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.
Barkov played a season-high 24:26 in his last game on March 16th but suffered an undisclosed injury at some point, and has missed three games since. The 28-year-old Barkov has four points (3G / 1A) in his last six games but has been held off the scoresheet in four.
Barkov played a season-high 24:26 in his last game on March 16th but suffered an undisclosed injury at some point, and has missed three games since. The 28-year-old Barkov has four points (3G / 1A) in his last six games but has been held off the scoresheet in four.
Steeves is an undrafted 21-year-old who has played collegiate hockey with the University of Minnesota-Duluth for the last two seasons. The 5'9 forward has produced at nearly a point-per-game pace, scoring 62 points (45G / 17A) in 72 games with the club.
