Electric Youth: Florida Panthers Get Help From All Over

The Florida Panthers got a big boost from three members of the 2023-24 Charlotte Checkers on Tuesday night.

Spencer Knight, Mackie Samoskevich, and Justin Sourdif were all teammates for Florida’s AHL team last year — and all played a huge role in a 4-1 NHL win at Nashville on Tuesday night.

Sourdif still plays for the Checkers and was up to fill in for Eetu Luostarinen who remained in South Florida on paternity leave.

He got his first NHL goal in the second period, a marker which stood up as the game-winner.

“I think, as a little kid, you always think about how you’re going to score your first NHL goal,” said Sourdif, who played three games for the Panthers last season. “To have it go in for me tonight was pretty special. It was a nice pass from Jesper [Boqvist] and it’s one I will remember forever. Super excited.’’

Although Knight, Sourdif, and Samoskevich did not play for Florida in the playoffs last season, once Charlotte’s season ended, all were around the team as part of its practice squad.

Tuesday, the Panthers needed them.

Knight ended his evening with 18 saves for his 12th win of the season, and Samoskevich put the finishing touches on the win by scoring off a feed from Sam Bennett late in the third.

It was a good night for the Charlotte Panthers.

Carolina Panthers?

“I was pumped for [Sourdif], played with him a lot last year in Charlotte,” Knight said. “Such a great kid. Happy for him.”

ON DECK: GAME No. 60

EDMONTON OILERS at FLORIDA PANTHERS 

• When: Thursday, 7 p.m.
• Where: Amerant Bank Arena, Sunrise
• Local TV: Scripps Sports — WSFL 39 (Miami/FtL); WHDT 9 (WPB); LAFF 36.3 (SWFla)
• Streaming: Panthers+, ESPN+
• Radio: WPOW 96.5-FM2; WBZT 1230-AM (Palm Beach); WCTH 100.3-FM (Florida Keys); SiriusXM
• Panthers Radio Streaming: SiriusXM 932, NHL App
• This Season (Panthers Lead 1-0) — At Florida: Thursday. At Edmonton: Panthers 6, Oilers 5 (Dec. 16).
• Last Regular Season: Florida Won 2-0
• Last Postseason: Florida Won Stanley Cup Final 4-3
• All-time Regular Season Series: Oilers lead 23-17-0, 3 ties
• Up Next for the Panthers: Saturday vs. Calgary Flames, 3 p.m.