This will be Boqvist's first game of the series, and he comes in with one goal, one assist, five SOG and 30 hits in nine playoff games so far. He will replace Sam Reinhart (lower-body) on the Panthers' top line with Aleksander Barkov and Evan Rodrigues.
Reinhart played just 5:37 in Game 2 before leaving with a lower-body injury. Reinhart was hurt on a hit from Sebastian Aho and is considered day-to-day. Jesper Boqvist will replace him on the top line and Evan Rodrigues is expected to replace him on PP1 for Game 3.
Reinhart was forced to leave Game 2 vs. Carolina after just eight shifts and 5:37 TOI due to a lower-body injury and was not able to return. If the 29-year-old is forced to miss some time, it will be a massive loss for Florida, as the top-line forward had four goals and 11 points in 14 games played so far in the playoffs before the injury.
Boqvist had a massive Game 5 with a goal, an assist and three shots on goal, but will head to the press box for Game 7 as Evan Rodrigues (undisclosed) returns to the lineup on Sunday. The 26-year-old has appeared in nine playoff games but has only had two points (1G/1A) while playing a complementary role in the Panthers' lineup, averaging only 8:53 TOI/GP.
Rodrigues had missed Florida's previous two games with an undisclosed injury but was a full participant in the morning skate on Sunday and will play in Game 7 vs. Toronto. The 31-year-old sparkplug has struggled to produce offensively this postseason, with just three assists and a -2 plus/minus in nine games while mostly occupying a top-six role.
Rodrigues has missed Florida's previous two games with an undisclosed injury but was a full participant in the morning skate on Sunday and will be a game-time decision for Game 7 in Toronto. The 31-year-old sparkplug has struggled to produce offensively this postseason, with just three assists and a -2 plus/minus in nine games while mostly occupying a top-six role.
Boqvist has not played since Game 2, but he will replace Evan Rodrigues (undisclosed) in the lineup for Game 5. Boqvist, who does not have a point in seven playoff games, will start on a line with Aleksander Barkov and Sam Reinhart.
Rodrigues suffered an undisclosed injury in Game 4 and will not play in Game 5 against the Maple Leafs. Jesper Boqvist will return to the Panthers' lineup to replace Rodrigues on the top line with Aleksander Barkov and Sam Reinhart.
With Aaron Ekblad returning from a two-game suspension, Uvis Balinskis will be the odd man out for Game 2 in Toronto on Wednesday. The 28-year-old has appeared in four games so far in the playoffs and had a goal, two SOG and a +4 plus/minus.
Ekblad was suspended for two games for elblowing Brandon Hagel in Game 4 vs. the Lightning, but will be back in the lineup for Game 2 in Toronto. Ekblad has missed 22 of the last 24 games due to multiple suspensions, but made an impact in his only two games, scoring one goal with three SOG (eight attempts), six hits and four blocked shots.
The Panthers selected Jansson in the fourth-round (No.125 overall) in 2022. The 21-year-old defenseman spent the 2024-25 season in the SHL, where he scored one goal with three assists (four points) in 50 games with Lulea HF. Expect him to report to Charlotte (AHL) if he makes the move to North America in 2025-26.
Balinskis played the first two games of Florida's first-round series against the Tampa Bay Lightning, recording a +2 plus/minus and four hits. He exited the lineup when Aaron Ekblad returned from a suspension in Game 3 but will draw back in on Wednesday for Game 5.
Ekblad was not penalized on the play and eventually scored the tying goal in Florida's 4-2 victory in Game 4. Hagel suffered an undisclosed injury and has already been ruled out for Game 5. Uvis Balinskis will likely draw back into the Panthers lineup in place of Ekblad.
Ekblad was suspended for 20 games in early March for violating the terms of the NHL/NHLPA Performance Enhancing Substances Program. He will make his return to the lineup on Saturday in Game 3 against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The 29-year-old Ekblad had 33 points (3G / 30A) in 56 games this season.
Barkov exited Thursday's game in the third period after receiving an unsuspecting hit from Tampa Bay's Brandon Hagel. Hagel was issued a five-minute major penalty for interference and is scheduled to have a hearing with the NHL's Department of Player Safety. The 29-year-old Barkov has three points (0G / 3A) through two playoff games and his status for Game 3 is uncertain.
