Florida has its own problems, though they're the kind with an end date. Barkov has been out since the 2nd game of the season, and Marchand played just 2 games before going down. Both are back on the ice skating and pointing at late-November returns, so neither is expected for this one. Jonah Gadjovich is out indefinitely. The Panthers have gotten by on depth, including a 2-0 sweep of Winnipeg in which they scored 5 goals both nights.
Florida's most recent game is the warning sign. Detroit came into Sunrise and scored 3 in the 3rd period to win 5-3. Justin Faulk and Michael Brandsegg-Nygård scored 45 seconds apart early in the period, after the game had been tied 2-2 through 40 minutes. Sam Bennett got it back within 1 late with Jacob Markstrom pulled, and then Emmitt Finnie hit the empty net with 2.7 seconds left. That's 2 losses in the last 5 for Florida, and in both of them the other team did the damage.
Chicago's problem is the other end of the ice. The Blackhawks have lost 3 straight as of Tuesday and have scored 1, 4 and 2 goals in those games. The 2-2 first period against Colorado showed they can hang for a while. The last 40 minutes of that game showed what happens once the other team pushes. Their only win in the last 5 was a 2-1 grinder over the Kings, and that's the formula they'll need in Sunrise too: keep it low and hope the Panthers' 3rd-period issues against Detroit weren't a one-off.
Puck drops at 7:30 PM ET. Florida is the better team even without its captain, and it's at home. Chicago needs Kane's status to break its way and needs a full 60 minutes out of a team that has been fading after the 1st period.
