Florida Panthers News

Jones has missed the first seven games of the season with a sprained MCL that he suffered on September 25th. Jones was expected to miss 4-6 weeks, so he's returning a couple days earlier than originally expected. Jones will be reunited on the top pair with Zach Werenski, forming one of the best defensive pairings in the league. He will also play on the second power-play unit and should be a double-digit goal-scorer with 50-point upside.

Markstrom has not started since October 9th, when he allowed five goals on 33 shots in the Canucks loss in Carolina. Anders Nilsson has played very well for the Canucks, but Markstrom will get back between the pipes tonight. He has allowed a combined 10 goals on 68 shots (.853 SV%) in his last two starts, so look elsewhere for a starter tonight.

Jones was originally expected to be out until early-to-mid November, but he is apparently ahead of schedule in his return from an MCL sprain. Monitor Jones’ status heading into next week.

Markstrom allowed five goals on 35 shots in the Canucks loss in Calgary on Saturday. Markstrom faced the Flames in his first two starts of the season, allowing a combined seven goals on 70 shots (.900 SV%). Tonight he faces a Hurricanes team that is 2-0-1 and averaging 4.00 goals per game so far.

Tkachuk missed the first two games of the season with a mild groin injury, but will be on the Senators first-line with Matt Duchene and Ryan Dzingel this afternoon. This summer’s No.4 overall pick had 31 points (8G / 23A) in 40 games at Boston University last year.

Mikkola, 22, was a fifth-round pick (No.127 overall) in 2015 and came to North America this fall after four years in Finland. The 6-foot-5, 198 lbs. blueliner made the opening night roster but sat as a healthy scratch vs. the Jets on Thursday. Chris Thorburn has been recalled to take Mikkola’s spot on the roster.

Tkachuk’s NHL debut will be put on hold because of a mild groin strain, but he shouldn’t be sidelined for too long. With Tkahuck out, Colin White will move up to centre the second line with Zack Smith and Mark Stone.

During the 2017-18 season, Markstrom started a career-high 57 games and went 23-26-7 with a 2.71 GAA, .912 SV% and two shutouts. The Sedin Twins are gone, but the Canucks have some young blood that could provide Markstrom with a decent amount of goal support this year. Tonight he faces a Flames team that he was 1-2-0 while allowing 13 goals on 78 shots (.833 SV%) against last year.

There is no word on when Tkachuk suffered the injury, but it looks like his NHL debut will be put on hold fo now. This summer’s fourth overall pick had 31 points (8G / 23A) in 40 games at Boston University and is expected to skate on the second line with Mark Stone and Zack Smith when he is healthy.

Jones has been moved to IR retroactive to September 25th and is expected to be out until at least late-October. Jones has been given a 4-6 week timetable and should become a sleeper as he drops down fantasy boards this week. The 23-year-old will look to build off of a career-best 57 points (16G / 41A) in 78 games. Zach Werenski will eat up massive minutes at even-strength and the top power-play while Jones is out.

Jones suffered an MCL sprain during Tuesday’s preseason game vs. the Sabres and will miss at least one month. This is another blow to Columbus’ blueline, who will also be without Ryan Murray (groin) to start the season and Zach Werenski is coming off of major off-season shoulder surgery. Werenski should be ready for the start of the year and anchor the top power-play unit with Jones out.

Reinhart set new career-highs in goals (25) and points (50) during the 2017-18 season. The former No.2 overall pick (2014) is expected to land a top-6 role and players with either Jack Eichel or Casey Mittelstadt in a new-look Sabres’ lineup. Reinhart has 60-point upside as he enters his fourth full season.