Sturm is battling an undisclosed ailment and his status for Saturday's game against the New Jersey Devils is up in the air. The 36-year-old Sturm is averaging 9:43 time-on-ice and has nine points (4G / 5A) in 36 games this season.
The Panthers were shut out 4-0 in consecutive games last week but responded with a 5-3 win over the New York Rangers, in which Bobrovsky saved 33 of 36 shots (.917 SV%). The 36-year-old Bobrovsky has had an up-and-down 2024-25 campaign, recording a 2.81 GAA and .896 SV% in 25 games (17-7-1). The Panthers enter Thursday's contest as -119 home favorites against a Carolina Hurricanes club coming off a 4-3 shootout loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Puljujarvi had been limited only 21 games with Pittsburgh this season, scoring eight points (3G / 5A) while being in and out of the lineup as a healthy scratch. After spending the first five seasons of his career with the Edmonton Oilers, Puljuarvi has played on three different teams over the course of the last three seasons. He has 126 points (57G / 69A) in 377 career games.
The Panthers have been outscored 8-0 in their last two games (0-2-0) and have been shut out in four of their last eight contests (4-4-0). They will turn to Bobrovsky between the pipes on Monday against the struggling New York Rangers. Bobrovsky allowed three goals on 28 shots (.893 SV%) in his most recent contest, a 4-0 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning. He has a 2.80 GAA and .895 SV% in 24 games this season (16-7-1). The Panthers enter Monday's contest as -194 home favorites against a Rangers club that has been outscored 14-3 in their last three games (0-3-0).
Vanecek was hit by an arrant puck while on the bench last Tuesday and has not suited up since. The Sharks recalled Yaroslav Askarov from the San Jose Barracuda (AHL), who has played two games for the Sharks since Vanecek's injury.
Mikkola was limited to only 13:26 time-on-ice in Monday's 4-0 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning and will be out of the lineup on Saturday against the Montreal Canadiens. Adam Boqvist will return to the lineup as Mikkola's replacement on the blue line.
Boqvist has been a pleasant addition as a depth-forward for the Panthers. The 26-year-old Boqvist is averaging 13:00 time-on-ice and has 11 points (5G / 6A) in 33 games this season.
The Panthers won the first end of a back-to-back set against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Sunday and will turn to Bobrovsky on Monday. The 36-year-old Bobrovsky has a 2.79 GAA and .896 SV% in 23 games this season (16-6-1) but has looked more like his usual self lately, allowing a single goal in four of his last six (5-1-0), posting a solid .913 SV%. The Panthers enter Monday's contest as -146 home favorites against the Lightning.
Bobrovsky was excellent in Wednesday's 6-1 win over the Minnesota Wild, saving 26 of 27 shots (.963 SV%), and will return to the crease on Friday against the St. Louis Blues. That said, the 36-year-old Bobrovsky has had an up-and-down 2024-25 campaign, showcasing a 2.88 GAA and .892 SV% in 22 games (15-6-1). The Panthers enter Friday's contest as significant -293 home favorites against a Blues club defeated 3-1 last night by the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Bennett snapped a season-worst three-game pointless skid with an assist on Monday but was sidelined on Wednesday due to an illness and will be a game-time decision on Friday. The 28-year-old Bennett is pacing for a career-best offensive season, with 27 points (13G / 14A) in 31 games while maintaining his rugged style, recording 39 penalty minutes and 71 hits.
Barkov was a late scratch on Saturday due to an illness, and missed a second straight game on Monday. The Panthers will be without Sam Bennett (illness) on Wednesday so Barkov's return could not come at a better time. He has 29 points (9G / 20A) in 22 games this season.
Vanecek was hit by an arrant puck while on the bench on Tuesday and did not return to the game. The Sharks have recalled Yaroslav Askarov from the San Jose Barracuda (AHL), who likely see some action, sharing the crease with Alexandar Georgiev.
Bennett snapped a season-worst three-game pointless skid with an assist on Monday but will be sidelined due to an illness on Wednesday. The 28-year-old Bennett is pacing for a career-best offensive season, with 27 points (13G / 14A) in 31 games while maintaining his rugged style, recording 39 penalty minutes and 71 hits.
Barkov was a late scratch on Saturday due to an illness, and missed a second straight game on Monday. The Panthers will be without Sam Bennett (illness) on Wednesday and can ill-afford to be without Barkov's production again. He has 29 points (9G / 20A) in 22 games this season.
