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Florida Panthers News

Barkov left Thursday's game with an upper-body injury and did not return.

Barkov took an elbow up high from Alec Martinez in the first period of Thursday's 4-1 win in Vegas. Barkov left after playing just 4:54 TOI and did not return to the game. In addition to Barkov, the Panthers also lost Evan Rodrigues in the game, which could leave them shorthanded up-front for Saturday's game in Colorado. Head coach Paul Maurice said he expects to have an update on Barkov on Friday.

Aleksander Barkov
Gadjovich (illness) will draw back into the Panthers' lineup Thursday vs. Vegas.

Gadjovich has found himself the odd man out of the Panthers' lineup for 11 straight games due to illness and lack of roster room but will draw back in Thursday as he replaced Nick Cousins (concussion). The 25-year-old bruising left-winger has failed to pick up a goal in nine games this season, but has an assist, 43 PIMs, 10 SOG and a -2 plus/minus.

Jonah Gadjovich
Beecher will draw back into the Bruins' lineup Thursday vs. Pittsburgh.

Jakub Lauko will be a healthy scratch on Thursday, allowing Beecher to re-enter the lineup for the Bruins. Beecher last played on December 31st, ending a run of 12 straight games in which he recorded only a single point (0G / 1A).

John Beecher
Crookshank is expected to draw back into the Senators' lineup Thursday vs. Seattle.

Zack MacEwen (illness) and Jacob Bernard-Docker (healthy scratch) are both expected to be out of the lineup on Thursday, allowing Crookshank and Jiri Smejkal to draw back into the lineup. Crookshank has spent most of the season with the Belleville Senators of the AHL, scoring 21 points (10G / 11A) in 24 games.

Angus Crookshank
Florida has signed Uvis Balinskis to a two-year, $1.7 million ($850,000 AAV) extension.

Balinskis made his NHL debut in 2023-24 with Florida after three seasons in the Czechia pro league and was rewarded Wednesday with a two-year, $1.7 million ($850,000) contract extension. The 27-year-old has managed to pick up a goal, an assist, 18 SOG, and six PIMs in 18 games played in his first season in Florida.

Uvis Balinskis
Los Angeles has placed Tobias Bjornfot on waivers Wednesday.

Bjornfot has not played a game for the Kings since their season opener when he recorded one block in 10:12 time-on-ice. He has been placed on unconditional waivers and, if he goes unclaimed, will join the Ontario Reign (AHL), where he has scored zero points in nine games this season.

Tobias Bjornfot
Jacob Markstrom will start Tuesday in Minnesota.

Markstrom will likely return the crease for his sixth straight start on Tuesday. The 33-year-old Swedish netminder is amid his best stretch of the play since returning from a fractured finger injury two weeks ago, posting an excellent .931 SV% in five games (3-2-0). The Flames are slight -112 road favourites against a Minnesota Wild team that defeated them 3-2 in a shootout on December 14th but has lost two straight games and will be without Kiril Kaprizov and starting goalie Filip Gustavsson.

Jacob Markstrom
Markstrom was the first goalie off the ice at the Flames morning skate.

Markstrom will likely return the crease for his sixth straight start on Tuesday. The 33-year-old Swedish netminder is amid his best stretch of the play since returning from a fractured finger injury two weeks ago, posting an excellent .931 SV% in five games (3-2-0). The Flames are slight -112 road favourites against a Minnesota Wild team that defeated them 3-2 in a shootout on December 14th but has lost two straight games and will be without Kiril Kaprizov and starting goalie Filip Gustavsson.

Jacob Markstrom
Jacob Markstrom will start Wednesday vs. Seattle.

Markstrom was terrific in his first two games after returning from a fractured finger (2-0-0), saving 58 of 59 shots (.983 SV%) before allowing four goals on 33 shots (.879 SV%) in a 5-3 loss to the Los Angeles Kings in his most recent outing. Markstrom will return to the crease on Wednesday against the Seattle Kraken, who they defeated 4-3 on November 30th. The Flames are -139 home favourites against the Kraken, who have points in six straight (4-0-2), outscoring their opposition 21-10.

Jacob Markstrom