Florida's prized young goaltender will take the crease for his first start of 2022-23. Signing a three-year, $13.5-million contract extension in the offseason, the 21-year-old will be looking to build off an up-and-down first full season in 2022-21, where he posted a .908 SV% and 2.79 GAA backing up the President Trophy winners.
Spencer Knight News
Knight's new contract does not kick in until next season, he'll play 2022-23 in the final year of his ELC. The 21-year-old will open the season as the No.2 behind Sergei Bobrovsky but could fight for near equal usage. Last season he was 19-9-3 with a 2.74 GAA and .908 SV%.
Knight and Jonas Johansson swap spots, likely so Johansson can get some game action in over the weekend. Without a back-to-back over the weekend, Knight is likely to serve as Sergei Bobrovsky's backup on Sunday.
Knight will be make his first NHL start since February 1st. He's had ups and downs in 2022 but his last three NHL starts were solid, going 2-1-0 with a .931 SV%. He's spent almost half of the season in the AHL, where he is 7-3-0 with a 2.55 GAA and .917 SV%.
The Panthers open the week with a back-to-back on Monday and Tuesday and Knight is expected to start one of those games. With the easier matchup on Monday in Buffalo, it seems likely that Knight will start the front-end of the back-to-back. Knight has gone 7-3-0 with a 2.55 GAA And .917 SV% in 10 AHL games.