Balinskis started the season with the Panthers due to several injuries on the blueline but has spent most of the season with the Charlotte Checkers (AHL), scoring 21 points (3G / 18A) in 37 games. He had a four-game stint with the Panthers in mid-March, last playing on March 26th.
Crookshank was limited to only 3:37 time-on-ice in Tuesday's 3-2 loss to the Minnesota Wild before exiting the game with a lower-body injury. The 24-year-old Crookshank has three points (2G / 1A) in 13 games with Ottawa this season.
Gadjovich returned to Florida's lineup after a five-game absence on Monday vs. Toronto but will be a healthy scratch on Tuesday in Montreal. The 25-year-old bruiser has enjoyed a decent first season in Florida, with his two goals, four points, 29 SOG and 97 PIMs across 36 games played.
Verhaeghe left Monday's loss in Toronto and will be sidelined for at least one week. The Panthers are hopeful that he'll be back for the postseason, but this is obviously a huge blow to their top-6, which will also be without Matthew Tkachuk (illness) on Tuesday. Look for Vladimir Tarasenko to move up to the top line in Verhaeghe's absence.
Tkachuk will not play Tuesday in Montreal, which would be a big blow by itself, but with Carter Verhaeghe also sidelined, the Panthers are down two of their top scorers. Nick Cousins will draw into the lineup to replace Tkachuk.
The Flames are fresh off an impressive 4-2 win over the Los Angeles Kings and will roll with Markstrom in the crease for a second straight game. Markstrom has seen limited action the last month due to injuries but has allowed three or fewer goals in three straight (1-2-0), including saving 16 of 18 shots (.889 SV%) in his last outing. The Flames enter action on Tuesday as significant -233 home favourites.
Black is a 6'8 goalie out of Michigan who has spent the last two seasons playing collegiate hockey with Dartmouth College. The 22-year-old netminder has a 2.58 GAA and .910 SV% in 30 games this season (13-8-8).
Gadjovich and Ryan Lomberg will draw back into the lineup for the Panthers on Monday as Nick Cousins and Steven Lorentz will be healthy scratches. Gadjovich has four points (2G / 2A) and 66 hits in 35 games this season.
Ekblad has been sidelined since March 9th due to a lower-body injury but has been a full participant at practice for several days and will return on Thursday. The 28-year-old Windsor native's production has taken a bit of a hit in 2023-24 as he has only four goals and 17 points in 47 games.
Balisnkis appeared in 22 games for Florida before being reassigned to Charlotte (AHL) on Wednesday and had a goal and two assists with six PIMs during his first season with the team. The 27-year-old defenseman will return to Charlotte, where he excelled offensively earlier in the season with three goals, 21 points, 27 PIMs and a +3 plus/minus through 35 games played.
Ekblad has been sidelined since March 9th due to a lower-body injury and returned to practice in full on Tuesday but is not ready yet for game speed. The 28-year-old Windsor native is expected back in the upcoming games but will see how the next few practices go. His production has taken a bit of a hit in 2023-24 as he has only four goals, and 17 points in 47 games played.
The Flames, losers of three straight, will turn to Markstrom for the second time in the last three games. Markstrom lost in his return from a two-week absence due to a lower-body injury, allowing three goals on 25 shots (.880 SV%) in a 4-2 loss to the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday. The Flames will look to snap their winless skid as they are -171 road favourites against the Chicago Blackhawks.
James van Riemsdyk will be a healthy scratch on Tuesday, allowing Beecher to re-enter the lineup. Beecher will play for the fifth time in six games and has two points (1G / 1A) in his last four contests.
Forsling did not play the last two games for the Panthers due to an illness but will return to the lineup on Tuesday against the Boston Bruins. Forsling has been productive lately, scoring seven points (1G / 6A) in his last eight games.
Barkov played a season-high 24:26 in his last game on March 16th but suffered an undisclosed injury at some point, and has missed three games since. The 28-year-old Barkov has four points (3G / 1A) in his last six games but has been held off the scoresheet in four.
Barkov played a season-high 24:26 in his last game on March 16th but suffered an undisclosed injury at some point, and has missed three games since. The 28-year-old Barkov has four points (3G / 1A) in his last six games but has been held off the scoresheet in four.
