Florida Panthers News

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.

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.

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.

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.

With Elvis Merzlikins (lower body) also day-to-day due to an injury, Columbus will have to call-up a goaltender as they are without an update on Daniil Tarasov after he left Thursday's game early due to an upper-body injury. The 25-year-old has been on a bit of a tear lately, with his 5-5-1 record and .933 SV% in his last 13 games played.

Tarasov suffered the injury in the first period of Thursday's game and was unable to return. We should expect to receive an update on his injury and a possible timeline for his return following the completion of Thursday's game. Backup netminder Jet Greaves will replace Tarasov for the remainder of the game.

Tkachuk did not play on Tuesday due to an illness but will return to the lineup on Thursday against the Ottawa Senators. The Panthers are already without Carter Verhaeghe for the foreseeable future and are eagerly awaiting Tkachuk's return.

Tkachuk did not play on Tuesday due to an illness but could return to the lineup on Thursday against the Ottawa Senators. The Panthers are already without Carter Verhaeghe for the foreseeable future and are eagerly awaiting Tkachuk's return.

Ekblad exited Tuesday's 5-3 loss to the Montreal Canadiens after playing only 7:16 time-on-ice due to an undisclosed injury. Ekblad's presence on the blueline will be a critical blow for the Panthers for the remainder of the season but all indications point to him being ready for the playoffs.

The Panthers have lost four of their last five and will return to Bobrovsky to tend the twine on Thursday against the Ottawa Senators. Bobrovsky allowed five goals on 16 shots (.688 SV%) in his last outing in a disappointing 6-4 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Panthers enter action as -153 road favourites against a Senators club they defeated 3-2 in overtime on February 20th.

The Blue Jackets will turn to Tarasov in the crease for the second straight game on Tuesday against the New York Islanders. Tarasov was outstanding in his last outing, saving 45 of 46 shots (.978 SV%) in a 4-1 win over the typically high-scoring Colorado Avalanche. The Blue Jackets are riding a two-game winning streak and enter action as +158 road underdogs.

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.

Gadjovich returned to Florida's lineup after a five-game absence on Monday vs. Toronto but will be a healthy scratch on Tuesday in Montreal. The 25-year-old bruiser has enjoyed a decent first season in Florida, with his two goals, four points, 29 SOG and 97 PIMs across 36 games played.