Ekblad left Thursday's game with a lower-body injury, did not play on Saturday, but is likely to return to action on Monday against the Calgary Flames. Through 13 games this season, Ekblad has four points (0G / 4A) and is averaging a career-low 21:02 time-on-ice, playing predominantly alongside Gustav Forsling on the Panthers' top defensive pair.
Studnicka was acquired from the Canucks a couple of days ago and will make his Sharks debut tonight in Colorado. The 24-year-old forward had one goal in five games with Vancouver earlier in the season and seven points (1G / 6A) in nine AHL games.
Ekblad left Thursday's game with a lower-body injury and is questionable to play Saturday in Edmonton. Head coach Paul Maurice said that Ekblad's injury isn't serious and that they "don't even know if it's day-to-day" and added that they "think they got ahead of it." It sounds like Ekblad is more likely to play than miss Saturday's game, but monitor his status during the afternoon.
Studnicka was acquried in exchange for defenseman Nick Cicek and a 2024 sixth-round draft pick. Studnicka played five games with the Canucks this season, registering one goal and zero assists. He's spent most of his time in Abbotsford (AHL) this year, scoring one goal and adding six assists in nine games.
Balinskis had a goal, two points, 18 SOG, and six PIMs in 18 games played with the Panthers but has been reassigned to Charlotte (AHL) on Friday. The 27-year-old Latvian first-year player has appeared in only one game for Charlotte in his career and scored one goal but will make a welcome sign to the team with his physical presence.
Boqvist is expected to draw into the Bruins lineup for the first time since October 26th as Matthew Poitras (load management) will not play on Friday. In 24 games with the Providence Bruins of the AHL, Boqvist has 14 points (5G / 9A) this season.
Entwistle was not present at the Blackhawks' morning skate and was a game-time decision Thursday vs. Seattle due to illness. The 24-year-old right-winger has made the most of his bottom-six minutes this season, with two goals, three assists, 10 PIMs, 25 SOG and a -6 plus/minus in 21 games played.
Bjornfot failed to pick up a point in nine games with Ontario (AHL) but has been recalled to Los Angeles for the second time this season. The 22-year-old appeared in one game earlier for the Kings on October 11th and played 10:12 TOI before being sent down to Ontario.
Entwistle was not present at the Blackhawks' morning skate and will be a game-time decision Thursday vs. Seattle due to illness. The 24-year-old right-winger has made the most of his bottom-six minutes this season, with two goals, three assists, 10 PIMs, 25 SOG and a -6 plus/minus in 21 games played.
Gadjovich had been a healthy scratch for the Panthers' previous two games but will draw back into the lineup for Anton Lundell (illness) Thursday vs. Vancouver. The 25-year-old bruising left-winger has yet to score in 2023-24, but has an assist, 10 SOG, 43 PIMs and a -2 plus/minus in nine games played so far.
Lundell is battling an illness and will not play on Thursday against the Vancouver Canucks. Lundell has 12 points (2G / 10A) in 22 games this season and played the last game on a line with Evan Rodrigues and Eetu Luostarinen.
Bobrovsky will start for the second consecutive game on Thursday when the Panthers face off against the Vancouver Canucks. Bobrovsky allowed three goals on 22 shots (.864 SV) in his last game, a 4-0 loss to the Seattle Kraken, but won four straight beforehand, allowing more than one goal only once, posting a .941 SV% in the process. The Panthers are slight -115 road favourites against a Canucks team that has won three straight, outscoring their opposition 10-4.
Balinskis had been in the Panthers' lineup for the last two games after recalled from the minors earlier in the week but will be a healthy scratch Thursday at Vancouver as Dmitry Kulikov takes his place. The 27-year-old defensemen is in his first NHL season and first North American season after spending his early career in the Czechia league and the KHL. He has a goal and an assists to go along with six PIMs in 17 games played with Florida in 2023-24.
Kulikov will re-enter the Panthers' lineup for the first time since December 8th as Uvis Balinskis will be a healthy scratch. Kulikov has eight points (0G / 8A) in 25 games this season and will likely skate on the third defensive pair next to Oliver Ekman-Larsson.
