Barkov's status for Tuesday's game against the Toronto Maple Leafs will be determined closer to puck drop. The elite forward has been terrific lately, collecting 12 points (5G / 7A) in his last 10 games, being held off the scoresheet only once.
The Panthers will turn to Stolarz for their final game of the season on Tuesday night. Stolarz has been solid in a backup role this season and is coming off a 25-save performance in a 2-0 victory over the Ottawa Senators for his second shutout. The Panthers enter action as -149 home favourites against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Okuliar is a 24-year-old undrafted forward from Slovakia. He has spent the last two seasons playing with Hradec Kralove (Czech) and scored 45 points (24G / 21A) in 52 games in the 2023-24 campaign.
Okposo has been a healthy scratch for Florida's previous three games but will draw back into the Panthers' lineup amidst an abundance of team changes. The 35-year-old veteran was acquired at the trade deadline but has struggled with his new team, with no points in four games played but six SOG and two PIMs.
Josh Mahura will be a healthy scratch on Thursday, allowing Ekman-Larsson to re-enter the lineup. Ekman-Larsson has 30 points (9G / 21A) in 78 games this season.
Jonah Gajovich and Ryan Lomberg will be healthy scratches for the Panthers on Thursday, allowing Lorentz and Kyle Okposo to draw back into the lineup. Lorentz has three points (1G / 2A) in 36 games this season.
Kyle Okposo and Steven Lorentz will both draw into the lineup for the Panthers on Thursday as Jonah Gadjovich and Lomberg will be healthy scratches. Lomberg has seven points (2G / 5A) in 75 games this season.
Kyle Okposo and Steven Lorentz will both draw into the lineup for the Panthers on Thursday as Gadjovich and Ryan Lomberg will be healthy scratches. Gadjovich has four points (2G / 2A) in 38 games this season.
Mahura played the last three games for the Panthers, recording one assist, but will be a healthy scratch on Thursday. Oliver Ekman-Larsson will draw into the lineup as his replacement on the blue line.
The Panthers have outscored their opposition 10-3 in their last three games (2-0-1) and will turn to Bobrovsky in the crease on Thursday against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Bobrovsky suffered an overtime loss in his last outing, losing 3-2 to the Boston Bruins while allowing three goals on 29 shots (.897 SV%). The Panthers enter action as enormous -413 home favourites.
The Panthers have outscored their opposition 10-3 in their last three games (2-0-1) and will turn to Bobrovsky in the crease on Thursday against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Bobrovsky suffered an overtime loss in his last outing, losing 3-2 to the Boston Bruins while allowing three goals on 29 shots (.897 SV%). The Panthers enter action as enormous -413 home favourites.
Hovorka is an undrafted 22-year-old defenseman. The Czechia-born Hovorka scored 16 points (5G / 11A) in 51 games with Ceske Budejovice HC (Czech) this season.
Panthers head coach Paul Maurice confirmed earlier this morning that Sergei Bobrovsky would get the start, but it appears there was a change of plans as Stolarz led the Panthers onto the ice for warmups for Tuesday's game against the Senators. Stolarz will be looking to bounce back from a disappointing start against the Canadiens last Tuesday, when we allowed five goals on 39 shots as the Panthers suffered a 5-3 defeat.
Uvis Balinksin will draw into the Panters' lineup on Tuesday, making Ekman-Larsson a healthy scratch. Ekman-Larsson has 30 points (9G / 21A) in 78 games this season.
Balinskis started the season with the Panthers due to several injuries on the blueline but has spent most of the season with the Charlotte Checkers (AHL), scoring 21 points (3G / 18A) in 37 games. He had a four-game stint with the Panthers in mid-March, last playing on March 26th. Oliver Ekman-Larsson will be a healthy scratch for the Panthers on Tuesday.
The Panthers, losers of three of their last four (1-2-1), will ride Bobrovsky for a third straight game on Tuesday against the Ottawa Senators. Bobrovsky has lost two of his last three but was sensational last week against the Senators, saving all 30 shots he faced for his fifth shutout of the season in a 6-0 victory. The Panthers enter action as -243 home favourites.
