Florida Panthers News

Kulikov has been a healthy scratch for the last three games, but will replace Joe Morrow in the lineup tonight. Kulikov has one assist while averaging 14:04 TOI/GM in two games this season.

Bobrovsky allowed three goals on 25 shots in the Blue Jackets loss to the Blackhawks on Saturday. Bobrovsky has alternated wins and losses through his first five starts, posting a 3.84 GAA and .876 SV% in the process. Bobrovsky has looked a little better in his most recent games and has a solid matchup against a Coyotes team that is last in goal-scoring (1.43 GF/PG) so far this season.

Jones has missed the first seven games of the season with a sprained MCL that he suffered on September 25th. Jones was expected to miss 4-6 weeks, so he's returning a couple days earlier than originally expected. Jones will be reunited on the top pair with Zach Werenski, forming one of the best defensive pairings in the league. He will also play on the second power-play unit and should be a double-digit goal-scorer with 50-point upside.

Bobrovsky allowed three goals on 35 shots in the Blue Jackets win over the Flyers on Thursday. It was Bobrovsky’s best start of the young season and earned him another start tonight vs. Chicago. The Blackhawks had a hot start to their season, but have lost three of their last four (1-1-2) coming into tonight.

Jones was originally expected to be out until early-to-mid November, but he is apparently ahead of schedule in his return from an MCL sprain. Monitor Jones’ status heading into next week.

Bobrovsky allowed right goals on 31 shots in the Blue Jackets blowout loss in Tampa Bay on Saturday. Bobrovsky has struggled in the early part of the season, allowing a combined 13 goals on 93 shots (.860 SV%). He was 2-1-1 with a 1.96 GAA and .925 SV% against the Flyers in 2017-18.

Bobrovsky allowed two goals on 27 shots in the Blue Jackets win over the Avalanche on Tuesday. Bobrovsky has backed up Joonas Korpisalo twice already this season, but will make his third start of the year tonight in Tampa Bay. Bobrovsky was 0-1-1 while allowing six goals on 57 shots (.895 SV%) in two starts vs. the Lightning last year.

Mikkola, 22, was a fifth-round pick (No.127 overall) in 2015 and came to North America this fall after four years in Finland. The 6-foot-5, 198 lbs. blueliner made the opening night roster but sat as a healthy scratch vs. the Jets on Thursday. Chris Thorburn has been recalled to take Mikkola’s spot on the roster.

Last year, Bobrovsky started 60-plus games for the just the second time in his eight-year career but saw his numbers from 2017 drop a bit. Bob is one of the best goalies in the NHL and has done a fantastic job during his six seasons in Columbus—posting a 2.37 GAA and .923 SV%. He got opening night off so he could start the home opener and draws a solid matchup vs. a Hurricanes team that also played last night.

Jones has been moved to IR retroactive to September 25th and is expected to be out until at least late-October. Jones has been given a 4-6 week timetable and should become a sleeper as he drops down fantasy boards this week. The 23-year-old will look to build off of a career-best 57 points (16G / 41A) in 78 games. Zach Werenski will eat up massive minutes at even-strength and the top power-play while Jones is out.

Jones suffered an MCL sprain during Tuesday’s preseason game vs. the Sabres and will miss at least one month. This is another blow to Columbus’ blueline, who will also be without Ryan Murray (groin) to start the season and Zach Werenski is coming off of major off-season shoulder surgery. Werenski should be ready for the start of the year and anchor the top power-play unit with Jones out.

Reinhart set new career-highs in goals (25) and points (50) during the 2017-18 season. The former No.2 overall pick (2014) is expected to land a top-6 role and players with either Jack Eichel or Casey Mittelstadt in a new-look Sabres’ lineup. Reinhart has 60-point upside as he enters his fourth full season.

Reinhart is coming off of the best season of his career, posting 50 points (25G / 25A) in 82 games. He has increased his point totals in each of first three seasons in the NHL and is poised to do that again in 2018-19. The Sabres beefed up Reinhart’s surrounding cast and he projects to be a top-6 winger with either Jack Eichel or Casey Mittelstadt.