey, enjoy the time at home while working with more familiar routines and gain ground in the standings at a time when it is easiest to do so.
We’ll see if Florida can take advantage of this in the coming days and weeks.
Stay tuned.
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Photo caption: November 1, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, United States; Florida Panthers right wing Mackie Samoskevich (11) celebrates with goalie Sergei Bobrovsky (72) after winning a shootout against the Dallas Stars at Amerant Bank Arena. (Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)
