Florida Panthers News

Tarasov will get the nod in the tail-end of Columbus' back-to-back when they travel to Utah on Friday. Tarasov hasn't appeared in a game since allowing six goals on 42 shots in a 7-4 loss to the Hurricanes on January 23rd. The 25-year-old netminder owns a 4-7-2 record and an underwhelming .871 SV% on the season. The Blue Jackets enter action in Utah on Friday at +180 on the money line.

The Panthers are coming off a 3-0 win over the Los Angeles Kings when Bobrovsky saved all 29 shots he faced for his second shutout. The 36-year-old Bobrovsky returns to the crease on Saturday and will look to build on his 2.72 GAA and .901 SV% through 34 games (21-11-2). He has played much better lately, posting a .919 SV% in his last 13 games (7-5-1).

Bobrovsky has only started three of the previous seven games for the Panthers but will return to the crease on Wednesday against the Los Angeles Kings. The 36-year-old Bobrovsky has been inconsistent this season, posting a 2.80 GAA and .898 SV% in 33 games (20-11-2). That said, he has been better lately, posting a .912 SV% in his last 12 (6-5-1). The Panthers enter Wednesday's contest as -150 home favorites against a Kings squad that has lost four of their last five (1-3-1).

Jones was a surprise scratch on Friday with the team not announcing his absence prior to warmups.

Ekblad has not played since January 8th, missing seven straight games, but returned to practice on Friday. The 28-year-old Ekblad is averaging 23:32 time-on-ice, his highest total in four seasons, recording 20 points (2G / 18A), 55 blocks, and 59 hits in 41 games this season.

A night after an impressive 5-1 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Blue Jackets will switch to Tarasov between the pipes. Tarasov was excellent in his most recent outing, a 26-save shutout, his first of the season, in a 1-0 shootout loss to the New York Rangers. The 25-year-old netminder has a 3.64 GAA and .872 SV% in 12 games this season (4-6-2). The Blue Jackets enter Thursday's contest as significant +320 road favorites despite playing their best hockey of the season, collecting a point in eight of their last nine games (7-1-1).

The Panthers shut out the Anaheim Ducks 3-0 with Spencer Knight between the pipes on Saturday, but the team will switch to Bobrovsky in a rematch on Tuesday. Bobrovsky has struggled lately, allowing four goals in three straight (0-2-1), posting an ugly .806 SV%. The 36-year-old netminder has a 2.86 GAA and .896 SV% in 31 games this season (18-11-2). The Panthers enter Tuesday's contest as sizeable -256 road favorites against a Ducks squad amid a three-game losing skid (0-2-1).

The Panthers had Spencer Knight in their crease on Tuesday's 2-1 win over the New Jersey Devils but will revert to Bobrovsky on Thursday against the Detroit Red Wings. Bobrovsky has struggled in his last two contests (0-1-1), allowing eight combined goals on 47 shots (.830 SV%). The veteran netminder has a 2.78 GAA and .899 SV% in 30 games this season (18-10-2). The Panthers enter Thursday's contest as -236 home favorites against a Red Wings club whose seven-game winning streak snapped on Tuesday.

The Panthers had Spencer Knight in their crease on Tuesday's 2-1 win over the New Jersey Devils but will revert to Bobrovsky on Thursday against the Detroit Red Wings. Bobrovsky has struggled in his last two contests (0-1-1), allowing eight combined goals on 47 shots (.830 SV%). The veteran netminder has a 2.78 GAA and .899 SV% in 30 games this season (18-10-2). The Panthers enter Thursday's contest as -236 home favorites against a Red Wings club whose seven-game winning streak snapped on Tuesday.

Tarasov has returned from a conditioning stint with the Cleveland Monsters (AHL) and will tend the twine for the Blue Jackets on Tuesday against the Philadelphia Flyers. The 25-year-old Tarasov played reasonably in a two-game stint in the AHL (1-1-0), posting a 2.96 GAA and .908 SV%. He has a 4.23 GAA and .857 SV% in 10 appearances with the Blue Jackets this season (3-6-1). The Blue Jackets enter Tuesday's contest as slight -103 home underdogs against a Flyers club that defeated the Florida Panthers 4-3 last night.

The Panthers will turn to Bobrovsky for a fourth straight game on Monday when they visit the Philadelphia Flyers. Bobrovsky struggled in his most recent outing, allowing four goals on 18 shots (.778 SV%) in a 4-3 overtime loss to the Boston Bruins. That said, the 36-year-old netminder has played well lately, posting a solid .927 SV% across his previous eight games (4-3-1). Bobrovsky started his career with the Flyers and has been excellent against them, posting a 2.35 GAA and .921 SV% in 28 career games (20-7-1). The Panthers enter Monday's contest as -179 road favorites against the Flyers.