Luostarinen notched an assist in Sunday's 4-1 win over the Flyers.
Luostarinen has just one goal and two assists in his last eight contests while recording 13 shots on net. The winger is currently filling a first-line role due to Aleksander Barkov (undisclosed) being out, but Luostarinen is far from a lock to maintain that assignment heading into the final weeks of the regular season. In addition to his even-strength role, Luostarinen has been spending time with the No. 2 power-play unit, though that hasn't helped to bolster his offense.
... See More... See Less
Panthers' Eetu Luostarinen: Bends twine against Caps
Rotowire
Luostarinen scored a goal on one shot in a 4-2 win over Washington on Thursday.
Luostarinen needs just one more tally to reach the 10-goal threshold but is unlikely to repeat his 2022-23 total, as he scored 17 times in 82 games. Additionally, the 25-year-old winger is on pace to miss the 25-point mark for the first time since his rookie campaign, when he notched just eight points in 44 games.
... See More... See Less
Panthers' Eetu Luostarinen: First multi-goal game in NHL
Rotowire
Luostarinen scored a pair of power-play goals in a 4-1 win over Montreal on Saturday.
It was the forward's first multi-goal game in the NHL in his 248th regular-season appearance. Luostarinen is a third-line fixture in Florida with limited fantasy value. He caught lightning in a bottle last season with 43 points, including 17 goals, in 82 games. However, Luostarinen has fallen back to earth in 2023-24 with 10 points through 36 contests. He is currently on a 23-point pace, which doesn't make him an attractive fantasy option.
... See More... See Less
Panthers' Eetu Luostarinen: Supplies only offense in loss
Rotowire
Luostarinen scored his fifth goal of the season in Thursday's 4-1 loss to the Blues.
He spoiled Joel Hofer's shutout bid midway through the second period with a billiard shot -- Luostarinen's dump-in attempt took a strange carom off the glass right by the Panthers' bench and went straight into the net while Hofer waited for the puck behind the cage. Three of Luostarinen's five goals on the season have come in the last seven games, but those are the checking-line winger's only points in December.
... See More... See Less
Panthers' Eetu Luostarinen: Scores third goal of 2023-24
Rotowire
Luostarinen provided a goal in a 3-1 win over Pittsburgh on Friday.
Luostarinen's marker came early in the third period and proved to be the game-winner. It was his third tally and sixth point in 26 contests this season, which is way down from his 2022-23 finish of 17 goals and 43 points in 82 appearances. That offensive decline has come despite Luostarinen averaging 16:08 of ice time this year, which is roughly in line with his 15:59 last season. We're likely too deep into the season for the 25-year-old to recover to the point of matching his 2022-23 totals, but he should be able to increase his offensive pace at least somewhat as the campaign progresses.
Luostarinen collected a goal in a 5-0 win over Ottawa on Monday.
Luostarinen has two goals and five points through 21 contests this season. He's getting a solid amount of ice time with Florida -- an average of 16:11 per game going into Monday's action -- but he doesn't have a regular role on the power play. That's unlikely to change unless the Panthers run into injury troubles, which significantly limits Luostarinen's offensive potential for the 2023-24 campaign.
... See More... See Less
Panthers' Eetu Luostarinen: Deposits opening goal
Rotowire
Luostarinen scored a goal on two shots, added two hits and went plus-2 in Friday's 2-1 win over the Ducks.
Luostarinen got his first goal of the campaign at 14:50 of the first period. The 25-year-old has made limited contributions on offense this season while skating in a middle-six role. He's up to three points 22 shots on net, 18 hits, 15 blocked shots and a plus-1 rating over 17 appearances. He had 43 points in 82 appearances last year, so it's possible he could unlock more offense as the season goes on.
... See More... See Less
Panthers' Eetu Luostarinen: Nabs helper in victory
Rotowire
Luostarinen registered an assist in Friday's 5-2 win over the Hurricanes.
Luostarinen has a pair of helpers representing his point total through 13 games, which is far from matching his career-high 43-point pace from 2022-23. The Panthers have largely removed the Finn from the power play after he saw time in that key special teams spot in October, which is a trend worth watching as the Panthers fight for supremacy in the Atlantic Division.
... See More... See Less
Panthers' Eetu Luostarinen: Practices to begin camp
Rotowire
Luostarinen was in Group A for Thursday's first practice of training camp, Colby Guy of Florida Hockey Now reports.
Luostarinen missed five games with a broken tibia at the end of the playoffs, but the 25-year-old appears fine now. The Finnish forward figures to be a middle-six player for much of 2023-24, though he could easily move around the lineup as a versatile forward. He had 43 points, 132 shots on goal and a plus-19 rating in 82 regular-season games last season.
Luostarinen (leg) signed a three-year, $9 million contract with Florida on Tuesday.
Luostarinen sat out the final five games of Florida's playoff run because of a broken tibia. During the regular season, he set career highs in goals (17), assists (26), points (43) and shots on net (132) over 82 contests. Luostarinen has developed nicely as a versatile two-way threat for the Panthers. He will probably line up as a middle-six forward during the 2023-24 campaign.
... See More... See Less
Panthers' Eetu Luostarinen: Suffered broken tibia
Rotowire
Luostarinen suffered a broken tibia in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals, which is why he missed all five contests of the Stanley Cup Finals, Colby Guy of Florida Hockey Now reports.
Luostarinen had two goals and five points in 16 playoff outings this year. He also recorded 17 goals and 43 points in 82 regular-season games. It's not clear if Luostarinen will be ready for training camp, but he won't require surgery.
... See More... See Less
Panthers' Eetu Luostarinen: Remains out for Game 5
Rotowire
Luostarinen (lower body) won't play in Tuesday's Game 5 versus the Golden Knights, Jameson Olive of the Panthers' official site reports.
Luostarinen will miss his fifth straight game. With the Panthers facing elimination Tuesday, there's no guarantee the winger will be healthy enough to return before the end of the series.
... See More... See Less
Panthers' Eetu Luostarinen: Unavailable Thursday
Rotowire
Luostarinen (lower body) will miss Game 3 on Thursday, Mike Stephens of SI.com reports.
Florida will be without Luostarinen for a third straight contest. He has two goals and five points in 16 playoff contests this year. If Luostarinen is able to return before the end of the Stanley Cup Finals, he will likely play on Florida's second or third line.
... See More... See Less
Panthers' Eetu Luostarinen: Won't play Monday
Rotowire
Luostarinen (lower body) won't play Monday in Game 2 against Vegas, Jameson Olive of the Panthers' official site reports.
Luostarinen will miss his second straight contest. He has supplied five points, 14 shots on goal and 37 hits in 16 games this postseason. Zac Dalpe, who got into the lineup in Luostarinen's place, logged just 5:40 of ice time in Saturday's 5-2 loss to the Golden Knights.
... See More... See Less
Panthers' Eetu Luostarinen: Missing Game 1
Rotowire
Luostarinen (lower body) is not on the ice for warmups ahead of Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals versus the Golden Knights, Jameson Olive of the Panthers' official site reports.
Luostarinen was initially expected to be fine for the series opener after suffering an injury in Game 4 versus the Hurricanes and apparently aggravating it at practice Friday. That won't be the case, with Zac Dalpe instead projected to join the lineup in a bottom-six role. Luostarinen can be considered day-to-day ahead of Monday's Game 2.
Luostarinen (lower body) will be a game-time decision Saturday versus Vegas, Tom Gulitti of NHL.com reports.
Luostarinen left practice early Friday after he was injured in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals on May 24. Coach Paul Maurice is optimistic that Luostarinen will be in the lineup for Game 1. Luostarinen had two goals and five points in the opening round versus Boston, but he has not picked up a point in nine games over the last two rounds.
... See More... See Less
Panthers' Eetu Luostarinen: Expected to play Saturday
Rotowire
Luostarinen left Friday's practice early but is expected to suit up for Game 1 against Vegas on Saturday, Tom Gulitti of NHL.com reports.
Luostarinen was injured in Game 4 last round against the Hurricanes but likely won't miss any time. He's dressed in all 16 postseason games to date, tallying five points and 14 shots in the process.
... See More... See Less
Panthers' Eetu Luostarinen: Sustains injury in Game 4
Rotowire
Luostarinen (undisclosed) did not finish Wednesday's Game 4 versus the Hurricanes, David Dwork of Local 10 Miami reports.
Luostarinen logged 7:32 of ice time before departing the contest in the second period. The nature of his injury is unknown at this time, and it's unclear if it will affect his availability for the Stanley Cup Finals.
... See More... See Less
Panthers' Eetu Luostarinen: Pots game-winner in Game 6
Rotowire
Luostarinen scored the game-winning goal and added an assist in Friday's 7-5 win over the Bruins during Game 6 of the Panthers' first-round series.
Both points came in a wild third period that featured seven of the game's 12 total goals, but Luostarinen's tally was far from a fluke. After Brandon Montour intercepted a Boston clearing attempt, the 24-year-old winger collected the puck at the blue line, skated to the far faceoff circle and went top shelf with a snapshot over Linus Ullmark. Luostarinen has two goals and four points in the last five games to help Florida force an improbable Game 7 against the NHL's best team during the regular season, a showdown which will come Sunday in Boston.
... See More... See Less
Panthers' Eetu Luostarinen: One of each Friday
Rotowire
Luostarinen scored a goal on four shots, added an assist and went plus-2 in Friday's 4-3 overtime win over the Blackhawks.
Luostarinen reached the 20-assist mark on Sam Bennett's tally to get the Panthers on the board in the third period. Just over four minutes later, it was Luostarinen who put them ahead 3-2. Since the All-Star break, the 24-year-old has leveled up his offense with six goals and eight helpers over 14 contests. He's at 16 tallies, 36 points, 109 shots on net, a plus-21 rating, 52 hits and 44 blocked shots through 66 outings overall. His spot on the top line should help him continue to play well, though he's been in and out of the power-play mix this season.
