Panthers Road Trip Updates: Tkachuk Named Ambassador, Bennett Snaps Goal Drought, Ekblad Remains Out

After splitting the first half of a four-game west coa​​st road trip with a win 5-2 win over the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday and 2-1 defeat to the Los Angeles Kings the following night, the Florida Panthers sit three points back of the Toronto Maple Leafs for first in the Atlantic Division.

The team will remain in California for a few more days as they’ll face the San Jose Sharks on Saturday before making a quick turnaround to face the Vegas Golden Knights less than 24 hours later in Las Vegas.

While the Panthers are on the other side of the country, here’s what you may have missed while the team is on the road. 

Matthew Tkachuk models for Perry Ellis

Less than a month from now NHL players will be trading in their club uniforms for their country’s as the 4 Nations Face-Off is set​​ to drop the puck on Feb. 12 at the Bell Centre in Montreal.

The Panthers have a league-leading eight players who will represent their respective nations at the tournament next month. 

On Thursday, the spotlight belonged to Matthew Tkachuk, as he was announced as Perry Ellis’ off-ice ambassador for the 4 Nations Face-Off.

Statement from the official press release:

“Florida Panthers and 4 Nations Face-Off USA forward Matthew Tkachuk takes center ice across Perry Ellis channels to promote key products perfect for avid hockey fans ready to level-up their style game. Tkachuk will also serve as Perry Ellis’ Off-Ice Ambassador during the tournament, and beyond the 4 Nations Face-Off, Tkachuk will be featured in content for the brand throughout this NHL season, including in a series of photos and videos.”

Tkachuk, 27, was also featured in a promotional video for the partnership, which saw the Panthers star dawn both Team USA’s official jersey for the tournament, as well as Perry Ellis attire. 

Sam Bennett snaps 20-game goal drought

Starting the year red hot with 13 goals in 24 games, Sam Bennett’s play notched himself a spot on Team Canada’s 4 Nations roster.

In the midst of a contract year, everything appeared to be going right for the Panthers forward, until he hit a wall. 

After scoring for a fourth-consecutive game on Dec. 3 against the Pittsburgh Penguins, Bennett wouldn’t see his name in the goal column for seven weeks.

Bennett had gone 20 straight games without scoring a goal entering Tuesday night’s matchup against the Ducks. 

In the third period, with the Panthers leading 3-2, Bennett was finally able to get the burden off his back after he slipped a shot from the slot past Ducks goaltender Lukas Dostal for his 14th goal of the season.

The reaction from Bennett was one of relief once​ he saw the red light finally flash for him after going nearly two months without a goal.

Aaron Ekblad still out with injury 

Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad has missed seven straight games and eight of the last nine with an upper-body injury.

Ekblad, 28, plays top-two minutes on the Panthers blueline, while also featuring on both the penalty kill and power play throughout the season.  

The Panthers are 3-4-1 without Ekblad in the lineup and have shown some lapses in their defensive play without the franchises’ longest tenured defenseman in the lineup.

Panthers head coach Paul Maurice said on Wednesday that they’re hoping Ekblad can join the team for their Friday practice session. He also said earlier in the week that the hope is for Ekblad to return on the current road trip. 

23-year-old Tobias Bjornfot — who spent most of the year in the AHL with Charlotte — has filled in on the blue line in Ekblad’s absence, playing in eight games over that span.