Jets Seek Redemption vs Panthers’ Tkachuk Brothers: Another Shot to End Slump

Brothers Brady and Matthew Tkachuk Give Panthers a Fast Start

Florida’s offseason splash—bringing in Brady Tkachuk to skate alongside his brother Matthew—has paid immediate dividends. After 13 games this season, Matthew is pacing the club with 16 assists and a team-leading 20 points, while Brady, acquired in June from Ottawa, has already found the net eight times and sits tied for second on the roster with 15 points. The pair’s early production has become a central storyline for a Panthers team trying to maintain momentum.

Carter Verhaeghe captured the sentiment in simple terms: watching the brothers play together is something special. “They have a lot of brother chemistry,” he said, noting how often one sets up the other. “Every night, it seems like they’re doing something I would never even try.”

A Big Win and a Potent Power Play

Florida wrapped up a four-game road swing with a 5-1 victory over Winnipeg on Tuesday. In that game Matthew collected four assists while Brady added a goal and two helpers. The Panthers converted three of five power-play opportunities in the contest — a factor coach Paul Maurice highlighted as crucial given the roster gaps the team is managing. “Normally you want to win it 5-on-5,” Maurice said, “but with some of the pieces we’re missing, we need it. (The power play) has won a bunch of games for us this season.”

Despite that Tuesday result, the clubs were set to meet again on Friday in Sunrise, giving Florida a chance to extend the brothers’ hot start on home ice.

Goaltending Shakeups and Injuries in Sunrise

Florida’s net has been a rotating door this year. Longtime Panther Sergei Bobrovsky signed in Toronto in July, and the Panthers moved to replace him by acquiring Jacob Markstrom from New Jersey. Markstrom, however, has been sidelined after taking a puck to the head in practice and missed the past four games; Maurice said Thursday that Markstrom should be back next week and that “he’s not far off.”

In the meantime Akira Schmid — acquired from Vegas in June and handed a two-year, $4 million extension — has been the primary healthy option. Schmid’s numbers through his starts are modest (4-2-1, .885 save percentage, 2.99 goals-against average), but he was steady in Winnipeg, stopping 24 of 25 shots in the 5-1 victory.

Missing from the lineup in other areas are top talents Aleksander Barkov and Brad Marchand, two of the “pieces” Maurice referenced when discussing the importance of special teams.

Winnipeg’s Slide: Confidence, Scoring and Recent Results

The Jets have hit a rough patch, dropping seven straight decisions (0-5-2). Their skid included a 6-4 loss at Tampa Bay on Thursday in which they trailed 5-1 before mounting a late three-goal rally; Tampa Bay’s empty-netter ultimately sealed the result. “We’ve got to find a way to get things going in our favor,” forward Adam Lowry said. “We need some consistency in our game. That’s what’s been missing.”

Winnipeg’s fall from two seasons ago — when they captured the Presidents’ Trophy with 116 points and advanced to the second round — has been stark. Last season they finished with 82 points, seventh in the Central, and missed the postseason. One persistent problem has been a lack of secondary scoring: only Kyle Connor, Mark Scheifele and Gabriel Vilardi have reached double-digit points early in the campaign, and no other forward on the roster has more than six points.

Big Netminder Change: Hellebuyck Departed, Daws Debuts

The Jets made a high-profile move last week when they traded veteran goalie Connor Hellebuyck to New Jersey. Hellebuyck, who had demanded a trade and sat out until the deal, arrives in the trade with a resume that includes an Olympic gold medal as Team USA’s starter, three Vezina Trophies, and a Hart Trophy as the NHL MVP for 2024–25.

With Hellebuyck gone, Stuart Skinner stepped in as Winnipeg’s intended starter but was removed Thursday after allowing five goals on 21 shots through two periods. Nico Daws — one of the pieces coming back to Winnipeg in the Hellebuyck transaction — replaced Skinner and stopped all nine shots he faced in his Jets debut.

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Trent Mallory

Trent Mallory is a passionate sports journalist who dives deep into major competitions and the stories behind every game. From American football and the NBA to tennis and the Olympics, he delivers sharp, energetic coverage. His work brings matches, athletes, and behind-the-scenes challenges to life. For Trent, sports are more than just results — they are culture, passion, and a force for change.