Barkov has missed the last six games due to a lower-body injury and will miss at least one more before a potential return to the lineup. The defending Stanley Cup Champions are off to a reasonable start to the 2024-25 season, posting a 4-3-1 record, but will be overjoyed to have their captain back in the lineup. Last season, Barkov had 80 points (23G / 57A) in 73 games.

The Panthers will roll with Bobrovsky in the crease for the fourth straight game on Thursday against the New York Rangers. Bobrovsky has struggled out of the gate to start the 2024-25 season, posting a 3.47 GAA and .875 SV% in six outings (3-2-1), a trend that Panthers' fans hope will mirror last season's trajectory. Bobrovsky had a tremendous 2023-24 season but also started slow, posting a .899 SV% in his first five contests (2-3-0). The Panthers enter action on Thursday as +130 road underdogs against the Rangers, one of four clubs without a regulation loss (5-0-1).

The Panthers will turn to Bobrovsky between the pipes for the third straight game and sixth time in eight contests to start the 2024-25 season. The 36-year-old Bobrovsky has a solid 3-1-1 record but is sporting an unspectacular 2.95 GAA and .896 SV%. Bobrovsky had a tremendous 2023-24 season but also started slow, posting a .899 SV% in his first five contests (2-3-0). The Panthers will welcome Matthew Tkachuk (illness) back into the lineup on Tuesday and enter the action against the Minnesota Wild as -147 home favorites.

Tkachuk has not played since the second game of the season on October 10th, missing five contests, but is on schedule for his targeted return date of October 22nd. Over the past three seasons, Tkachuk has been among the league leaders in the NHL, averaging 1.25 points per game. He has two points (0G / 2A) and seven shots on goal in two games this season and will reclaim his spot on the Panthers' top line and top powerplay unit.

Elvis Merzlikins (upper body) is back with the Blue Jackets, but the team will turn to Tarasov between the pipes for a third straight game on Tuesday night against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Despite a pedestrian 3.70 GAA and .875 SV%, Tarasov has been serviceable between the pipes for the Blue Jackets, helping them post a 2-1-0 record when he has been in goal. That said, the Blue Jackets enter action as sizeable +194 road underdogs against a Maple Leafs club that defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning 5-2 last night.

Elvis Merzlikins (upper body) is back with the Blue Jackets, but the team will turn to Tarasov between the pipes for a third straight game on Tuesday night against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Despite a pedestrian 3.70 GAA and .875 SV%, Tarasov has been serviceable between the pipes for the Blue Jackets, helping them post a 2-1-0 record when he has been in goal. That said, the Blue Jackets enter action as sizeable +194 road underdogs against a Maple Leafs club that defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning 5-2 last night.

Tkachuk has not played since the second game of the season on October 10th, missing five contests, but appears to be on schedule for his targeted return date of October 22nd. Over the past three seasons, Tkachuk has been among the league leaders in the NHL, averaging 1.25 points per game. He has two points (0G / 2A) and seven shots on goal in two games this season and will reclaim his spot on the Panthers' top line and top powerplay unit.

Tkachuk has not played since the second game of the season on October 10th, missing five contests, but appears to be on schedule for his targeted return date of October 22nd. Over the past three seasons, Tkachuk has been among the league leaders in the NHL, averaging 1.25 points per game. He has two points (0G / 2A) and seven shots on goal in two games this season.

The Panthers have turned to Spencer Knight in two of the last three games but will return to Bobrovsky between the crease on Thursday against the Vancouver Canucks. Bobrovsky hasn't risen to full potential yet this season but has managed a 2-1-0 record with a 3.02 GAA and .894 SV%. The Panthers, still without Aleksander Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk, enter Thursday's contest as slight -109 home favorites against the Canucks.

With Elvis Merzlikins being given some time to rest and regroup, the Blue Jackets will turn to Trasov between the pipes on Thursday for his second start of the young season. Tarasov was unspectacular in his first start, allowing four goals on 30 shots (.867 SV%), but salvaged a 6-4 victory over the Colorado Avalanche. The Blue Jackets enter action on Thursday as +112 home underdogs against a Buffalo Sabres club that was defeated 6-5 in overtime against the Pittsburgh Penguins last night.

The Panthers' head coach Paul Maurice reported that Tkachuk is battling an illness and targeting a return on October 22nd against the Minnesota Wild. Over the past three seasons, Tkachuk has been among the league leaders in the NHL, averaging 1.25 points per game. Florida's top line is nearly completely decimated for the time being as they are also without Aleksander Barkov (lower-body). Sam Bennett and Evan Rodrigues will likely be the beneficiaries on the top line and top powerplay unit in the interim.

The Panthers will turn to Bobrovsky in the crease on Monday afternoon in an early-season rematch of their season opener, less than a week ago, against the Boston Bruins. Bobrovsky allowed four goals on 28 shots (.857 SV%) in their 6-4 win over the Bruins and has historically struggled against them, posting a 3.64 GAA and .890 SV% in 22 career appearances (5-11-4). Without Aleksander Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk, the Panthers enter action as +128 road underdogs against the Bruins.

Elvis Merzlikins started the Blue Jackets' season opener but Tarasov will start Saturday in Colorado. The Blue Jackets are massive underdogs (+275) tonight and Tarasov was a 4-5-2 with a 3.13 GAA and .902 SV% on the road last year. However, he was unbelievable in his only start against the Avalanche last year, stopping 45 of 46 shots in a win.

Tkachuk's illness comes at a tough time, as the Panthers will also be without Aleksander Barkov (lower-body) on Saturday. With Tkachuk out, Eetu Luostarinen will move up into the top-6 on Saturday. Consider Tkachuk day-to-day and questionable to play Monday in Boston.