Florida Panthers News

Markstrom will look to help New Jersey to thier fifth win in the last six games on Friday as he takes the crease in Vancouver vs. the Canucks. The 35-year-old has struggled nightly this season for the Devils, posting a 3.27 GAA, .882 SV% and 13-11-1 record across 26 appearances. He'll face the spiralling Vancouver Canucks on the road on Friday, who snapped an eight-game losing streak with a win over Washington their last time out on Wednesday.

The Golden Knights relied heavily on Carter Hart when he made his debut in December, making Schmid an afterthought, but now with Hart (lower body) sidelined, the team seems keen on rotating between Schmid and the recently activated Adin Hill. The 25-year-old Schmid was excellent in his most recent game, saving 27 of 29 shots (.931 SV%) in a 7-2 win over the Nashville Predators, and has a 2.05 GAA and .917 SV% during a four-game winning streak. The Golden Knights enter Thursday's contest as -140 road favorites against a Boston Bruins team whose six-game winning streak was snapped on Tuesday in a 6-2 loss to the Dallas Stars.

The Golden Knights relied heavily on Carter Hart when he made his debut in December, making Schmid an afterthought, but now with Hart (lower body) sidelined, the team seems keen on rotating between Schmid and the recently activated Adin Hill. The 25-year-old Schmid was excellent in his most recent game, saving 27 of 29 shots (.931 SV%) in a 7-2 win over the Nashville Predators, and has a 2.05 GAA and .917 SV% during a four-game winning streak. The Golden Knights enter Thursday's contest as -140 road favorites against a Boston Bruins team whose six-game winning streak was snapped on Tuesday in a 6-2 loss to the Dallas Stars.

Mikkola was limited to only 12:36 time-on-ice on Florida's most recent game, exiting with an undisclosed injury, and was absent from practice on Wednesday. That said, he is expected to return to the lineup on Friday. The 29-year-old defenseman is averaging 20:08 time-on-ice and has eight points (1G / 7A) in 48 games this season

Mikkola was limited to only 12:36 time-on-ice on Florida's most recent game, exiting with an undisclosed injury, and was absent from practice on Wednesday. The 29-year-old defenseman is averaging 20:08 time-on-ice and has eight points (1G / 7A) in 48 games this season.

Petrovic will slot right back into the Stars lineup after serving as a healthy scratch on Sunday. Kyle Capobianco will sit in his place.

Bastian was a surprise addition to the Stars lineup, slotting in for Mikko Rantanen (illness). Bastian has three goals and zero assists in 22 games this season.

Markstrom followed up a two-game winning streak by allowing four goals on 35 shots (.886 SV%) in Saturday's 4-1 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes. The 35-year-old goalie has a 3.02 GAA and .889 SV% in his last eight games (4-4-0). He will return to the crease on Monday, with the Devils entering action as slight -113 road favorites against his former team, the Calgary Flames, who have won three of their last four games (3-1-0).

Lafferty will make his first appearance since December 28th, as he slots into the lineup in place of Andre Burakovsky (illness). Lafferty has just one goal and one assist in 17 games this season.

Markstrom followed up a two-game winning streak by allowing four goals on 35 shots (.886 SV%) in Saturday's 4-1 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes. The 35-year-old goalie has a 3.02 GAA and .889 SV% in his last eight games (4-4-0). He will likely return to the crease on Monday, with the Devils entering action as slight -113 road favorites against his former team, the Calgary Flames, who have won three of their last four games (3-1-0).

Tkachuk has been participating in contact drills for almost two weeks, and will make his season debut on Monday against the San Jose Sharks. The 27-year-old Tkachuk recorded 57 points (22G / 35A), 84 hits, and 156 shots last season in 52 games, missing 30 contests due to a lower-body injury. He should provide a big boost for a Panthers team that has been chasing a playoff spot for most of the season.

Schwindt has not played in two months because of a broken arm, but he will make his return on Friday against the Carolina Hurricanes. Before his injury, the 24-year-old forward was averaging 8:38 time-on-ice and had two points (2G / 0A) in 10 games.

Balinskis was in and out of the lineup to start the season, but injuries on Florida's blueline have awarded him with a larger role, earning himself a two-year contract extension. The 29-year-old Latvian defenseman has eight pints (1G / 7A) in 36 games this season.