Barkov was a late scratch from the Panthers' previous game Tuesday vs. San Jose due to illness and did not practice Thursday making his a game-time decision Saturday vs. Seattle. The 28-year-old has started the season off with some jump as he has a goal, five assists, 13 SOG, two PIMs, and a +5 plus/minus through five games so far in 2023-24.
Barkov was a surprise scratch from Tuesday's lineup with the team not announcing his absence prior to warmups. The team alluded to an illness going around the room that could affect the availability of some players, but there was no indication that Barkov was in any danger of missing tonight's game. Anton Lundell will move up the lineup and skate alongside Evan Rodrigues and Sam Reinhart at 5v5, while Carter Verhaeghe is likely to take the vacant spot on Florida's top power-play unit.
Vanecek has struggled in his two appearances so far this season, but he draws an excellent matchup tonight against the Canadiens with New Jersey being massive road favourites at -235. The 27-year-old netminder has stopped just 58 of the 65 shots he's faced this season and has a 3.62 GAA along with a 1-1-0 record to show for it. Vanecek will always be a threat to pick up a Win for your fantasy team so long as he's suiting up for the Devils, but he'll need to string together some strong performances if he wants to stop conceding starts to his understudy, Akira Schmid.
Samoskevich will head back up to Florida for a second time this season after being recalled from Charlotte on Tuesday. The 20-year-old returns to the Panthers, where he has yet to pick up a point in two games this season but has four SOG and a -2 plus/minus while averaging 14:33 TOI.
Greer has one assist, six SOG, and four PIMs in six games played so far this season but will be a healthy scratch Tuesday as Calgary takes on the New York Rangers. The 26-year-old left-winger is in his seventh NHL season after he was claimed off waivers from Boston on October 9th, 2023. Greer will be replaced by Dryden Hunt Tuesday, who is making his Calgary debut.
Sourdif failed to pick up a point in any of the three games he appeared in for the Panthers but only averaged 8:50 TOI and had two SOG in his first appearance in the NHL and has been loaned to Charlotte (AHL) Monday. The 21-year-old returns to the Checkers, where he had seven goals and 24 poitns in 48 games played in 2022-23.
Nosek hasn't played since suffering a lower-body injury on October 13th. In two games, Nosek was pointless while recording one shot on goal, one hit, and one block. His exact return to the lineup is uncertain, but he is not expected to play on Tuesday.
Bobrovsky stopped 29 of 30 shots against (.967 SV%) for his second-straight victory as he topped the Toronto Maple Leafs in his last start. The 35-year-old netminder has taken control of the Panthers' crease yet again with his 2-2-0 record, .908 SV% and 2.81 GAA so far this season. He takes on the Vancouver Canucks, who have dropped their last two contests but rank sixth in the NHL in goals for per game (3.75).
Bobrovsky is coming off his best performance of the young season, saving 31 of 34 shots to shut down the New Jersey Devils and their offensive gauntlet for a 4-3 victory. Tonight, the Panthers will have a Stanley Cup Semi-Finals rematch against the Toronto Maple Leafs. In that series, Bobrovsky was otherworldly, posting a .943 SV% en route to defeating the Maple Leafs in five games. As has been the case with Bobrovsky for years now, it's hard to anticipate which version will appear in the net for the Panthers, who are +119 home underdogs tonight.
After taking a backseat to Mackenzie Blackwood for the last two games and, despite him saving saving 87 of 94 shots, watching his Sharks go winless (0-1-1), Kahkonen will get the start on Thursday night against the Boston Bruins. In his only game this season, Kahkonen allowed four goals on 32 shots in a 4-1 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights. The Sharks are +236 home underdogs against a Boston Bruins team that has yet to lose a game (2-0-0).
The New Jersey Devils seem committed to continuing their goalie rotation early in the season as it appears Vanecek will return to the crease on Monday night. In his only game of the season thus far, Vanecek allowed three goals on 35 shots en route to securing a 4-3 victory over the Detroit Red Wings. The Devils are listed as -169 home favourites against a Florida Panthers team that has struggled immensely so far this season, scoring only four times in their first two games (0-2-0).
Gadjovich had signed a deal previously with the Charlotte Checkers (AHL) but has now been signed to a one-year, one-way contract with the Florida Panthers. The 25-year-old forward had three goals, four assists, 32 SOG, 57 PIMs and a -3 plus/minus through 35 games with San Jose in 2022-23. Across three NHL seasons, he has four goals and 10 points in 79 career games played.
Entwistle has been a healthy scratch for Chicago's first three games but will make his season debut Monday vs. Toronto. The 24-year-old right-winger had four goals, six assists, 50 SOG, 14 PIMs and a -11 plus/minus in 66 games with Chicago in 2022-23. He is entering his fourth NHL season and has 10 goals and 24 points in 126 career games played.
Bobrovsky will tend the crease in game three of the season for the Florida Panthers as they look to get things on track after an uninspired start. The Panthers have been outscored 8-4 in their first two games (0-2-0) and seem to be lacking the magic they displayed during their Cinderella run to the Stanley Cup Finals. The teams' poor performance has been mirrored by Bobrovsky, who has a forgettable 3.64 GAA and .873 SV% to start the season. Things won't get easier for Bobrovsky and the Panthers on Monday night as they face off against the high-octane offence of the New Jersey Devils, who are 1-0-1 to start the season. The Panthers are listed as +152 road underdogs as they search for the first victory.
Samoskevich was held without a point in his first two career NHL games to start the 2022-23 season and will be a healthy scratch Monday vs. New Jersey. The 20-year-old forward was Florida's 2021 first-round pick (21st overall) and surprised some by cracking the teams roster early in camp. He will be replaced by Justin Sourdif on the Panthers' third line.
