Cousins appeared in the Panthers' lineup for Game 6 for the first time since May 26th but will come back out on Monday as he is replaced by Kyle Okposo. The 30-year-old had seven goals and 15 points in 69 regular season games but has failed to produce at all in the playoffs with only one assist and 20 PIMs in 12 playoff games played.
Okposo was a healthy scratch for Game 6 but will get another chance to secure the Stanley Cup as he will return to Florida's lineup in replacement for Nick Cousins. The 36-year-old veteran was acquired at the trade deadline this season from Buffalo and has never won a Stanley Cup in his 17 NHL seasons. In 16 playoff games in 2023-24, he has no goals, two assists and 10 PIMs.
Cousins hasn't played in nearly a month as his last appearance came on May 26th vs. the New York Rangers but he is expected to draw back into the Panthers' lineup on Friday for Game 6 in Edmonton. The 30-year-old scrappy winger had 15 points in 69 regular season games but has failed to produce in the playoffs, with no goals, one assist, 20 PIMs and eight SOG in 11 games played.
Okposo took a late penalty in Game 5 and seems to be the odd man out of Florida's lineup for Game 6 on Friday after line rushes in practice on Thursday had Nick Cousins replacing the veteran on the fourth line. The 36-year-old Okposo came to Florida at the trade deadline after captaining the Buffalo Sabres and has just two assists, 10 PIMs and 16 SOG in 16 playoff games.
Lorentz had found himself in Florida's lineup for the first four games of the Stanley Cup Finals but will be the odd man out on Tuesday as Ryan Lomberg enters the Panthers' fourth line. Lorentz had appeared in 16 games this postseason, picking up two goals, three points, 30 SOG, 10 PIMs and a -9 plus/minus.
Lomberg has been a healthy scratch for the Panthers' previous seven games but will draw back into the lineup for some added spark and speed in Game 5 as he replaces Steven Lorentz on Florida's fourth line. The 29-year-old winger has only suited up in five of the Panthers' 21 playoff games so far and is without a point with nine SOG and a -2 plus/minus.
Perry was a healthy scratch for Game 2 on Monday as he was replaced by Warren Foegele but is expected to draw back into the OIlers' lineup for Game 3 on Thursday. The Oilers have not yet announced who the 39-year-old will replace in Edmonton's lineup. Through 14 playoff games played, he has no goals, one assist, 11 SOG, eight PIMs and a -3 plus/minus while averaging just 11:03 TOI/GP.
After being exposed on both Panther goals in Game 1, Cody Ceci will head to the press box as a healthy scratch as Vincent Desharnais returns to the OIlers' lineup. The 30-year-old Ceci had been producing offensively in the playoffs with his two goals and four points in 17 games but has struggled mightily defensively as shown by his -7 plus/minus.
Desharnais has been a healthy scratch for the Oilers' previous four games but will draw back into the lineup for Game 2 on Monday as he replaces Cody Ceci. The 28-year-old shutdown defender has struggled all playoffs up to this point, with one assist, 12 PIMs and a -8 plus/minus in 15 games played.
