Greer missed Game 1 due to a lower-body injury and, despite being almost ready to return, will remain out for Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final as Jesper Boqvist continues to occupy his spot in the lineup. The 28-year-old Greer had two goals and three points in 12 games prior to his injury.
Bobrovsky has been spectacular during the Panthers' postseason run, going 12-5 with 2.11 GAA, .912 SV%, three shutouts and 8.5 goals saved above expected. Unsurprisingly, he will start Game 1 vs. the Oilers, who he was 4-3 with a 2.67 GAA, .899 SV% and one shutout against in the 2024 Stanley Cup Final.
Despite having three points in two games in the Eastern Conference Final, Jesper Boqvist will be the odd man out of Florida's lineup as Sam Reinhart returns from a lower-body injury. Boqvist has been solid when called upon throughout the playoffs, with two goals, five points and six SOG through 11 games played.
Bobrovsky snapped his four-game winning streak after allowing one goal on 26 shots against (.962 SV%) in Florida's Game 4 loss and will return to the crease for Game 5 in Carolina on Wednesday. The 36-year-old Russian netminder has excelled this postseason with his 2.05 GAA, .914 SV% and 11-5-0 record. He will head to Raleigh to attempt to close out the Hurricanes in five games and reach the Stanley Cup Final for a third straight season.
Balinskis appeared in his first game in 21 days for Florida's Game 4 victory, but is expected to be a healthy scratch for Game 5 as Niko Mikkola returns from injury to the lineup. The 28-year-old has only appeared in five playoff games during Florida's current run, but has a goal and a +4 plus/minus.
Greer missed Florida's Game 4 loss due to an undisclosed injury but will return to the lineup for Game 5 on Wednesday. The 28-year-old is expected to replace Nico Sturm on Florida's 4th line and has two goals and three points in 11 games played throughout the playoffs.
Mikkola was absent from Florida's Game 4 loss vs. Carolina but is expected to return to the Panthers' lineup for Game 5 on Wednesday. The 29-year-old was having a fantastic postseason before his injury with three goals, five points and a +6 plus/minus through 15 games played.
Reinhart missed Florida's previous two playoff games due to a lower-body injury but will return for Game 5 in Carolina on Wednesday and is expected to replace Jesper Boqvist on the Panthers' top line. The 29-year-old star forward has struggled to find the net at his usual torrid pace this postseason, but still has seven assists and 11 points in 16 games.
Bobrovsky stopped 23 of 25 shots in the Panthers' 6-2 win over the Hurricanes in Game 3. Bobrovsky has been red-hot as of late, allowing two or fewer goals in seven straight games, posting a 6-1 record with a 1.15 GAA, .952 SV% and two shutouts during that stretch.
Mikkola is considered day-to-day with an upper-body injury. Uvis Balinskis will play for the first time since Game 1 vs. Toronto to replace Mikkola on the Panthers' blueline.
Greer is considered day-to-day with an undisclosed injury. Nico Sturm will play for the first time since Game 2 vs. Toronto to replace Greer on the Panthers' fourth line.
Balinskis has not played since Game 1 vs. the Maple Leafs, but he will replace Niko Mikkola in the lineup for Game 4 vs. Carolina. Balinskis has one goal, two SOG, six blocked shots and six hits in four playoff games.
Reinhart missed Florida's Game 3 win with a lower-body injury but is only considered day-to-day going forward and has not been ruled out for Game 4 on Monday. The 29-year-old has been replaced by Jesper Boqvist in Florida's top six for the time being but will be welcomed back with open arms if he can go on Monday. After putting up 81 points in 79 games played during the regular season, he has four goals and 11 points in 14 games so far in the playoffs.
This will be Boqvist's first game of the series, and he comes in with one goal, one assist, five SOG and 30 hits in nine playoff games so far. He will replace Sam Reinhart (lower-body) on the Panthers' top line with Aleksander Barkov and Evan Rodrigues.
Reinhart played just 5:37 in Game 2 before leaving with a lower-body injury. Reinhart was hurt on a hit from Sebastian Aho and is considered day-to-day. Jesper Boqvist will replace him on the top line and Evan Rodrigues is expected to replace him on PP1 for Game 3.
Reinhart was forced to leave Game 2 vs. Carolina after just eight shifts and 5:37 TOI due to a lower-body injury and was not able to return. If the 29-year-old is forced to miss some time, it will be a massive loss for Florida, as the top-line forward had four goals and 11 points in 14 games played so far in the playoffs before the injury.
