Ekblad has been sidelined since March 9th due to a lower-body injury but has been a full participant at practice for several days and will return on Thursday. The 28-year-old Windsor native's production has taken a bit of a hit in 2023-24 as he has only four goals and 17 points in 47 games.
Balisnkis appeared in 22 games for Florida before being reassigned to Charlotte (AHL) on Wednesday and had a goal and two assists with six PIMs during his first season with the team. The 27-year-old defenseman will return to Charlotte, where he excelled offensively earlier in the season with three goals, 21 points, 27 PIMs and a +3 plus/minus through 35 games played.
Ekblad has been sidelined since March 9th due to a lower-body injury and returned to practice in full on Tuesday but is not ready yet for game speed. The 28-year-old Windsor native is expected back in the upcoming games but will see how the next few practices go. His production has taken a bit of a hit in 2023-24 as he has only four goals, and 17 points in 47 games played.
The Panthers snapped a four-game losing skid on Sunday thanks to a stellar performance from Anthony Stolarz but will return to Bobrovsky on Tuesday. Bobrovsky has allowed three or more goals in four straight (0-3-1) but has managed to post a save percentage above .900 in three of those contests. The Panthers are -137 home favourites against the Boston Bruins.
Forsling did not play the last two games for the Panthers due to an illness but will return to the lineup on Tuesday against the Boston Bruins. Forsling has been productive lately, scoring seven points (1G / 6A) in his last eight games.
Barkov played a season-high 24:26 in his last game on March 16th but suffered an undisclosed injury at some point, and has missed three games since. The 28-year-old Barkov has four points (3G / 1A) in his last six games but has been held off the scoresheet in four.
Barkov played a season-high 24:26 in his last game on March 16th but suffered an undisclosed injury at some point, and has missed three games since. The 28-year-old Barkov has four points (3G / 1A) in his last six games but has been held off the scoresheet in four.
Steeves is an undrafted 21-year-old who has played collegiate hockey with the University of Minnesota-Duluth for the last two seasons. The 5'9 forward has produced at nearly a point-per-game pace, scoring 62 points (45G / 17A) in 72 games with the club.
Barkov played a season-high 24:26 in his last game on March 16th, but suffered an undisclosed injury at some point, and will likely miss a second consecutive game on Saturday. The 28-year-old Barkov has four points (3G / 1A) in his last six games but has been held off the scoresheet in four.
Gadjovich will draw in for Aleksander Barkov, who is out with an undisclosed injury. Gadjovich has two goals and two assists in 34 games this season.
Barkov played a season-high 24:26 in the Panthers' last game on March 16th, but suffered an undisclosed injury at some point, which will cause him to miss Thursday's contest against the Nashville Predators. The 28-year-old Barkov has four points (3G / 1A) in his last six games but has been held off the scoresheet in four.
Schmidt will be the odd-man out on Thursday as Colin Miller draws into the lineup to face his former team. Schmidt has two goals and ten assists in 57 games this season.
The Panthers, amid a two-game losing skid, have been away from action for five days and will attempt to re-enter the win column with Bobrovsky tending the twine. Bobrovsky has played the last three games for the Panthers (1-2-0), allowing three or more goals in each contest. The Panthers enter action as -174 home favourites against a red-hot Nashville Predators club that has points in 15 straight (13-0-2) and is coming off an 8-2 victory over the San Jose Sharks.
