Barkov exited Thursday's game in the third period after receiving an unsuspecting hit from Tampa Bay's Brandon Hagel. Hagel was issued a five-minute major penalty for interference and is scheduled to have a hearing with the NHL's Department of Player Safety. The 29-year-old Barkov has three points (0G / 3A) through two playoff games and his status for Game 3 is uncertain.

The Panthers commandingly took Game 1 from the Tampa Bay Lightning, defeating them 6-2, aided by a 20-save performance from Bobrovsky (.909 SV%). The 36-year-old Bobrovsky improves to 46-43 in his playoff career, posting a 2.84 GAA and .905 SV%. Still, the Panthers enter Game 2 as slightly +106 road underdogs against a Lightning team desperately trying to tie the series.

Tkachuk suffered a lower-body injury as a member of USA's team in the 4-Nations Face Off and has not played since. After practicing with the Panthers the last several days, he appears set to return to the lineup for Game 1 against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The 27-year-old Tkachuk scored 57 points (22G / 35A) in 52 games this season.

As expected, the Panthers will hand their franchise netminder the opening start of their round one series against the Lightning. It's been eight days since Bobrovsky's last start, so the 36-year-old netminder should be well rested heading into Tuesday's series opener. The two-time Vezina Trophy winner finished the regular season with a 33-19-2 record and a .905 SV%. The Panthers enter action on Tuesday at an even +100 on the money line.

Tkachuk suffered a lower-body injury as a member of USA's team in the 4-Nations Face Off and has not played since. That said, he has been practicing with the Panthers the last several days and could return to the lineup for Game 1 against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The 27-year-old Tkachuk scored 57 points (22G / 35A) in 52 games this season.

Tkachuk suffered a lower-body injury as a member of USA's team in the 4-Nations Face Off and has not played since. That said, he has been practicing with the Panthers the last several days and could return to the lineup for Game 1 against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The 27-year-old Tkachuk scored 57 points (22G / 35A) in 52 games this season.

The Florida Panthers have completed the 2024-25 season and, no longer in need of reserves, have assigned Jesse Puljujarvi, Rasmus Asplund, and Matt Kiersted to the Charlotte Checkers (AHL). Asplund has 42 points (19G / 23A) in 62 games with Charlotte this season.

The Florida Panthers have completed the 2024-25 season and, no longer in need of reserves, have assigned Jesse Puljujarvi, Rasmus Asplund, and Matt Kiersted to the Charlotte Checkers (AHL). Kiersted has 27 points (1G / 27A) in 63 games with Charlotte this season.

The Florida Panthers have completed the 2024-25 season and, no longer in need of reserves, have assigned Jesse Puljujarvi, Rasmus Asplund, and Matt Kiersted to the Charlotte Checkers (AHL). Puljujarvi has 12 points (5G / 7A) in 20 games with Charlotte.

With the Panthers being locked into the third spot in the Atlantic Division's standings, the team is most likely just giving Lundell the night off for Tuesday's regular season finale. Aleksander Barkov and Sam Reinhart will also join Lundell in the press box on Tuesday.

With the Panthers being locked into the third spot in the Atlantic Division's standings, the team is most likely just giving Reinhart the night off for Tuesday's regular season finale. Aleksander Barkov and Anton Lundell will also join Reinhart in the press box on Tuesday.

With the Panthers being locked into the third spot in the Atlantic Division's standings, the team is most likely just giving Barkov the night off for Tuesday's regular season finale. Sam Reinhart and Anton Lundell will also join Barkov in the press box on Tuesday.

The Panthers will turn to Vanecek between the pipes on Tuesday in their final game of the regular season, facing off against the Tampa Bay Lightning in a potential first-round playoff preview. The 29-year-old Vanecek played well in his most recent outing, saving 26 of 28 shots (.929 SV%) in a 3-2 shootout win over the Buffalo Sabres. The Czech netminder has a 2.66 GAA and .900 SV% in six games with Florida this season (2-3-1). The Panthers enter Tuesday's contest as +168 road underdogs against the Lightning.

In their penultimate game of the season, the Panthers will turn to Bobrovsky between the pipes against the New York Rangers. Bobrovsky played well in his most recent outing, saving 22 of 23 shots (.957 SV%) in a 4-1 win over the Detroit Red Wings. The 36-year-old netminder has a 2.39 GAA and .907 SV% in 53 games this season (33-18-2). The Panthers enter Monday's contest as -164 home favorites against a Rangers squad coming off a 7-3 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes.

The Panthers have regularly rested players over the last two weeks leading up to the playoffs. As such, Mikkola will have the night off on Monday against the New York Rangers. The 28-year-old Mikkola is averaging 20:16 time-on-ice and has a career-high 22 points (6G / 16A) in 75 games this season.

Kulikov has been out since March 16th due to an upper-body injury but will draw back into the lineup on Monday vs. New York as he replaces Niko Mikkola. The 34-year-old Kulikov is in his 16th NHL season and has been productive in a lower-leverage role with four goals, 13 points and a +13 plus/minus in 68 games played.

With Florida locked into a playoff spot, Tomas Nosek sat out the Panthers' previous game due to rest but will draw back into the lineup on Monday vs. New York. The 32-year-old left-winger has struggled to produce offensively in his first season in Florida, with just a goal and nine points in 58 games played.