Balinskis has two points (1G / 1A) in 15 games this season and will be a healthy scratch on Monday, allowing Dmitry Kulikov to return to the Panthers' lineup. Balinskis has been a healthy scratch in four of the last five games for the Panthers, a trend that will likely continue now that Aaron Ekblad and Brandon Montour have returned from injuries.
Bobrovsky played very well on Friday but received no goal support, saving 28 of 30 shots (.933 SV%) in a 3-0 loss to the Winnipeg Jets and will get the chance to bounce back into the win column on Monday against the Ottawa Senators. Bobrovsky has lost three of his last four (1-3-0) but has played some of his best hockey of the season in terms of consistency, allowing three goals or fewer in each of those games and posting a .910 SV%. The Panthers are -125 road favourites against a Senators team that could again be without goaltender Joonas Korpisalo, who has been between the pipes for five of the Senators' eight wins this season.
Bobrovsky will start for the third consecutive game on Friday when the Panthers take on the Winnipeg Jets. Despite a strong 9-5-1 record, Bobrovsky only has seven quality starts in 15 games (.467), a rate that rivals career lows and is significantly beneath his .571 quality start rate over his career. The Panthers are -132 home favourites, but as previously mentioned, Bobrovsky's performance is a coin-flip, especially against a Jets team that has won four straight, outscoring their opposition 17-9.
Dmitry Kulikov will be a healthy scratch for the first time this season, allowing Balinskis to return to the Panthers lineup. Balinskis has two points (1G / 1A) and 15 shots on goal while averaging 13:59 time-on-ice, playing predominantly on the Panthers' third defensive pair.
Kulikov will be a healthy scratch on Friday, allowing Uvis Balinskis to draw back into the lineup. Kulikov has played all 19 games for the Panthers this season, tallying six points (0G / 6A), 26 blocks, and 27 hits while averaging 18:43 time-on-ice.
After missing two games with a knee injury, Barkov was a full participant at practice and should return to the lineup on Friday against the Winnipeg Jets. Barkov is expected to return to his familiar place on the Panthers' top line with Sam Reinhart and Evan Rodrigues. Before his injury, Barkov was lighting it up with 11 points (5G / 6A) in his last 10 games.
A busy schedule for the Panthers has limited Bobrovsky to only two starts in their past four outings, but the team will hope the extra rest will have him at his best on Wednesday against the Boston Bruins. Bobrovsky was heroic in the first round of the playoffs last season and was the main reason the Panthers defeated the Bruins in seven games. Bobrovsky has only lost once in his last seven contests (6-1-0), saving 167 of 184 shots faced (.908 SV%), but was unsuccessful in his only matchup against the Bruins this season, allowing three goals on 26 shots (.885 SV%) in a 3-2 overtime loss on October 30th.
Barkov did not practice on Wednesday, indicating he will likely miss his second consecutive game due to a knee injury. Barkov has been terrific this season, tallying 17 points (6G / 11A) in 16 games playing predominantly alongside Sam Reinhart on the Panthers' top line. Anton Lundell will move up to the top line, centring Eetu Luostarinen and the previously mentioned Reinhart.
Bobrovsky played well in a 2-1 loss to the Los Angeles Kings in his last contest, saving 25 of 27 shots (.926 SV%), but will look to get back into the win column when he starts against the Edmonton Oilers on Monday night. Bobrovsky is in the midst of a strong stretch of hockey, helping his team record at least a point in seven of his last eight games (6-1-1) while saving 196 of 215 shots faced (.912 SV%). The red-hot Panthers are only slight -107 home favourites as they welcome an Oilers team that, despite snapping a season-best three-game winning streak on Saturday, seems to have refound their scoring touch, scoring four goals in each of their last four contests (1-3-0).
Barkov left Friday's game in Anaheim following a knee-on-knee hit and did not return. He was not on the ice for Sunday's practice and will not play Monday, but head coach Paul Maurice said they "got lucky with it" and that he's only day-to-day. Anton Lundell moved up to the top line in Sunday's practice session.
Ekblad, initially expected to be out until mid-December, could return to action as soon as tonight against the Anaheim Ducks. The injured reserve has become far too familiar of a place for Ekblad over the past few seasons as the talented defenceman will hope for a better fate upon his return for the remainder of the season. Despite his recent inability to play an entire season, Ekblad scored more than 10 goals in each of his past three campaigns.
Gadjovich was sent to Charlotte (AHL) on a rehab assignment due to an upper-body injury but has been recalled to Florida on Friday. The 25-year-old signed a one-year, two-way contract with Florida in the offseason after putting up three goals, four assists, 57 PIMs and a -3 plus/minus in 35 games played with San Jose in 2022-23.
Bobrovsky had the night off on Tuesday but will return to the crease on Thursday when the Panthers visit the Los Angeles Kings. The Panthers are in the midst of the best stretch of the season (6-1-0), highlighted by Bobrovsky's five-game winning streak, in which he has saved 117 of 129 shots (.907 SV%), including a shutout. Despite their strong play, the Panthers are still +111 road underdogs against a very strong Kings team that ranks second in the league offensively (4.00 GF / GP).
Bobrovsky had the night off on Tuesday but will likely return to the crease on Thursday when the Panthers visit the Los Angeles Kings. The Panthers are in the midst of the best stretch of the season (6-1-0), highlighted by Bobrovsky's five-game winning streak, in which he has saved 117 of 129 shots (.907 SV%), including a shutout. Despite their strong play, the Panthers are still +111 road underdogs against a very strong Kings team that ranks second in the league offensively (4.00 GF / GP).
Bjornfot was injured in the Kings opening game on October 11th and will join the Ontario Reign on a conditioning assignment after finally being cleared to return to play. Bjornfot was the 22nd overall pick of the Kings in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. He has 15 points (1G / 14A) in 117 career NHL games.
Greer is expected to skate alongside Dillon Dube and Yegor Sharangovich on the Flames' fourth line in Tuesday's game in Montreal. Greer has two goals and two assists in 13 games with the Flames this season.
Ekblad has yet to play in 2023-24 due to offseason shoulder surgery but is eyeing Friday vs. Anaheim as a possible return to make his season debut. The 27-year-old heavy shooting defensemen has scored double digit goals in eight of his nine career seasons and had 14 goals, 38 points, and 68 PIMs in 71 games played in 2022-23.
