Balinskis has not played since Game 1 vs. the Maple Leafs, but he will replace Niko Mikkola in the lineup for Game 4 vs. Carolina. Balinskis has one goal, two SOG, six blocked shots and six hits in four playoff games.
Reinhart missed Florida's Game 3 win with a lower-body injury but is only considered day-to-day going forward and has not been ruled out for Game 4 on Monday. The 29-year-old has been replaced by Jesper Boqvist in Florida's top six for the time being but will be welcomed back with open arms if he can go on Monday. After putting up 81 points in 79 games played during the regular season, he has four goals and 11 points in 14 games so far in the playoffs.
Reinhart played just 5:37 in Game 2 before leaving with a lower-body injury. Reinhart was hurt on a hit from Sebastian Aho and is considered day-to-day. Jesper Boqvist will replace him on the top line and Evan Rodrigues is expected to replace him on PP1 for Game 3.
Petrovic will slot into the lineup after sitting out the first game of round three. Ilya Lyubushkin will sit in his place.
Reinhart was forced to leave Game 2 vs. Carolina after just eight shifts and 5:37 TOI due to a lower-body injury and was not able to return. If the 29-year-old is forced to miss some time, it will be a massive loss for Florida, as the top-line forward had four goals and 11 points in 14 games played so far in the playoffs before the injury.
With Aaron Ekblad returning from a two-game suspension, Uvis Balinskis will be the odd man out for Game 2 in Toronto on Wednesday. The 28-year-old has appeared in four games so far in the playoffs and had a goal, two SOG and a +4 plus/minus.
Ekblad was suspended for two games for elblowing Brandon Hagel in Game 4 vs. the Lightning, but will be back in the lineup for Game 2 in Toronto. Ekblad has missed 22 of the last 24 games due to multiple suspensions, but made an impact in his only two games, scoring one goal with three SOG (eight attempts), six hits and four blocked shots.
The Panthers selected Jansson in the fourth-round (No.125 overall) in 2022. The 21-year-old defenseman spent the 2024-25 season in the SHL, where he scored one goal with three assists (four points) in 50 games with Lulea HF. Expect him to report to Charlotte (AHL) if he makes the move to North America in 2025-26.
Balinskis played the first two games of Florida's first-round series against the Tampa Bay Lightning, recording a +2 plus/minus and four hits. He exited the lineup when Aaron Ekblad returned from a suspension in Game 3 but will draw back in on Wednesday for Game 5.
Ekblad was not penalized on the play and eventually scored the tying goal in Florida's 4-2 victory in Game 4. Hagel suffered an undisclosed injury and has already been ruled out for Game 5. Uvis Balinskis will likely draw back into the Panthers lineup in place of Ekblad.
Markstrom will be looking to rebound from his worst performance of the series as he tries to help his team stave off elimination on Tuesday. The 35-year-old netminder allowed four goals on 28 shots in a 5-2 loss in Game 4 on Sunday. Despite the 3-1 series deficit, Markstrom has arguably been New Jersey's best player in the series, posting a .913 SV% across the opening four games. That will certainly need to be the case again on Tuesday as the Devils enter action at +225 on the money line.
Facing a 2-0 series deficit, Markstrom and the Devils will be hoping the third time's the charm when they host the Hurricanes for Game 3 on Friday. Markstrom is hardly the one to blame for the hole the Devils find themselves in, as evident by his .930 SV% and 2.52 GAA. New Jersey will thankfully be playing on home ice for the first time in the series, where Markstrom logged a 14-7-4 record across 26 regular season appearances. The Devils enter action on Friday at +135 on the money line.
Ekblad was suspended for 20 games in early March for violating the terms of the NHL/NHLPA Performance Enhancing Substances Program. He will make his return to the lineup on Saturday in Game 3 against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The 29-year-old Ekblad had 33 points (3G / 30A) in 56 games this season.
Barkov exited Thursday's game in the third period after receiving an unsuspecting hit from Tampa Bay's Brandon Hagel. Hagel was issued a five-minute major penalty for interference and is scheduled to have a hearing with the NHL's Department of Player Safety. The 29-year-old Barkov has three points (0G / 3A) through two playoff games and his status for Game 3 is uncertain.
