The Tampa Bay Lightning's acquisition of star winger Jake Guentzel is paying off in spades, and the Bolts look like a team no one should want to face off against in the playoffs.

Verhaeghe stole the puck from Anaheim defenseman Jacob Trouba behind the Ducks' goal before putting it into the upper right corner of the net to extend the Panthers' lead to 3-1 with 1:11 remaining in the first period. Florida has scored three times in the first period four times this season which trails only Tampa Bay and Ottawa (both five).

The Florida Panthers will host the 2026 Winter Classic next season against the New York Rangers at loanDepot Park in Miami, the NHL announced on Wednesday. The game will take place on Jan. 2, 2026.

Spencer Knight makes 34 saves for his second shutout of the season, leading the Florida Panthers to a 3-0 victory over the struggling Anaheim Ducks.

The New York Rangers are the team rumored to play in the 2026 NHL Winter Classic against the Florida Panthers inside loanDepot Park in Miami.

MIAMI (AP) — Hockey. Outdoors. In Florida. Next season, the NHL is making it happen — twice. “Stanley Cups, strings of sellouts and the exponential growth of youth and high school hockey ...

The NHL announced Wednesday that the Florida Panthers will host the 2026 Winter Classic, facing the New York Rangers on Jan. 2 at loanDepot park, home of the Miami Marlins. “Our time has come that we deserve an outdoor game,” Panthers president and CEO Matt Caldwell said. “We’re fired up to have it right here locally.”

For the first time in the NHL's 108-year history, there will be outdoor games played in Florida. Two games will be played in 2026.

The Tampa Bay Lightning visit the Boston Bruins after Nikita Kucherov scored two goals in the Lightning's 5-2 win against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Ice hockey may not evoke thoughts of beaches, sunshine and palm trees but that did not stop the NHL from announcing on Wednesday that, for the first time, it will hold outdoor games in Florida next season.

The Anaheim Ducks and the host Florida Panthers, who are set to meet on Saturday in Sunrise, Fla., both lost on Thursday.

Classic will feature the Panthers against the Rangers at the Miami Marlins' home park and the Stadium Series game will be played between the Lightning and Bruins at the home of the NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers.