It would be easy to blame the Florida Panthers lack of energy in the third period Wednesday night to road legs. The Panthers, after all, were on the second half of a back-to-back having flown across the country just two days prior.

Count the Florida Panthers’ Mackie Samoskevich and Paul Maurice among those cheering for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in Monday’s College Football Playoff national championship game against the Ohio State Buckeyes.

The Florida Panthers could have defenseman Aaron Ekblad back in the lineup tonight against the San Jose Sharks, coach Paul Maurice said. Ekblad has missed eight games, including the past seven, after blocking a shot against the Penguins in the first period on Jan.

After missing each of the last seven games, top-pair defenseman Aaron Ekblad will return to the blue line for the Florida Panthers when they face-off against the San Jose Sharks at SAP Center on Saturday.

After a tough 2-1 loss in Los Angeles, the Florida Panthers headed up the California coast and will face the San Jose Sharks tonight. While the Kings have somewhat owned the Panthers in recent years – they are 7-0-1 in the past three seasons with five straight home wins — the Sharks have not fared nearly as well.

Even though the Florida Panthers only had one shot on goal through the first 13 minutes of Tuesday’s game against the New Jersey Devils, coach Paul Maurice “loved” the way his team was playing.

Cody Ceci and Will Smith scored for the Sharks (14-32-6), who have lost six straight and nine of ten. Alexandar Georgiev allowed four goals on 15 shots before being pulled early in the second period for Yaroslav Askarov, who stopped 14 of 17 shots in relief.

He’s one of those players where it’s just a matter of time until he breaks out — and he’s breaking out right now.’

Aaron Ekblad is back with the Florida Panthers when they play the San Jose Sharks tonight at 10. Ekblad got hurt Jan. 3 against the Penguins but played much of that game; after missing a game in Colorado,

Winning the Stanley Cup hasn’t been a burden to the Panthers. They’re sitting near the top of the Eastern Conference near the mid-season and having the regular season they wanted.

The Florida Panthers will look to return to the win column after blowing a third-period lead when they continue their four-game road swing Saturday against the San Jose Sharks.

If Paul Maurice was distraught with the Florida Panthers killing only one of four penalties against the Red Wings Thursday night, he certainly didn’t show it. Not after the 5-2 loss ...