Barkov will return to the Panthers' lineup on Saturday after missing their previous game with an undisclosed illness. Over his last four seasons, Barkov has never played more than 68 games. The Panthers and their fans alike will hope this most recent absence was a one-off as he is off to a great start this season, tallying six points (1G / 5A) in five games.
Kulikov has been dealing with an illness but could be an option for the Panthers on Saturday as he will be a game-time decision. He has three points (0G / 3A) and a +3 plus/minus rating through six games while primarily playing alongside Niko Mikkola on the Panthers' second defensive pairing.
Bennett has yet to play this season but could return on Saturday as he will be a game-time decision against the Seattle Kraken. Last season, he registered 40 points (16G / 24A) in 63 games and should provide an offensive spark for a Panthers team that is off to a 3-3-0 start.
Bobrovsky will return to the crease on Saturday after serving as a backup for the first time this season in a 3-1 win for Anthony Stolarz and the Panthers over the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday. Bobrovsky has been mediocre to start the season, posting a 3.06 GAA and .899 SV% through five games (2-3-0), and could see his stranglehold over the starting position be challenged if Stolarz can put together more strong starts. Bobrovsky and the Panthers will face off on Saturday against a Seattle Kraken team that has the sixth-worst offence (2.25 GF/GP)
After playing his first three NHL games, Samoskevich has been returned to the Charlotte Checkers of the AHL. The 24th overall pick of the Panthers in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft recorded zero points, five shots, and a -2 plus/minus rating.
Vanecek is the likely starter for the Devils on Friday as they will look to bounce back after a 6-4 loss to the Washington Capitals on Wednesday. Vanecek, who allowed two goals on 16 shots coming in relief of Akira Schmid on Wednesday, has been the better of the two goalies thus far despite a pedestrian 3.10 GAA and .900 SV% in four games (2-2-0). The Devils are listed as -191 home favourites against a Buffalo Sabres team that is averaging only 2.71 goals per game, the 21st fewest in the league.
The Bruins have recalled Boqvist as a result of news from earlier today that Milan Lucic will be out week-to-week with a lower-body injury. Boqvist, who will be an option to slide onto the Bruins fourth line, played 70 games with the New Jersey Devils last season, tallying 21 points (10G / 11A).
Bennett joined the Panthers' practice for the first time since injuring himself in the preseason with a lower-body injury and will be a game-time decision Saturday vs. Seattle. The 27-year-old's missing presence has created a hole in the Panthers' lineup after he put up 16 goals, 40 points, 193 SOG, 54 PIMs and a +5 plus/minus in 63 games played in 2022-23. He is expected to skate at practice again Friday and head coach Paul Maurice said they should know his status from there.
Kahkonen will man the crease on Friday and attempt to stop the bleeding on a dreadful start to the 2023-24 campaign for the Sharks. Last night, with Mackenzie Blackwood in the net, the Sharks were blown out 6-0 by the Tampa Bay Lightning. Blackwood has seen action more consistently to start the season for the Sharks, but their 0-6-1 record indicates they don't have much chance regardless of who is in between the pipes. The Sharks are averaging an embarrassing league-worst 1.14 goals scored per game and as a result, are +357 road underdogs against the Carolina Hurricanes.
Barkov was a late scratch from the Panthers' previous game Tuesday vs. San Jose due to illness and did not practice Thursday making his a game-time decision Saturday vs. Seattle. The 28-year-old has started the season off with some jump as he has a goal, five assists, 13 SOG, two PIMs, and a +5 plus/minus through five games so far in 2023-24.
Barkov was a surprise scratch from Tuesday's lineup with the team not announcing his absence prior to warmups. The team alluded to an illness going around the room that could affect the availability of some players, but there was no indication that Barkov was in any danger of missing tonight's game. Anton Lundell will move up the lineup and skate alongside Evan Rodrigues and Sam Reinhart at 5v5, while Carter Verhaeghe is likely to take the vacant spot on Florida's top power-play unit.
Vanecek has struggled in his two appearances so far this season, but he draws an excellent matchup tonight against the Canadiens with New Jersey being massive road favourites at -235. The 27-year-old netminder has stopped just 58 of the 65 shots he's faced this season and has a 3.62 GAA along with a 1-1-0 record to show for it. Vanecek will always be a threat to pick up a Win for your fantasy team so long as he's suiting up for the Devils, but he'll need to string together some strong performances if he wants to stop conceding starts to his understudy, Akira Schmid.
Samoskevich will head back up to Florida for a second time this season after being recalled from Charlotte on Tuesday. The 20-year-old returns to the Panthers, where he has yet to pick up a point in two games this season but has four SOG and a -2 plus/minus while averaging 14:33 TOI.
Greer has one assist, six SOG, and four PIMs in six games played so far this season but will be a healthy scratch Tuesday as Calgary takes on the New York Rangers. The 26-year-old left-winger is in his seventh NHL season after he was claimed off waivers from Boston on October 9th, 2023. Greer will be replaced by Dryden Hunt Tuesday, who is making his Calgary debut.
Sourdif failed to pick up a point in any of the three games he appeared in for the Panthers but only averaged 8:50 TOI and had two SOG in his first appearance in the NHL and has been loaned to Charlotte (AHL) Monday. The 21-year-old returns to the Checkers, where he had seven goals and 24 poitns in 48 games played in 2022-23.
Nosek hasn't played since suffering a lower-body injury on October 13th. In two games, Nosek was pointless while recording one shot on goal, one hit, and one block. His exact return to the lineup is uncertain, but he is not expected to play on Tuesday.
Bobrovsky stopped 29 of 30 shots against (.967 SV%) for his second-straight victory as he topped the Toronto Maple Leafs in his last start. The 35-year-old netminder has taken control of the Panthers' crease yet again with his 2-2-0 record, .908 SV% and 2.81 GAA so far this season. He takes on the Vancouver Canucks, who have dropped their last two contests but rank sixth in the NHL in goals for per game (3.75).
