Ekblad exited Tuesday's 5-3 loss to the Montreal Canadiens after playing only 7:16 time-on-ice due to an undisclosed injury. Ekblad's presence on the blueline will be a critical blow for the Panthers for the remainder of the season but all indications point to him being ready for the playoffs.
The Panthers have lost four of their last five and will return to Bobrovsky to tend the twine on Thursday against the Ottawa Senators. Bobrovsky allowed five goals on 16 shots (.688 SV%) in his last outing in a disappointing 6-4 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Panthers enter action as -153 road favourites against a Senators club they defeated 3-2 in overtime on February 20th.
Kahkonen will man the Devils' crease for the first time in four games and his fourth time since being acquired from San Jose at the trade deadline. The 27-year-old has played exceptionally better during his time with the Devils, as proven by his 1-2-0 record, 2.17 GAA and .934 SV% since being traded. He will head to New York to take on cross-town rivals in the Rangers, who have won five of their last six games and have the NHL's fourth-best powerplay this season (25.7%).
Balinskis started the season with the Panthers due to several injuries on the blueline but has spent most of the season with the Charlotte Checkers (AHL), scoring 21 points (3G / 18A) in 37 games. He had a four-game stint with the Panthers in mid-March, last playing on March 26th.
Gadjovich returned to Florida's lineup after a five-game absence on Monday vs. Toronto but will be a healthy scratch on Tuesday in Montreal. The 25-year-old bruiser has enjoyed a decent first season in Florida, with his two goals, four points, 29 SOG and 97 PIMs across 36 games played.
Verhaeghe left Monday's loss in Toronto and will be sidelined for at least one week. The Panthers are hopeful that he'll be back for the postseason, but this is obviously a huge blow to their top-6, which will also be without Matthew Tkachuk (illness) on Tuesday. Look for Vladimir Tarasenko to move up to the top line in Verhaeghe's absence.
Tkachuk will not play Tuesday in Montreal, which would be a big blow by itself, but with Carter Verhaeghe also sidelined, the Panthers are down two of their top scorers. Nick Cousins will draw into the lineup to replace Tkachuk.
Black is a 6'8 goalie out of Michigan who has spent the last two seasons playing collegiate hockey with Dartmouth College. The 22-year-old netminder has a 2.58 GAA and .910 SV% in 30 games this season (13-8-8).
Gadjovich and Ryan Lomberg will draw back into the lineup for the Panthers on Monday as Nick Cousins and Steven Lorentz will be healthy scratches. Gadjovich has four points (2G / 2A) and 66 hits in 35 games this season.
The Panthers will turn to Bobrovsky for the third time in the last four games on Monday against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Bobrovsky snapped his five-game losing skid on Saturday in a 3-2 shootout victory over the Detroit Red Wings when he saved 20 of 22 shots (.909 SV%). The Panthers enter action as -128 road favourites on Monday against the Maple Leafs.
Schmidt was the odd man out of Winnipeg's lineup for their previous game but will draw back into the lineup for Dylan Samberg on Saturday vs. the Islanders. Schmidt has endured his least productive season since 2014-15 with Winnipeg in 2023-24, with his two goals and 12 points through 60 games played.
Schmidt will be a healthy scratch for the second time in the last five games as Dylan Samberg will draw back into the lineup. Schmidt has two points (1G / 1A), seven shots, and four hits in his last six games.
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.
