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FLSportsDesk · The Panthers Journal
What the desk said. Dated.
Every call on the record. The words do not change after publication.
Tuesday, October 13, 2026First edition · The read holds, with reservations. Confidence 64/100.
What changed
Prior baseline had Florida at 2-1-2 and fifth after five games. The 5-3 loss at Buffalo added a second straight defeat, dropped Florida to 2-2-2 and sixth, and added the Markstrom early exit plus the Black recall as a new availability question. Confidence eased a notch because crease uncertainty is fresh.
Why it matters
2-2-2 and sixth in the Atlantic after a 5-3 loss at Buffalo. Florida swings heavyweight talent with a suddenly shaky crease.
What to watch
Track Markstrom availability for Columbus on Oct 13, five-on-five save percentage through the first 15 games, and whether Lundell and Reinhart score again.
What would change our mind
A long absence for Markstrom, a losing record through 15 games, or a slide to five points off the Atlantic top three flips this from contender chase to bubble fight.
The counterevidence
- Florida finished last season 246 scored against 274 allowed for minus 28, showing zone time without finish and saves buys nothing.
- A 46.8 percent faceoff rate bleeds possessions for a club built to live on offense, with damage heaviest on defensive starts and late leads.
- Markstrom exited in Buffalo with tightening up as the only explanation so far, per single-source reporting, turning the Columbus back-to-back into a stress test.
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