Florida's contingent hits the ice on opening day with Finns Lundell, Luostarinen and Mikkola facing a shocking Slovak upset, while Forsling shines for Sweden in a rout of Italy. The Panthers lead the NHL with 10 players and five staff in Milano Cortina, and front offices back home watch every shift for clues on international form translating to playoff grind.

Florida Panthers fans flood the streets of Milan, decked out in jerseys and flags, as the men's Olympic hockey tournament finally gets underway with NHL stars back on the big stage for the first time since 2014. These diehards have traveled from Sunrise to Santa's village, hyping their boys like Luostarinen, Lundell, Mikkola, and Forsling who suit up for Finland and Sweden amid high hopes despite Barkov's heartbreaking injury absence.

Tampa Bay's Curtis Douglas drops the max fine after jumping Panthers defenseman Niko Mikkola in Thursday's third-period melee during a heated Battle of Florida blowout. The league's Player Safety crew nailed him as the aggressor amid 124 penalty minutes that lit up the ice and reignited old rivalries.