Panthers’ starting goaltender out with injury. What’s the plan in his absence?

Florida Panthers admin October 21, 2026 0 Comments

Panthers’ starting goaltender out with injury. What’s the plan in his absence?

The Florida Panthers have already been playing most of this early season without a pair of key forwards in captain Aleksander Barkov and veteran winger Brad Marchand, both of whom are out until at least mid-November after playing just two games apiece.

Now, the Panthers are also without their starting goaltender for the near future.

The team on Tuesday placed Jacob Markstrom on injured reserve with an upper-body injury that coach Paul Maurice said will sideline him for about 10 to 14 days. Markstrom sustained the injury in practice Monday.

Markstrom, who Florida acquired in an offseason trade with the New Jersey Devils to replace Sergei Bobrovsky as its No. 1 goaltender, started six of the Panthers’ first nine games. He is 3-1-1 with a 2.21 goals against average and .897 save percentage. He opened the season with a 15-save shutout against the defending Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes.

Markstrom did leave Florida’s 5-3 loss to the Buffalo Sabres on Oct. 12 after the first period after he tightened up midgame. He returned three games later in the Panthers’ 8-3 win over the Seattle Kraken on Saturday.

As Florida starts a four-game road trip on Wednesday against the Ottawa Senators, what is the team’s plan in net without Markstrom?

Expect Akira Schmid to get a heavy dose of starts with rookie Cooper Black getting his first taste of NHL action in between. Schmid is starting against Ottawa, which would put Black in line to make his NHL debut on Thursday against the Pittsburgh Penguins in the second half of this back-to-back. Florida completes the road trip with games against the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday and Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday.

Schmid, acquired from the Vegas Golden Knights this offseason, is 2-1-1 through four games (three starts) this season with a 3.25 goals against average and .878 save percentage. The 26-year-old had a career-high workload last season with Vegas, playing in 34 regular-season games (29 starts) and going 16-10-6 with a 2.59 save percentage and a pair of shutouts.

“He’s dealt with it before,” Maurice said of Schmid taking on a larger role. “It’s not his first time.”

As for Black, the 25-year-old has yet to make his NHL debut but is in his third season with the Panthers organization. He was the No. 1 goaltender last season for the Charlotte Checkers, Florida’s American Hockey League affiliate, and went 25-13-4 with a 2.47 goals against average and .903 save percentage in that span. This included one shutout.

“He’s going to see some action,’’ Maurice said. “He played a full exhibition game, and this is the progression of how these guys serve in the league, get some games. He’s been good. He’s been good in practice, looks like he fits. He looks comfortable. It’s the right time for him to get in. He’s got enough under his belt to feel good.’’

Black, who stands at 6-8, will be the tallest goaltender in NHL history when he debuts.

“That’s a big lad,” Maurice said, “and he moves like an athlete.”

This story was originally published October 21, 2026 at 9:51 AM.