Niko Mikkola

The Seattle Kraken roll into Sunrise looking to cap off a season series sweep against a Florida Panthers team that's dropped four of their last five and hemorrhaging goals at home. With Jared McCann day-to-day and Jaden Schwartz sidelined, Seattle's depth gets tested against a Panthers squad patching holes from Anton Lundell to Niko Mikkola.

Mike Benning steps into the Florida Panthers lineup for his NHL debut, channeling the family legacy his dad Brian forged with the expansion squad back in '93-94. The 24-year-old right-shot defenseman, fresh off dominating the AHL with 31 points for Charlotte, pairs with Niko Mikkola and earns a secondary assist on Sam Reinhart's overtime winner against Columbus.

Niko Mikkola delivers the equalizer for the Panthers against a gritty Red Wings squad that's been punching above their weight lately. Florida's blue line depth shows why they're perennial contenders, with Mikkola stepping up when the game's on the line. Detroit counters with their usual tenacity, but this one's got playoff implications written all over it as both teams jockey for position in a tightening Eastern Conference race.

Niko Mikkola, that steady Finn who's been anchoring Florida's blue line through their playoff pushes, finds the perfect tip to beat the Columbus netminder in this Atlantic-Metropolitan showdown. The Panthers roll into Nationwide Arena looking to pad their standings cushion, while the Blue Jackets scrap for every point in a crowded wildcard race.