Panthers Visit Jets in Key Central Division Clash
WINNIPEG, January 22, 2026 – The reigning back-to-back Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers (25-20-3) will face a Winnipeg Jets (20-23-6) squad looking to prove they belong in the playoff conversation when the two teams meet at Canada Life Centre on Thursday night.
Panthers Seeking Consistency After Tkachuk’s Return
The Panthers enter Thursday’s contest looking to build consistency after a 4-1 loss to the San Jose Sharks on Monday. The defeat dropped Florida to 6-7-1 over its last 14 games, with consecutive wins just once over that span.
The silver lining in Monday’s loss was the return of star forward Matthew Tkachuk, who made his season debut after recovering from surgery to repair a torn adductor muscle and sports hernia. Tkachuk logged 20:58 of ice time, three shots, a hit, a blocked shot, and a roughing penalty in his first game back.
“Felt better as it went along. First period was weird, I will say. It was a little strange. Just nothing, nothing mimics a game,” Tkachuk said of his return. “It was weird, but the second period felt a little bit better and then the third kind of felt pretty much back to normal.”
With Tkachuk back in the fold, the Panthers are hoping his scoring touch and physical presence can help spark an offence that has been inconsistent. Florida currently sits five points out of a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
Jets Aiming to Build on Recent Success
Winnipeg, meanwhile, has won five of its last seven games (5-1-1) after a 3-1 home victory over the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday night. The Jets have been led by their top players, with Mark Scheifele scoring two goals and adding an assist against the Blues, while Josh Morrissey had a goal and two assists, and Kyle Connor contributed two assists.
“Just to get the win is huge for our group. We just need to keep it rolling,” Scheifele said after Tuesday’s win. “We just kind of stuck to our game and didn’t try to do anything too crazy and just stuck with it.”
Key Facts & Figures
| Statistic | Detail |
|---|---|
| Florida Panthers Record | 25-20-3 (7th in Atlantic Division) |
| Winnipeg Jets Record | 20-23-6 (7th in Central Division) |
| Panthers’ Top Scorer | Sam Reinhart (23 G, 35 A, 58 PTS in 48 GP) |
| Jets’ Top Scorer | Kyle Connor (25 G, 36 A, 61 PTS in 49 GP) |
| Panthers’ Projected Starter | Sergei Bobrovsky (19-14-1, 3.98 GAA, .874 SV%) |
| Jets’ Projected Starter | Connor Hellebuyck (12-13-5, 2.71 GAA, .902 SV%) |
| Last Meeting | Panthers 5-0 Jets (Nov 16, 2024) |
| Season Series | Series tied 1-1 (Nov 16 & 19, 2024) |
Injury Report
The Panthers continue to be without captain and centre Aleksander Barkov for the entire season due to a torn ACL and MCL in his right knee. Defenceman Seth Jones (upper body) and forward Tomas Nosek (knee) are also out long-term.
For the Jets, defencemen Haydn Fleury (upper body) and Neal Pionk (lower body) are both listed as week-to-week, while Colin Miller (knee) is out long-term. Forward Elias Salomonsson remains day-to-day with an illness.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did Matthew Tkachuk return from injury?
Matthew Tkachuk returned to the Panthers’ lineup on January 21, 2026, after missing the start of the 2025-26 season due to surgery to repair a torn adductor muscle and sports hernia.
What is the Panthers’ record since Tkachuk’s return?
The Panthers are 0-1-0 since Tkachuk’s return, having lost 4-1 to the San Jose Sharks in his first game back.
What is the Jets’ record over their last seven games?
The Jets have won five of their last seven games, posting a 5-1-1 record over that span.