Florida Panthers News

Bennett has been out since the second game of Florida's first-round victory over Tampa Bay but will be a game-time decision after skating prior to Game 3 vs. Boston on Friday. The 27-year-old will make a welcome addition to the Panthers' lineup after picking up 20 goals, 41 points, 171 SOG, 100 PIMs and. +17 plus/minus through 69 regular season games played.

Boqvist missed Game 1 due to an undisclosed injury but will draw back into the lineup on Wednesday for Game 2 as he replaces Patrick Brown. The 25-year-old has appeared in seven games so far for the Bruins, picking up an assist and four SOG while averaging 9:28 TOI.

Head coach Paul Maurice announced last week that he was hoping to get Sam Bennett back for Florida's second series and the forward returned to practice on Tuesday in his next step of recovery. The 27-year-old is still considered day-to-day for the time being but will make a welcome return when he does find himself back in the lineup, having picked up a goal and an assist in his first two playoff games before his injury.

Boqvist appeared in all seven of Boston's opening series games vs. Toronto but appears to be a healthy scratch for Game 1 on Monday in Florida. The 25-year-old averaged 9:28 TOI in the opening round and had an assist, four SOG and a +1 plus/minus. He is expected to be replaced by Patrick Brown.

Bennett missed the Panthers' previous three games due to an upper-body injury and will remain out for Game 1 on Monday. The 27-year-old appeared in the first two games of Florida's opening series and picked up a goal and an assist to go along with four SOG and two PIMs.

It was a good sign on Wednesday as Sam Bennett skated for the fist time since his upper-body injury held him out of the lineup and is a high possibility to return for Game 1 of Florida's second series. Bennett appeared in two games in Florida's opening series, and had a goal, an assist, four SOG and two PIMs.

Bennet took a puck to the hand and exited Tuesday's 3-2 game-two victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning after playing only 7:42 time-on-ice. Despite leaving early in the second period, Bennet still managed to end game two with a two-point effort, scoring one goal and one assist.

Ekblad did not play the final six games of the season for the Panthers due to an undisclosed injury but will be ready for game one of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Ekblad has seen a decrease in offensive productivity the last few years but is still a major part of the Panthers' blue line. He had 18 points (4G / 14A) in 51 games this season.

Entwistle will get the chance to play once more this year as he draws into Chicago's lineup for their regular season finale. He enters tonight's contest with five goals and five assists in 66 games.

Ekblad has not played since suffering an undisclosed injury on April 2nd but will be ready for the start of the playoffs. Ekblad has seen a decrease in offensive productivity the last few years but is still a major part of the Panthers' blue line. He has 18 points (4G / 14A) in 51 games this season.

Verhaeghe will return to the lineup sooner than anticipated and play on Tuesday against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Before his injury, Verhaeghe scored 71 points (34G / 37A) in 75 games and was on pace to set a career-high in points.

Originally a game-time decision, Barkov will play on Tuesday against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The elite forward has been terrific lately, collecting 12 points (5G / 7A) in his last 10 games, being held off the scoresheet only once.

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.

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.

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.

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.