Florida Panthers News

Markstrom missed two games to attend to a personal matter but was back on the ice on Friday. Thatcher Demko played very well in Markstrom's spot and the two will likely split the Canucks' back-to-back on Saturday and Sunday.

Bjornfot was the Kings' first-round pick this summer and played in the first three games of the season but was a healthy scratch in the last four. It makes no sense to have an 18-year-old sitting in the press box, so they send him back to Ontario where he will log big minutes.

Markstrom is expected to rejoin the Canucks on their road-trip which begins on Thursday but for now, they will roll with Thatcher Demko as their starter and Zane McIntyre has been called up from Utica (AHL) to be the backup.

Markstrom has impressed despite posting a 1-2 record this season, registering a .922 SV% and a 2.38 GAA. He draws another difficult assignment tonight against the Flyers. Though they've played just two games, Philadelphia is averaging an even four goals and 36 shots per game to start the 2019-20 season.

Kulikov missed Tuesday’s game in Pittsburgh but is expected to replace Sami Niku in the lineup on Thursday. Kulikov has one goal and one assist while averaging 20:18 TOI/gm in three games this season.

Markstrom allowed two goals on 29 shots in the Canucks loss in Calgary on Saturday. Markstrom has given up five goals on 51 shots (.902 SV%) through two starts and sits at 0-2-0 coming into Wednesday’s game. Tonight he faces a Kings team coming off of a win in Calgary last night—Markstrom was 2-0-1 with a 2.26 GAA and .918 SV% in three games vs. Los Angeles last year.

Markstrom allowed two goals on 29 shots in the Canucks loss in Calgary on Saturday. Markstrom has given up five goals on 51 shots (.902 SV%) through two starts and sits at 0-2-0 coming into Wednesday’s game. Tonight he faces a Kings team coming off of a win in Calgary last night—Markstrom was 2-0-1 with a 2.26 GAA and .918 SV% in three games vs. Los Angeles last year.

Lafferty was a fourth-round pick of the Penguins back in 2014 and he is expected to make his NHL debut on Tuesday because Evgeni Malkin and Nick Bjugstad are out with lower-body injuries. Lafferty was held pointless in his first AHL game of this season but had 49 points (13G / 46A) in 70 games last year.

Kulikov has left the Winnipeg Jets to attend to a “personal family matter.” Josh Morrissey was back on the ice for Monday’s practice and took Kulikov’s spot. Sami Niku will also be recalled from Manitoba (AHL) to provide the Jets with blueline depth while Kulikov is away.

Markstrom had a rough start to the 2019-20 season, allowing three goals on 22 shots in the Canucks loss in Edmonton. His splits are always going to be mediocre but the Canucks offence should give him enough chances to win games. He was 3-2-0 with a 2.94 GAA and .917 SV% in five games vs. the Flames last season.

The 2018-19 season was a career-year for Markstrom, who set new career-highs in starts (60) and wins (28) while posting a 2.77 GAA and .912 SV%. Coming into 2019-20, the Canucks will lean heavily on Markstrom, who should start 60 games and could win 30 games for the first time. He was 2-0-1 with a 1.95 GAA and .929 SV% in three games vs. the Oilers last season.

The 2018-19 season was a career-year for Markstrom, who set new career-highs in starts (60) and wins (28) while posting a 2.77 GAA and .912 SV%. Coming into 2019-20, the Canucks will lean heavily on Markstrom, who should start 60 games and could win 30 games for the first time. He was 2-0-1 with a 1.95 GAA and .929 SV% in three games vs. the Oilers last season.

Petrovic appeared in 35 NHL games last season, 26 with Florida and nine with Edmonton, posting just two assists total. Petrovic is big blueliner (6-foot-4, 216 lbs.) that plays a physical brand of hockey in his own end, ranking 11th in the NHL in hits per game (3.3) last year.

After failing to eclipse 50 points in his first two NHL seasons, Tkachuk broke out for 34 goals and 43 assists (77 points) in 80 games. As good as Tkachuk played in 2018-19, he could see some regression in 2019-20, after relying on a 16.4 SH% and 10.2 on-ice SH%. Being stuck behind Johnny Gaudreau on the depth chart also limits Tkachuk’s chances of approaching a point-per-game this season.

After missing just one game in 2017 and 2018 combined, Bennett appeared in just 71 games last season but averaged the least ice-time of his career (13:17 TOI/GM). Bennett wrapped the season up with 27 points (13G / 14A). Bennett will likely be fighting with Michael Frolik for a spot on the Flames’ second line but will likely open the year in the bottom-6.

Forsling had three goals and six assists (nine points) in 43 games with the Blackhawks last year and had a few games in the AHL. The 23-year-old blueliner was traded to Carolina this offseason and will likely be on their third-pairing to start 2020. If he plays a full season in the NHL, Forsling has 20-plus point upside with the Hurricanes.