Florida Panthers News

Balinskis is an undrafted free agent from Latvia who has spent the last three season in the Czech Extraliga. The 26-year-old blue liner had 11 goals and 24 assists (35 points) in 50 games with Liberec Bili Tygri HC in 2023. He represented Latvia in the 2022 Olympics, tallying three assists in four games.

Luostarinen reportedly tried to play on his broken leg, but could not go. Luostarinen is expected to avoid surgery, so he should be ready for training camp for the 2023-24 season. Luostarinen finished the 2022-23 season with 43 points (17G / 26A) in 82 games.

Ekblad played through a broken foot, two shoulder dislocations and multiple oblique tears throughout the postseason and his shoulder will require offseason surgery. Ekblad will not be ready in time for training camp. His injury isn't expected to linger too deep into the 2023-24 season, but expect a more detailed timetable following his surgery.

Tkachuk suffered an upper-body injury in Game 3, fought through it in Game 4 but will not play in a must-win Game 5. With Tkachuk unavailable, Grigori Denisenko is expected to make his playoff debut.

Bobrovsky was pulled in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final after allowing four goals on 13 shots (.692 SV%) as Florida dropped to 0-2 in the series but is expected to take the crease again for Game 3 vs. Vegas on Thursday. The 34-year-old has been a godsend throughout the playoffs, leading Florida with an 11-4-0 record, 2.50 GAA and .925 SV%. He will hope to get his team in the winning column for the first time in the Finals as he takes on Vegas, who has won three straight and finished the regular season 11th in the NHL in goals allowed per game (2.74).

Barkov left Game 3 with an undisclosed injury after just 3:51 TOI and his status for Game 4 was originally up in the air before head coach Paul Maurice confirmed Wednesday that the Panthers' captain would be joining the lineup ahead of their matchup vs. Vegas. It is a massive sigh of relief for the Panthers as the 27-year-old had four goals, eight assists, 40 SOG, eight PIMs and a +6 plus/minus through 15 playoff games so far this year.

Bobrovsky stopped 22 of 24 shots (.917 SV%) for his sixth consecutive win as he extended the Panthers' series lead to 3-0 with a 3-2 win over Toronto in his previous start. The 34-year-old is showing signs of his younger self as he has been sensational throughout the playoffs so far, with a 6-1-0 record, .909 SV% and 3.13 GAA. He will hope to sweep the Toronto Maple Leafs in Game 4, who closed out their regular season ninth in the NHL in goals per game (3.39).