Boqvist has missed the last 13 games due to a shoulder injury, last playing on December 5th. Boqvist had three points (0G / 3A), averaging 17:05 time-on-ice through 13 games this season and will return to the lineup on Saturday against the Minnesota Wild.
Rodrigues left after blocking a shot with his lower leg and did not return. In addition to Rodrigues, the Panthers also lost Aleksander Barkov in the first period, so they could be short-handed for Saturday's game in Colorado. Head coach Paul Maurice said he expects to have an update on Rodrigues on Friday.
Barkov took an elbow up high from Alec Martinez in the first period of Thursday's 4-1 win in Vegas. Barkov left after playing just 4:54 TOI and did not return to the game. In addition to Barkov, the Panthers also lost Evan Rodrigues in the game, which could leave them shorthanded up-front for Saturday's game in Colorado. Head coach Paul Maurice said he expects to have an update on Barkov on Friday.
Gadjovich has found himself the odd man out of the Panthers' lineup for 11 straight games due to illness and lack of roster room but will draw back in Thursday as he replaced Nick Cousins (concussion). The 25-year-old bruising left-winger has failed to pick up a goal in nine games this season, but has an assist, 43 PIMs, 10 SOG and a -2 plus/minus.
Bobrovsky will search for his fifth straight win when he returns to the crease on Thursday evening. The 35-year-old Bobrovsky is playing his best hockey of the season, posting a .930 SV% over his last six games (5-1-0). The Panthers, winners of five straight, are slight -115 road favourites over a Vegas Golden Knights team they defeated 4-2 less than two weeks ago.
Bjornfot has only played one NHL game this season, the season-opener for the Kings, recording one block in 10:12 time-on-ice. He was been placed on unconditional waivers and claimed by the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday.
Louis Crevier will be a healthy scratch on Thursday, allowing Megna to make his Blackhawks debut after being claimed off of waivers from the Seattle Kraken on Wednesday. Megna has spent most of the season in the press box for the Kraken, being limited to only two games with the Coachella Valley Firebirds, scoring one point (1G / 0A). He has 141 NHL games under his belt, tallying 25 points (4G / 21A) in time split between the Anaheim Ducks, San Jose Sharks, and Seattle.
Boqvist has missed the last 12 games due to a shoulder injury, last playing on December 5th. Boqvist had three points (0G / 3A), averaging 17:05 time-on-ice through 13 games this season and appears to have a return projected imminently.
Balinskis made his NHL debut in 2023-24 with Florida after three seasons in the Czechia pro league and was rewarded Wednesday with a two-year, $1.7 million ($850,000) contract extension. The 27-year-old has managed to pick up a goal, an assist, 18 SOG, and six PIMs in 18 games played in his first season in Florida.
The Kraken placed Megna on waivers Tuesday but he did not clear and has been claimed by the Blackhawks. Megna has spent most of the season in the press box for the Kraken, being limited to only two games with the Coachella Valley Firebirds, scoring one point (1G / 0A). He has 141 NHL games under his belt, tallying 25 points (4G / 21A) in time split between the Anaheim Ducks, San Jose Sharks, and Seattle.
Bjornfot has not played a game for the Kings since their season opener when he recorded one block in 10:12 time-on-ice. He has been placed on unconditional waivers and, if he goes unclaimed, will join the Ontario Reign (AHL), where he has scored zero points in nine games this season.
The Panthers will look for their fifth straight win as Bobrovsky will return to the crease after having the night off in their last contest on Saturday. Bobrovsky has been stellar lately, allowing three or fewer goals in five straight games (4-1-0), posting a terrific .927 SV%. The 35-year-old Bobrovsky has not allowed more than four goals since the second game of the season and has a 2.50 GAA and .911 SV% thus far in the 2023-24 campaign. The Panthers are -160 road favourites against the Arizona Coyotes, coming off a 2-0 shutout victory over the Anaheim Ducks.
Bobrovsky will start for the fourth straight game and look for his third consecutive win when he tends the twine on Friday night against the New York Rangers. The 35-year-old Bobrovsky has been tremendous in his last two outings, posting impressive victories against the Tampa Bay Lightning and Vegas Golden Knights, saving a combined 50 of 54 shots (.926 SV%). Bobrovsky and the Panthers are -133 home favourites in their first matchup of the season against the Rangers, who have won five of their last six games (5-1-0).
Bobrovsky will start for the fourth straight game and look for his third consecutive win when he tends the twine on Friday night against the New York Rangers. The 35-year-old Bobrovsky has been tremendous in his last two outings, posting impressive victories against the Tampa Bay Lightning and Vegas Golden Knights, saving a combined 50 of 54 shots (.926 SV%). Bobrovsky and the Panthers are -133 home favourites in their first matchup of the season against the Rangers, who have won five of their last six games (5-1-0).
Driedger will make his first start of the season after Joey Daccord got the nod in each of the Kraken's previous seven games as Philipp Grubauer continues to recover from a lower-body injury. Driedger last appeared in an NHL game on May 1st, 2022, when he allowed four goals on 27 shots enroute to a 4-3 defeat at the hands of the Jets. He owns a 9-5-1 record and a .916 SV% with Coachella Valley (AHL) this season. Driedger will have his hands full on Wednesday, with the Kraken being +125 underdogs in Calgary.
Bobrovsky saved 23 of 25 shots (.920 SV%) in the Panthers' last game before the Christmas break, an impressive 4-2 win over the Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday and will return to the crease on Wednesday. The sometimes-inconsistent Bobrovsky has played well over the last month, posting a .916 SV% through nine games (6-3-0). The Panthers are slight -112 road favourites against the Tampa Bay Lightning, who have won three straight, outscoring their opposition 13-6.
Bobrovsky saved 23 of 25 shots (.920 SV%) in the Panthers' last game before the Christmas break, an impressive 4-2 win over the Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday and will likely return to the crease on Wednesday. The sometimes-inconsistent Bobrovsky has played well over the last month, posting a .916 SV% through nine games (6-3-0). The Panthers are slight -112 road favourites against the Tampa Bay Lightning, who have won three straight, outscoring their opposition 13-6.
Steven Lorentz will be a healthy scratch on Saturday, allowing Lundell to return to the lineup after missing four games battling an illness. Lundell has 12 points (2G / 10A) in 22 games this season, most recently playing on a line with Evan Rodrigues and Eetu Luostarinen.
