Marchand left Game 3 on Friday after just 10:51 TOI due to an upper-body injury and is considered day-to-day after he did not practice on Saturday. The 36-year-old has been sensational in the playoffs so far, with three goals, seven assists, 19 SOG, 16 PIMs and a +2 plus/minus through 10 games played.
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.
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.
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.
Beecher was a healthy scratch for Game 5 but will draw back into the lineup for Game 6 as he replaces the injured Danton Heinen. The 23-year-old scored Boston's first goal of the series vs. Toronto but has yet to put up another point throughout his four games played.
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.
Crookshank had not played an NHL game since April 2nd due to a lower-body injury. The 24-year-old Crookshank had three points (2G / 1A) in 13 games with Ottawa this season.
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.
With the Bruins set to begin their first-round playoff matchup against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday, they have recalled Beecher from Providence (AHL). The 23-year-old Beecher played 52 games with Boston this season, his first NHL campaign, scoring 10 points (7G / 3A).
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.
With Ottawa's season wrapped up, Imama has been reassigned to the AHL. Imama played six games with Ottawa this season but spent most of the 2023-24 campaign with the Belleville Senators (AHL), scoring 10 points (3G / 7A) in 53 games.
Imama will be the odd-man out on Tuesday when the Senators travel to Boston for their regular season finale. Zack Ostapchuk will draw into the lineup in his place.
The Flames play their penultimate game of the season on Tuesday and will turn to Markstrom between the pipes. Markstrom has struggled lately, allowing three or more goals in nine of his last 10 games (3-7-0). He allowed three goals on 29 shots (.897 SV%) in his most recent outing, a 4-1 loss to the Los Angeles Kings. The Flames enter action on Tuesday as +181 road underdogs against the Vancouver Canucks.
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.
Beecher has been a regular in the lineup for the Bruins over the last month, scoring three points (2G / 1A) in 13 games, but has been loaned to the Providence Bruins (AHL). Jayson Megna has been recalled in a corresponding move.
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.
