Bennett has yet to play this season but appears to be nearing a return as he will travel with the team on their upcoming road trip. 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.
Kulikov was originally questionable to play on Saturday because of an illness but has now been deemed fit to play. In six games this season, Kulikov has three points (0G / 3A), 11 blocks, 10 hits, and a +3 plus/minus rating.
Entwistle was a healthy scratch for the Blackhawks' previous two games but will draw back into the lineup Friday vs Vegas as he replaces Andreas Athanasiou. The 24-year-old right-winger has a goal, two SOG, four PIMs, and a +1 plus/minus in two games this season while being healthy scratched for five others.
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.
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.
Markstrom dropped his fourth straight contest in his previous start vs. the NYR after allowing three goals on 20 shots (.850 SV%) but will start Thursday against St. Louis. The 33-year-old is disappointing yet again as he is producing a SV% below .900 for a second-straight season with his 1-3-1 record, .897 SV% and 2.80 GAA. He hosts the St. Louis Blues, who have lost three of their last five games and are struggling mightily offensively as they rank last in the NHL in shots per game (23.2) and goals per game (2.0).
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.
Schmid will return to the Devils' crease for his third start of the season after Vitek Vanecek got the nod in Tuesday's 5-2 victory over the Canadiens. Fantasy managers will be hoping for a strong performance from Schmid tonight after enduring a relatively slow start to the season. The 23-year-old netminder has stopped just 58 of the 65 shots he's faced this season, and has a 3.30 GAA to go along with a 1-0-1 record to show for it. New Jersey should provide plenty of goal support all season long, so there is still a lot of potential fantasy value to be had in Schmid if he can reclaim his form from the end of last season and challenge Vanecek for more starts.
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.
Markstrom will look to end his three-game losing streak (0-2-1) as he prepares himself as the starting goalie against the New York Rangers on Tuesday. He has served as the backup to Dan Vladar in two of the Flames' last three games but even with a losing record (1-2-1), Markstrom has played reasonably well this season with a 2.75 GAA and .905 SV%. The Flames are +112 home underdogs tonight.
Schmid will make his second start of the season after surrendering three goals on 30 shots in last Friday's 4-3 shootout loss to the Coyotes. The 23-year-old netminder was fantastic down the stretch for the Devils last season, recording a .922 SV% and a 2.13 GAA in 18 appearances. He was even able to wrestle some starts away from starter Vitek Vanecek in the post-season, and could continue to see his usage grow if he's able to maintain the excellent form he's shown to date.
Markstrom will return to the crease for his fourth start of the season after his understudy, Daniel Vladar, served between the pipes in Thursday’s win over the Sabres. Markstrom has endured an up and down start to the season, featuring a pair of solid performances against the Jets and Capitals, and one not-so-solid performance against the Penguins. His record on the season sits at 1-1-1 to go along with an .898 SV% and a 2.96 GAA. He’s in a good spot to get back in the win column tonight in Columbus with the Flames currently being favoured at -145.
Markstrom appears to have a firm grip on his role as a workhorse in the Calgary crease this season. The 33-year-old netminder averaged 61 starts over the last two seasons and has been named the starter for each of the Flames' first three games to begin the 2023-24 campaign. How much fantasy value that role will provide remains to be seen. Markstrom put on an impressive 34-save performance on route to a 5-3 victory over the Jets to open the season, but surrendered four goals on just 28 shots in Saturday's loss to Pittsburgh. The Flames are slight favourites in Washington tonight, so fantasy managers can be hopeful for a bounceback game from Markstrom.
Gadjovich had signed a deal previously with the Charlotte Checkers (AHL) but has now been signed to a one-year, one-way contract with the Florida Panthers. The 25-year-old forward had three goals, four assists, 32 SOG, 57 PIMs and a -3 plus/minus through 35 games with San Jose in 2022-23. Across three NHL seasons, he has four goals and 10 points in 79 career games played.
Entwistle has been a healthy scratch for Chicago's first three games but will make his season debut Monday vs. Toronto. The 24-year-old right-winger had four goals, six assists, 50 SOG, 14 PIMs and a -11 plus/minus in 66 games with Chicago in 2022-23. He is entering his fourth NHL season and has 10 goals and 24 points in 126 career games played.
Markstrom allowed three goals on 37 shots in the Flames' opening night win over the Jets. It was a strong start to the season for Markstorm, who is looking for a bounce-back after a difficult 2022-23 season. He only faced Pittsburgh once last year, stopping 32 of 33 shots in a 4-1 win.
Markstrom allowed three goals on 37 shots in the Flames' opening night win over the Jets. It was a strong start to the season for Markstorm, who is looking for a bounce-back after a difficult 2022-23 season. He only faced Pittsburgh once last year, stopping 32 of 33 shots in a 4-1 win.
