Panthers’ Seth Jones, Sam Bennett to return to lineup against Canucks
A couple of key players are set to return to the ice.
When speaking to the media, Florida Panthers head coach Paul Maurice revealed that both forward Sam Bennett and defenseman Seth Jones will be back in the lineup on Tuesday night when the Panthers visit the Vancouver Canucks.
Seth Jones returns to Panthers blue line tonight. Sam Bennett back in as well & Nolan Foote makes his Fla debut 📺 tonight from Vancouver @ScrippsSports
It has been a long-awaited return for Jones, who was last seen in action at the Winter Classic back on Jan. 2. In that game in Miami, which was the 900th game of this Texas native’s NHL career, the veteran suffered an upper-body injury that not only knocked him out of the lineup, but led to him being taken off Team USA’s roster for the 2026 Winter Olympics, which saw the Americans take home the gold medal.
In the 26 games Jones has missed due to the ailment, Florida has gone 12-14-0, slipping further and further away from the playoff picture.
In the 40 games that Jones has appeared in, he has scored six goals and 18 assists for 24 points. He has a plus/minus of -2 while averaging 23:29 of ice time per game.
Bennett’s absence certainly hasn’t been nearly as long. The reigning Conn Smythe Trophy winner was last seen in action last Thursday, scoring a goal in the team’s overtime win over the Columbus Blue Jackets. He didn’t play this past Sunday against the Seattle Kraken due to an undisclosed injury. The Cats ended up falling 6-2 to the Kraken, not an ideal way to start their Northwest road trip.
In 65 games this season, Bennett has scored 24 goals and 26 assists for 50 points, good for third on the team in scoring.
The Panthers (33-30-3) are last in the Atlantic Division, 12 points back of the last Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference.