Florida Panthers News

Bennett saw his first action of the season on Monday after returning from an injury (lower-body) but played only 7:54 before being forced to leave the game with another lower-body injury. This injury isn't believed to be related to the previous one that kept him out of action but is still cause for concern as he has a week-to-week timeline for his next potential return. Bennett had 16 goals, 24 assists, 193 SOG, 54 PIMs and, a +5 plus/minus in 63 games played in 2022-23.

Monday's start makes it the seventh time in the Panthers' opening eight games that they've turned to the two-time Vezina Trophy winner. Bobrovsky is fresh off one of his best starts of the season on Saturday, where he surrendered just two goals on 32 shots enroute to a 3-2 victory over the Kraken. On the season, the 14-year veteran owns a .906 SV% and a 2.88 GAA to go along with his 3-3-0 record. He draws a difficult assignment in Boston on Monday with Florida being a +138 road underdog.

Bennett has missed the Panthers' first seven games due to a lower-body injury sustained in the pre-season and was a game-time decision to make his season debut Monday vs. Boston. The 27-year-old will be a much-welcomed return to the lineup after posting 16 goals, 24 assists, 193 SOG, 54 PIMs and, a +5 plus/minus in 63 games played in 2022-23.

Bennett has missed the Panthers' first seven games due to a lower-body injury sustained in the pre-season and is now a game-time decision to make his season debut Monday vs. Boston. The 27-year-old will make a much-welcome return after posting 16 goals, 24 assists, 193 SOG, 54 PIMs and, a +5 plus/minus in 63 games played in 2022-23.

Bennett has yet to play this season but appears to be nearing a return as he will travel with the team on their upcoming road trip. Last season, he registered 40 points (16G / 24A) in 63 games and should provide an offensive spark for a Panthers team that is off to a 3-3-0 start.

Kulikov was originally questionable to play on Saturday because of an illness but has now been deemed fit to play. In six games this season, Kulikov has three points (0G / 3A), 11 blocks, 10 hits, and a +3 plus/minus rating.

Samoskevich was recalled Thursday to Florida but will continue his revolving door of roster transactions as he has been loaned back to Charlotte (AHL) Friday. The 20-year-old was Florida's 2021 first-round selection (24th overall) and has yet to pick a point up in any of his three games played with the Panthers in 2023-24.

Boqvist played in his first game of the season on Thursday vs. Anaheim and had no counting stats after 10 shifts and 6:02 TOI and has been reassigned to Providence (AHL) Friday. The 24-year-old forward returns to the minors, where he has no goals, two assists, and four PIMs in five games so far in 2023-24.

Entwistle was a healthy scratch for the Blackhawks' previous two games but will draw back into the lineup Friday vs Vegas as he replaces Andreas Athanasiou. The 24-year-old right-winger has a goal, two SOG, four PIMs, and a +1 plus/minus in two games this season while being healthy scratched for five others.

Barkov will return to the Panthers' lineup on Saturday after missing their previous game with an undisclosed illness. Over his last four seasons, Barkov has never played more than 68 games. The Panthers and their fans alike will hope this most recent absence was a one-off as he is off to a great start this season, tallying six points (1G / 5A) in five games.

Kulikov has been dealing with an illness but could be an option for the Panthers on Saturday as he will be a game-time decision. He has three points (0G / 3A) and a +3 plus/minus rating through six games while primarily playing alongside Niko Mikkola on the Panthers' second defensive pairing.

Bennett has yet to play this season but could return on Saturday as he will be a game-time decision against the Seattle Kraken. Last season, he registered 40 points (16G / 24A) in 63 games and should provide an offensive spark for a Panthers team that is off to a 3-3-0 start.

Bobrovsky will return to the crease on Saturday after serving as a backup for the first time this season in a 3-1 win for Anthony Stolarz and the Panthers over the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday. Bobrovsky has been mediocre to start the season, posting a 3.06 GAA and .899 SV% through five games (2-3-0), and could see his stranglehold over the starting position be challenged if Stolarz can put together more strong starts. Bobrovsky and the Panthers will face off on Saturday against a Seattle Kraken team that has the sixth-worst offence (2.25 GF/GP)

After playing his first three NHL games, Samoskevich has been returned to the Charlotte Checkers of the AHL. The 24th overall pick of the Panthers in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft recorded zero points, five shots, and a -2 plus/minus rating.

The Bruins have recalled Boqvist as a result of news from earlier today that Milan Lucic will be out week-to-week with a lower-body injury. Boqvist, who will be an option to slide onto the Bruins fourth line, played 70 games with the New Jersey Devils last season, tallying 21 points (10G / 11A).

Bennett joined the Panthers' practice for the first time since injuring himself in the preseason with a lower-body injury and will be a game-time decision Saturday vs. Seattle. The 27-year-old's missing presence has created a hole in the Panthers' lineup after he put up 16 goals, 40 points, 193 SOG, 54 PIMs and a +5 plus/minus in 63 games played in 2022-23. He is expected to skate at practice again Friday and head coach Paul Maurice said they should know his status from there.

Barkov was a late scratch from the Panthers' previous game Tuesday vs. San Jose due to illness and did not practice Thursday making his a game-time decision Saturday vs. Seattle. The 28-year-old has started the season off with some jump as he has a goal, five assists, 13 SOG, two PIMs, and a +5 plus/minus through five games so far in 2023-24.

Barkov was a surprise scratch from Tuesday's lineup with the team not announcing his absence prior to warmups. The team alluded to an illness going around the room that could affect the availability of some players, but there was no indication that Barkov was in any danger of missing tonight's game. Anton Lundell will move up the lineup and skate alongside Evan Rodrigues and Sam Reinhart at 5v5, while Carter Verhaeghe is likely to take the vacant spot on Florida's top power-play unit.

Samoskevich will head back up to Florida for a second time this season after being recalled from Charlotte on Tuesday. The 20-year-old returns to the Panthers, where he has yet to pick up a point in two games this season but has four SOG and a -2 plus/minus while averaging 14:33 TOI.