Florida Panthers News

Ekblad left Thursday's game with a lower-body injury and is questionable to play Saturday in Edmonton. Head coach Paul Maurice said that Ekblad's injury isn't serious and that they "don't even know if it's day-to-day" and added that they "think they got ahead of it." It sounds like Ekblad is more likely to play than miss Saturday's game, but monitor his status during the afternoon.

Balinskis had a goal, two points, 18 SOG, and six PIMs in 18 games played with the Panthers but has been reassigned to Charlotte (AHL) on Friday. The 27-year-old Latvian first-year player has appeared in only one game for Charlotte in his career and scored one goal but will make a welcome sign to the team with his physical presence.

Entwistle was not present at the Blackhawks' morning skate and was a game-time decision Thursday vs. Seattle due to illness. The 24-year-old right-winger has made the most of his bottom-six minutes this season, with two goals, three assists, 10 PIMs, 25 SOG and a -6 plus/minus in 21 games played.

Bjornfot failed to pick up a point in nine games with Ontario (AHL) but has been recalled to Los Angeles for the second time this season. The 22-year-old appeared in one game earlier for the Kings on October 11th and played 10:12 TOI before being sent down to Ontario.

Entwistle was not present at the Blackhawks' morning skate and will be a game-time decision Thursday vs. Seattle due to illness. The 24-year-old right-winger has made the most of his bottom-six minutes this season, with two goals, three assists, 10 PIMs, 25 SOG and a -6 plus/minus in 21 games played.

Gadjovich had been a healthy scratch for the Panthers' previous two games but will draw back into the lineup for Anton Lundell (illness) Thursday vs. Vancouver. The 25-year-old bruising left-winger has yet to score in 2023-24, but has an assist, 10 SOG, 43 PIMs and a -2 plus/minus in nine games played so far.

Lundell is battling an illness and will not play on Thursday against the Vancouver Canucks. Lundell has 12 points (2G / 10A) in 22 games this season and played the last game on a line with Evan Rodrigues and Eetu Luostarinen.

Balinskis had been in the Panthers' lineup for the last two games after recalled from the minors earlier in the week but will be a healthy scratch Thursday at Vancouver as Dmitry Kulikov takes his place. The 27-year-old defensemen is in his first NHL season and first North American season after spending his early career in the Czechia league and the KHL. He has a goal and an assists to go along with six PIMs in 17 games played with Florida in 2023-24.

Kulikov will re-enter the Panthers' lineup for the first time since December 8th as Uvis Balinskis will be a healthy scratch. Kulikov has eight points (0G / 8A) in 25 games this season and will likely skate on the third defensive pair next to Oliver Ekman-Larsson.

Markstrom has missed the Flames previous five games due to a fluke hand injury which occurred in practice but was showing some positive signs of returning after practicing Wednesday with the Calgary Wranglers (AHL). The 33-year-old veteran netminder is expected to return in a "handful of days" according to Salim Valji. He has struggled so far in 2023-24 prior to his injury, with his 6-8-2 record, 2.94 GAA and .896 SV%.

Jones will not play on Tuesday due to an upper-body injury and is being evaluated further to see the full extent of his injury. Jones has three points in his last four games while averaging over 26 minutes on ice.