Florida Panthers News

MacKenzie Entwistle will draw back into the Blackhawks lineup Tuesday vs. Colorado.

Cole Guttman will be a healthy scratch on Tuesday, allowing Entwistle to return to the lineup after missing two games due to an illness. Entwistle has five points (2G / 3A) in 21 games this season while playing predominantly on the fourth line with Reese Johnson and Ryan Donato.

MacKenzie Entwistle
Vanecek (illness) was in the starter's crease at Tuesday's morning skate.

Akira Schmid started each of the last two games for the Devils, a back-to-back set, as Vanecek was unable to play due to an illness. That said, he was in the starter's crease at Tuesday's morning skate, indicating he will likely return to net against the Philadelphia Flyers. Vanecek has struggled with consistency this season but is amid his best two-game stretch (2-0-0), allowing only three goals on a combined 49 shots (.939 SV%). The Devils are coming off a disappointing 5-1 loss to the Anaheim Ducks and are -159 home favourites against a Flyers team with points in eight straight contests (6-0-2).

Vitek Vanecek
Anton Lundell (illness) has been placed on the Injured Reserve.

Lundell is battling an illness and will miss his third straight game on Monday against the Calgary Flames. Lundell has 12 points (2G / 10A) in 22 games this season, most recently playing on a line with Evan Rodrigues and Eetu Luostarinen.

Anton Lundell
Aaron Ekblad (lower body) will return Monday vs. Calgary.

Ekblad left Thursday's game with a lower-body injury, did not play on Saturday, but is likely to return to action on Monday against the Calgary Flames. Through 13 games this season, Ekblad has four points (0G / 4A) and is averaging a career-low 21:02 time-on-ice, playing predominantly alongside Gustav Forsling on the Panthers' top defensive pair.

Aaron Ekblad
Aaron Ekblad (lower body) took part in morning skate and is likely to return Monday vs. Calgary.

Ekblad left Thursday's game with a lower-body injury, did not play on Saturday, but is likely to return to action on Monday against the Calgary Flames. Through 13 games this season, Ekblad has four points (0G / 4A) and is averaging a career-low 21:02 time-on-ice, playing predominantly alongside Gustav Forsling on the Panthers' top defensive pair.

Aaron Ekblad
Ekblad (lower-body) is questionable to play Saturday.

Ekblad left Thursday's game with a lower-body injury and is questionable to play Saturday in Edmonton. Head coach Paul Maurice said that Ekblad's injury isn't serious and that they "don't even know if it's day-to-day" and added that they "think they got ahead of it." It sounds like Ekblad is more likely to play than miss Saturday's game, but monitor his status during the afternoon.

Aaron Ekblad
Sturm (mid-body) was placed on injured reserve on Friday.

Sturm suffered a mid-body injury on Tuesday that limited him to only 8:44 time-on-ice. The 28-year-old German has only registered on the score sheet once in the last nine games, a two-goal performance on December 7th against the Detroit Red Wings.

Nico Sturm
Uvis Balinskis has been reassigned to the Charlotte Checkers (AHL).

Balinskis had a goal, two points, 18 SOG, and six PIMs in 18 games played with the Panthers but has been reassigned to Charlotte (AHL) on Friday. The 27-year-old Latvian first-year player has appeared in only one game for Charlotte in his career and scored one goal but will make a welcome sign to the team with his physical presence.

Uvis Balinskis
Jesper Boqvist will draw back into the Bruins lineup Friday vs. the New York Islanders.

Boqvist is expected to draw into the Bruins lineup for the first time since October 26th as Matthew Poitras (load management) will not play on Friday. In 24 games with the Providence Bruins of the AHL, Boqvist has 14 points (5G / 9A) this season.

Jesper Boqvist