Kahkonen missed practice Friday due to an undisclosed injury and will be a game-time decision Saturday vs. Pittsburgh. The 27-year-old is coming off a horrific fourth-straight loss Thursday, where he was pulled after allowing six goals on 19 shots (.684 SV%). He has struggled this season with his 0-4-0 record, .876 SV%, and 4.30 GAA in five games played in 2023-24 and will likely have to be replaced by a goaltender on the San Jose Barracuda (AHL) if he is unable to go.

Vanecek has appeared in four straight games for the Devils and currently finds himself in the midst of a two-game winning streak after stopping 31 of 34 shots (.912 SV%) and beating Minnesota in his previous start. The 27-year-old has won despite his mediocre play this season as he is 4-2-0, .895 SV%, and 3.24 GAA. He takes on the reeling Minnesota Wild, who have dropped their previous three games but are tied for seventh in the NHL in goals per game (3.56).

Vanecek has appeared in four straight games for the Devils and currently finds himself in the midst of a two-game winning streak after stopping 31 of 34 shots (.912 SV%) and beating Minnesota in his previous start. The 27-year-old has won despite his mediocre play this season as he is 4-2-0, .895 SV%, and 3.24 GAA. He takes on the reeling Minnesota Wild, who have dropped their previous three games but are tied for seventh in the NHL in goals per game (3.56).

Rodrigues did not practice Wednesday due to an undisclosed injury and was originally a game-time decision Thursday vs. Detroit but will draw into the lineup without any restrictions. The signed a four-year, $12 million contract in the offseason to join the Panthers and has two goals, six assists, 26 SOG, six PIMs and a +7 plus/minus through eight games to start 2023-24.

Bobrosvky will start for the eighth time in nine games for the Panthers as they take on the Detroit Red Wings Thursday evening. As he has been for most of his tenure as a Panther, Bobrovsky has had an up-and-down season, averaging a 2.87 GAA and .903 SV% through seven games (3-3-1), with only three of those being quality starts. The Panthers are -117 road favourites but will be put to the test against a Red Wings team that has scored with ease, ranking fourth offensively early in the 2023-24 campaign (4.00 GF / GP).

Lockwood was a healthy scratch for the Panthers' previous game but will draw back into the lineup Thursday vs. Detroit as he replaces Sam Bennett (lower body). The 25-year-old is in his first campaign in Florida after signing a two-year, two-way contract in the offseason and has yet to pick up a point in his short two-game showing so far in 2023-24 while only averaging 6:54 TOI.

The Panthers have recalled Asplund from the Charlotte Checkers of the AHL, where he has five points (2G / 3A) in seven games this season. Asplund spent last season split between the Buffalo Sabres and Nashville Predators, registering eight points (2G / 6A) in 46 games.

Kahkonen stopped 37 of 40 shots against (.925 SV%) in his previous start vs. Carolina but picked up his third-straight loss of the season and will take the crease again Thursday vs. Vancouver. The 27-year-old has been decent despite no offensive help with his 0-3-0 record, .907 SV%, and 3.16 GAA. He will try to get San Jose into the win column for the first time this season (0-8-1) as they take on Vancouver, who is third in the NHL in goals per game (4.0).

Bennett saw his first action of the season on Monday after returning from an injury (lower-body) but played only 7:54 before being forced to leave the game with another lower-body injury. This injury isn't believed to be related to the previous one that kept him out of action but is still cause for concern as he has a week-to-week timeline for his next potential return. Bennett had 16 goals, 24 assists, 193 SOG, 54 PIMs and, a +5 plus/minus in 63 games played in 2022-23.

Monday's start makes it the seventh time in the Panthers' opening eight games that they've turned to the two-time Vezina Trophy winner. Bobrovsky is fresh off one of his best starts of the season on Saturday, where he surrendered just two goals on 32 shots enroute to a 3-2 victory over the Kraken. On the season, the 14-year veteran owns a .906 SV% and a 2.88 GAA to go along with his 3-3-0 record. He draws a difficult assignment in Boston on Monday with Florida being a +138 road underdog.

Bennett has missed the Panthers' first seven games due to a lower-body injury sustained in the pre-season and was a game-time decision to make his season debut Monday vs. Boston. The 27-year-old will be a much-welcomed return to the lineup after posting 16 goals, 24 assists, 193 SOG, 54 PIMs and, a +5 plus/minus in 63 games played in 2022-23.

Bennett has missed the Panthers' first seven games due to a lower-body injury sustained in the pre-season and is now a game-time decision to make his season debut Monday vs. Boston. The 27-year-old will make a much-welcome return after posting 16 goals, 24 assists, 193 SOG, 54 PIMs and, a +5 plus/minus in 63 games played in 2022-23.

Vanecek will get the nod against the Wild on Sunday, making him the first of the Devils' two goaltenders to start consecutive games this season. He allowed four goals on 27 shots enroute to a 5-4 victory over the Sabres on Friday. Vanecek owns an .891 SV% and a 3.30 GAA to go along with his 3-2-0 record on the season. He and the Devils are -170 favourites to pick up the victory over Marc-Andre Fleury and the Wild on Sunday.

Bennett has yet to play this season but appears to be nearing a return as he will travel with the team on their upcoming road trip. Last season, he registered 40 points (16G / 24A) in 63 games and should provide an offensive spark for a Panthers team that is off to a 3-3-0 start.

Kulikov was originally questionable to play on Saturday because of an illness but has now been deemed fit to play. In six games this season, Kulikov has three points (0G / 3A), 11 blocks, 10 hits, and a +3 plus/minus rating.

Samoskevich was recalled Thursday to Florida but will continue his revolving door of roster transactions as he has been loaned back to Charlotte (AHL) Friday. The 20-year-old was Florida's 2021 first-round selection (24th overall) and has yet to pick a point up in any of his three games played with the Panthers in 2023-24.

Boqvist played in his first game of the season on Thursday vs. Anaheim and had no counting stats after 10 shifts and 6:02 TOI and has been reassigned to Providence (AHL) Friday. The 24-year-old forward returns to the minors, where he has no goals, two assists, and four PIMs in five games so far in 2023-24.

Entwistle was a healthy scratch for the Blackhawks' previous two games but will draw back into the lineup Friday vs Vegas as he replaces Andreas Athanasiou. The 24-year-old right-winger has a goal, two SOG, four PIMs, and a +1 plus/minus in two games this season while being healthy scratched for five others.

Vanecek will take the starter's crease for the Devils on Friday as they will look to bounce back after a 6-4 loss to the Washington Capitals on Wednesday. Vanecek, who allowed two goals on 16 shots coming in relief of Akira Schmid on Wednesday, has been the better of the two goalies thus far despite a pedestrian 3.10 GAA and .900 SV% in four games (2-2-0). The Devils are listed as -191 home favourites against a Buffalo Sabres team that is averaging only 2.71 goals per game, the 21st fewest in the league.