Marchand has not played since suffering an upper-body injury with the Bruins on March 1st, and could make his Panthers' debut on Friday against the Utah Hockey Club. The 36-year-old Marchand averaged 18:26 time-on-ice and scored 47 points (21G / 26A) in 61 games with the Bruins this season.
The Panthers have lost two straight (0-2-0) and hope to return to the win column on Thursday with Bobrovsky tending the twine against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Bobrovsky struggled in his previous outing, allowing three goals on 15 shots (.800 SV%) in a 3-1 loss to the Montreal Canadiens. The 36-year-old goalie has a 2.51 GAA and .906 SV% in 45 games this season (28-15-2). The Panthers enter Thursday's contest as -185 road favorites against a Blue Jackets squad that has been outscored 10-1 in their last three games (0-3-0).
Kulikov played only 6:00 time-on-ice in Florida's previous game before exiting the contest due to an upper-body injury and will be sidelined week-to-week but will likely be back before the end of the regular season. The 34-year-old Kulikov is averaging 19:17 time-on-ice, recording 13 points (4G / 9A), 70 blocks, and 110 hits in 68 games this season. The Panthers recalled Tobias Bjornfot from Charlotte (AHL) on Tuesday as a temporary replacement on the blue line.
Bjornfot played eight games with the Panthers earlier this season but has spent most of the 2024-25 campaign in the AHL. The 23-year-old defenseman has 16 points (2G / 14A) in 43 games with the Charlotte Checkers (AHL) this season.
Bobrovsky allowed two goals on 25 shots in the Panthers' win in Toronto on Thursday. Bobrovsky has been red-hot as of late, winning five of his last six starts with a 1.51 GAA, ,938 SV% and one shutout. As good as Bobrovsky's been this season, he's been just OK on the road, going 12-7-0 with a 2.65 GAA and .902 SV%. Still, he's an excellent option on Saturday with the Panthers been -191 road favourites.
The Panthers' six-game winning streak snapped in their previous outing when Bobrovsky allowed three goals on 24 shots (.875 SV%) in a 3-2 loss to the Boston Bruins. Bobrovsky has a 2.51 GAA and .907 SV% in 43 games this season (27-14-2) but has been outstanding since the beginning of January, posting a solid 2.07 GAA and .922 SV% in 18 outings (10-7-1). The Panthers enter Thursday's contest as -134 road favorites against a Toronto Maple Leafs team that has lost three of their last four (1-2-1).
With Aaron Ekblad serving the first game of his twenty-game suspension, Balinskis will re-enter the lineup for the first time since March 1st. The 28-year-old Balinskis is averaging 14:51 time-on-ice and has 15 points (4G / 11A) in 58 games this season.
The Panthers have outscored their opposition 20-5 during a five-game winning streak and will lean on Bobrovsky tending the twine on Tuesday against the Boston Bruins. Bobrovsky was excellent in his most recent outing, saving all 16 shots he faced for his fourth shutout of the season in a 3-0 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets. The 36-year-old goalie has a 2.49 GAA and .907 SV% in 42 games this season (27-13-2). The Panthers enter Tuesday's contest as sizeable -220 road favorites against a Bruins team that defeated them 4-3 on January 11th.
Marchand participated at practice, not wearing a non-contact jersey, but will likely still be sidelined week-to-week. The 36-year-old Marchand was acquired in a trade from the Boston Bruins last week and is awaiting his Panthers' debut. He scored 47 points (21G / 26A) in 61 games with the Bruins this season.
Vanecek is expected to make his Panthers debut on Saturday after being acquired from the Sharks on Wednesday. Vanecek has struggled this season, going 3-10-3 with a. 3.88 GAA and .882 SV% while playing behind one of the worst teams in the league. He goes from San Jose, who is last in the league in xGA/60 (3.50) to Florida who ranks fifth (2.76). He's a solid streaming option on Saturday with the Panthers being -254 home favourites.
Marchand has not played or practiced since suffering an upper-body injury early in Saturday's game against the Pittsburgh Penguins. His injury status impacted the potential return for the Bruins, as the Panthers were able to acquire him for just a conditional second-round draft pick. The 36-year-old Marchand has 47 points (21G / 26A) in 61 games this season.
