Jacob Markstrom Returns to Rescue the Panthers' Crease

The Florida Panthers are finally getting their actual starting goalie back, which means we can stop pretending a backup is a sustainable long-term solution.

Jacob Markstrom is officially off injured reserve and set to start Monday night against the Detroit Red Wings. The veteran netminder missed the last five games after suffering an upper-body injury during a team practice.

Before getting hurt in a random drill—the absolute worst way for a guy in his 17th NHL season to go down—Markstrom was quietly holding things together. He posted a 3-1-1 record with a 2.21 goals-against average in his first six starts of his Florida reunion tour.

Akira Schmid did his best to keep the ship afloat, racking up five wins while Markstrom was in the shop. But surviving with an .889 save percentage is like driving on a spare tire. It gets you to the next exit, but you really do not want to take it on the highway.

The Panthers are already riding a three-game winning streak and sitting fifth in the Atlantic Division with 18 points. Getting their undisputed number one back in the crease is a massive stabilizer for a roster that is also waiting on Aleksander Barkov to get fully up to speed.

For anyone staring at the Monday night betting board, Markstrom’s return completely changes the math against a Detroit squad hovering near the bottom of the division. If he shakes off the rust quickly, Florida is primed to keep climbing the Eastern Conference standings before they turn their attention to the Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday.