Florida Panthers News

The Panthers have turned to Spencer Knight in two of the last three games but will return to Bobrovsky between the crease on Thursday against the Vancouver Canucks. Bobrovsky hasn't risen to full potential yet this season but has managed a 2-1-0 record with a 3.02 GAA and .894 SV%. The Panthers, still without Aleksander Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk, enter Thursday's contest as slight -109 home favorites against the Canucks.

With Elvis Merzlikins being given some time to rest and regroup, the Blue Jackets will turn to Trasov between the pipes on Thursday for his second start of the young season. Tarasov was unspectacular in his first start, allowing four goals on 30 shots (.867 SV%), but salvaged a 6-4 victory over the Colorado Avalanche. The Blue Jackets enter action on Thursday as +112 home underdogs against a Buffalo Sabres club that was defeated 6-5 in overtime against the Pittsburgh Penguins last night.

The Panthers' head coach Paul Maurice reported that Tkachuk is battling an illness and targeting a return on October 22nd against the Minnesota Wild. Over the past three seasons, Tkachuk has been among the league leaders in the NHL, averaging 1.25 points per game. Florida's top line is nearly completely decimated for the time being as they are also without Aleksander Barkov (lower-body). Sam Bennett and Evan Rodrigues will likely be the beneficiaries on the top line and top powerplay unit in the interim.

The Panthers will turn to Bobrovsky in the crease on Monday afternoon in an early-season rematch of their season opener, less than a week ago, against the Boston Bruins. Bobrovsky allowed four goals on 28 shots (.857 SV%) in their 6-4 win over the Bruins and has historically struggled against them, posting a 3.64 GAA and .890 SV% in 22 career appearances (5-11-4). Without Aleksander Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk, the Panthers enter action as +128 road underdogs against the Bruins.

Elvis Merzlikins started the Blue Jackets' season opener but Tarasov will start Saturday in Colorado. The Blue Jackets are massive underdogs (+275) tonight and Tarasov was a 4-5-2 with a 3.13 GAA and .902 SV% on the road last year. However, he was unbelievable in his only start against the Avalanche last year, stopping 45 of 46 shots in a win.

Tkachuk's illness comes at a tough time, as the Panthers will also be without Aleksander Barkov (lower-body) on Saturday. With Tkachuk out, Eetu Luostarinen will move up into the top-6 on Saturday. Consider Tkachuk day-to-day and questionable to play Monday in Boston.

Barkov had to be helped off the ice at the end of Thursday's loss in Ottawa after crashing leg-first into the end boards. All things considered, this is good news for the Panthers but they'll be extremely shorthanded on Saturday with Matthew Tkachuk (illness) also sidelined. Anton Lundell should take on a much larger role while Barkov is out. Expect Barkov to miss roughly 10 games.

Barkov suffered the injury late in the third period of Thursday's game after falling feet first into the boards and appeared to be unable to put any weight on his right leg while being helped off the ice. We can expect to get an update on the injury prior to Florida's game in Buffalo on Saturday.

Bobrovsky was unspectacular in the Panthers' season-opening 6-4 win over the Boston Bruins on Tuesday but was good enough to secure the victory, saving 24 of 28 shots (.857 SV%). The 36-year-old Bobrovsky is coming off his best season in nearly a decade, finishing third in Vezina-trophy voting and posting a solid 2.37 GAA and .915 SV% in 58 games (36-17-4). Bobrovsky will return to the crease for the Panthers on Thursday in a matchup against the Ottawa Senators, where they are -133 road favorites.

Entwistle was a member of the Chicago Blackhawks for the first four seasons of his NHL career and will likely begin his 2024-25 campaign with the Charlotte Checkers (AHL) after being sent down on Wednesday. In 193 career games, all with the Blackhawks, Entwistle has 35 points (15G / 20A).

Verhaeghe has established himself as one of the premier goal scorers in the NHL and has been rewarded with an eight-year, $56 million contract extension. Over the past two seasons, in addition to some clutch playoff performances, the 29-year-old Verhaeghe has tallied 145 points (76G / 69A) and 521 shots in 157 regular-season games. He is currently suiting up on the top line and top powerplay unit for the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers.

Fresh off their first Stanley Cup championship, the Panthers will likely turn to Bobrovsky between the pipes in their season opener against the Boston Bruins, a rematch of their second-round playoff matchup. Last season, Bobrovsky touted an impressive 2.37 GAA and .915 SV% in 58 games (36-17-4), his best totals since the 2018-19 season as a member of the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Panthers enter the action on Tuesday as -147 home favorites against the Bruins. That said, Bobrovsky boasts an ugly 3.62 GAA and .891 SV% in 21 career games against the Bruins (4-11-4), his lowest totals against any club.

Fresh off their first Stanley Cup championship, the Panthers will likely turn to Bobrovsky between the pipes in their season opener against the Boston Bruins, a rematch of their second-round playoff matchup. Last season, Bobrovsky touted an impressive 2.37 GAA and .915 SV% in 58 games (36-17-4), his best totals since the 2018-19 season as a member of the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Panthers enter the action on Tuesday as -147 home favorites against the Bruins. That said, Bobrovsky boasts an ugly 3.62 GAA and .891 SV% in 21 career games against the Bruins (4-11-4), his lowest totals against any club.

Samoskevich has been dealing with an upper-body injury since the beginning of training camp but was cleared to join practice on Wednesday. Head coach Paul Maurice said he expects Samoskevich to be full contact by Friday and make his pre-season debut on Saturday. If he's healthy, Samoskevich is expected to open the season on the Panthers' roster and skate on the third line next to Anton Lundell and Eetu Luostarinen.

Samoskevich has been dealing with an upper-body injury throughout training camp but was a limited participant on Tuesday. Samoskevich was penciled in to start the season on the Panthers' third line at the start of the preseason but it's unclear if he'll be ready for the start of the regular season until he's cleared for contact.

Marchand underwent elbow, groin and abdominal surgeries in the offseason and is still getting up to speed. He has yet to be cleared for practice, but Bruins' GM Don Sweeney said that Marchand remains on track to be ready for the start of the season. Tyler Johnson, who is with the Bruins on a PTO, has been skating in Marchand's spot in training camp.

Lundell was a massive piece in Florida's first-ever Stanley Cup victory with 17 points (3G/14A) in 24 playoff games and has earned himself a six-year extension worth $30.0 million ($5.0M AAV). The 22-year-old was Florida's 2020 1st round pick (12th overall) and has 112 points (43G/69A) in 216 career games played in three seasons.