If you’re frantically searching for what’s the score of the Panthers, you’re probably in one of two camps: you’re either tracking a playoff-bound football team or a hockey squad that just wrapped up a wild road trip. It’s one of those "it depends" moments because, depending on which coast you’re on, "Panthers" means very different things.
Honestly, the scoreboard for the Florida Panthers is the one keeping fans awake right now. They just stepped off the ice against the Washington Capitals late last night, and the result was a statement win. If you missed the final buzzer, Florida walked away with a 5-2 victory. It wasn't just a win; it was a gritty, "we-needed-this" kind of performance that closed out a long six-game stretch away from home.
Tracking the Florida Panthers: The 5-2 Breakdown
Florida didn't have it easy. They were coming off what head coach Paul Maurice essentially called an embarrassing effort in Raleigh just a day prior. You’ve seen those games where a team looks like they’re skating in sand? That was them. But against Washington, things clicked.
Sam Bennett was a monster. He tracked down a dump-in from Aaron Ekblad and, while he didn't score on the initial stuff-in, the puck squirted out to A.J. Greer. Greer buried it. That was his 10th goal of the season, a career milestone for him.
The Capitals didn't go away, though. Jakob Chychrun found a gap and beat Daniil Tarasov with a wrister to tie it. Then he did it again. Suddenly, Florida was trailing 2-1. For a minute there, it felt like another long night. But the Panthers' depth is basically their superpower this year. They rattled off four straight goals to finish the night.
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- Final Score: Florida Panthers 5, Washington Capitals 2
- Key Performers: Sam Bennett, A.J. Greer, and Carter Verhaeghe
- Goalie Performance: Daniil Tarasov stood tall when the pressure shifted in the second period
Where they stand in the Atlantic
This win puts them at 25-19-3. They’re sitting in the thick of a brutal Atlantic Division race. They have tomorrow off to actually sleep in their own beds before hosting the San Jose Sharks on Monday. If you're looking for the live score of that game, you'll have to wait until puck drop at 6:00 PM EST tomorrow.
What about the Carolina Panthers?
If you were looking for an NFL score, the news is a bit more somber. The Carolina Panthers' season ended in a way that’s going to be talked about in Charlotte for the whole offseason.
Just last week, they faced the Los Angeles Rams in the Wild Card round. It was a heartbreaker. Bryce Young actually looked like the franchise guy everyone hoped he'd be, scrambling for a 16-yard touchdown and finding Jalen Coker late to give Carolina a 31-27 lead with under three minutes left. The Bank of America Stadium was literally shaking.
Then, Matthew Stafford happened.
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Stafford led a 71-yard drive that ended with a 19-yard touchdown pass to Colby Parkinson with only 38 seconds on the clock. Final score: Rams 34, Panthers 31.
So, if you're asking what's the score of the Panthers for the NFL today, January 18, 2026—there isn't one. The team is officially in "evaluation mode." While the Rams are playing the Chicago Bears in the Divisional Round this afternoon, the Panthers are busy looking at draft boards and wondering "what if" regarding that final defensive stand.
College Hoops: The UNI Panthers and High Point
Wait, there’s more. Because sports scheduling is chaos, there are two other Panthers teams playing meaningful games right now.
- UNI (University of Northern Iowa) Women: They are playing the Bradley Braves today, January 18. Tip-off is at 2:00 PM CT. They are coming off back-to-back losses, so this is a "must-win" for their conference standings. Keep an eye on Ryley Goebel; she’s been averaging a double-double lately.
- High Point University: These Panthers just handled business last night. They took down USC Upstate with a final score of 89-69. Terry Anderson was the star there, putting up 22 points and 12 rebounds.
Why the Score Matters Right Now
Scoreboards are just numbers, but for Florida, that 5-2 win is a season-saver. Playing the second half of a back-to-back on the road is statistically one of the hardest things to do in professional sports. Doing it after a blowout loss and still finding a way to score four unanswered goals? That’s culture.
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For Carolina fans, the "score" isn't 31-34 anymore. It's the salary cap and the 2026 Draft. The fact that Bryce Young stayed competitive in a high-stakes playoff game suggests the rebuild is ahead of schedule, even if the result was a loss.
How to stay updated
If you want to keep tabs on these teams without refreshing Google every five seconds:
- Download the NHL app for Florida's Monday night game against San Jose.
- Check the MVC Sports network for the UNI vs. Bradley final score later this evening.
- Watch the NFL Divisional games today (Rams vs. Bears) to see the team that knocked Carolina out.
The best thing you can do right now is set a notification for the Florida vs. San Jose puck drop tomorrow at 6:00 PM EST. Florida is 14-9-3 at home this year, and they usually play much faster on their own ice.