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January 10, 2026
Panthers senators

Both the Florida Panthers and Ottawa Senators were desperate for a win on Saturday night.

Although the host Senators came with a frantic pace, it was Sergei Bobrovsky and the Panthers holding on for a 3-2 win.

The Panthers had lost their first two games on his six-game road trip and four of their previous five going 1-3 to start 2026.


Ottawa has lost four straight and nine of 11.

Gus Forsling had a puck go off his stick while defending in front of Bobrovsky early in the first, but he scored a goal with an assist in the victory.

Aaron Ekblad also had a two-point night, assisting on Forsling’s third-period goal as well as the opener from Evan Rodrigues which tied the score at 1 midway through the first.

Carter Verhaeghe gave the Panthers their first and final lead on a power play chance in the second. He also assisted on a goal for a multi-point night.

Florida continues their road trip Monday night against the suddenly improved Buffalo Sabres.

NOTES: PANTHERS AT SENATORS

  • Verhaeghe scored his 151st goal since joining the Panthers in 2021 and is now within a goal of tying Pavel Bure for sixth-most in franchise history.
  • Florida played its second straight game without Brad Marchand; Matthew Tkachuk also did not return. Both could be options on Monday in Buffalo.
  • Sandis Vilmanis made his NHL debut for the Panthers on Saturday.

GOALS OF THE GAME

  • Senators 1, Panthers 0 (4:03 1st): Fabian Zetterlund sends a sharp shot from the high side of the goal line, the puck clipping the stick of Gus Forsling and past Sergei Bobrovsky just as a power play expires. It was Ottawa’s first shot of the night.
  • Panthers 1, Senators 1 (11:34 1st PP): Aaron Ekblad gets the puck out to Evan Rodrigues who slides into the slot and sends a wrist shot blocker side.
  • Panthers 2, Senators 1 (13:13 2nd PP): Forsling gets the puck across ice to Carter Verhaeghe who sends a wrister from the left circle bar down over the glove of Leevi Merilainen.
  • Panthers 3, Senators 1 (3:48 3rd): Forsling gets his second of the second, cruising into the left circle and sending a slap shot home.
  • Panthers 3, Senators 2 (18:18 3rd): Drake Batherson deflects a shot from Claude Giroux with the extra skater.

FHN’S 3 STARS

  • 1. Sergei Bobrovsky, Panthers
  • 2. Gus Forsling, Panthers
  • 3. Carter Verhaeghe, Panthers
ON DECK: GAME No. 45
FLORIDA PANTHERS at BUFFALO SABRES 
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