For going on three seasons now, the Florida Panthers’ Gustav Forsling and Aaron Ekblad have consistently been one of the NHL’s top defense pairings. But getting to that consistently high level was a result of evolution by both players.

The Florida Panthers are set to bolster their blue line with the return of defenseman Aaron Ekblad, who has missed the past seven games due to an upper-body injury.

One of each in return

Chris Tanev won’t be campaigning for the job opening with Team Canada but everyone else in the Leafs’ dressing room will be happy to write him a reference letter for the 4 Nations Face-Off.

The Florida Panthers and the Los Angeles Kings are both coming off losses heading into their game on Wednesday night in Sunrise, Fla.

The Los Angeles Kings are in town and have practically owned the Florida Panthers over the last several seasons. Just last Wednesday, the Kings scored twice in the third to squeeze out a 2-1 win in Los Angeles.

Now that I’m coming up on 1,000, it still doesn’t make sense. It seems like I just started last year and now it’s Year 16.’

For the first time in nearly two weeks, the Florida Panthers will play a game inside their home barn in Sunrise. Back from their latest road trip, Florida will host one of the teams they lost two while across the country last week,

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Good to go against Sharks

Ekblad was on the top pairing during the practice session, which is a good sign that he's close to a return. If he can't play Saturday, the Panthers are in action again Sunday versus the Golden Knights.