FLORIDA PANTHERS NEWS

Sam Bennett - Three-point effort versus Oilers Bennett scored a power-play goal on three shots, dished two assists and went plus-3 in Saturday's 5-1 win over the Oilers.

Impact Bennett had gone eight games without a multi-point effort. He matched his production from that span in this three-point performance. The 27-year-old has yet to get on the scoresheet in consecutive contests, which has put a damper on his offense. He's at four goals, five helpers, 35 shots on net, 25 hits, 31 PIM and an even plus-minus rating through 18 appearances. Bennett's continued presence in a top-six role bodes well for his offense coming around as the season progresses.

DECEMBER 17, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Carter Verhaeghe - Three points in win Verhaeghe scored twice on four shots, added an assist and went plus-3 in Saturday's 5-1 win over the Oilers.

Impact Verhaeghe opened and closed the scoring and also set up Brandon Montour's goal, which was the game-winner. The 28-year-old Verhaeghe had gone two games without a point, but he's amassed seven tallies and four helpers over his last 10 contests. The forward continues to thrive in a top-six role, earning 15 goals, 11 assists, 107 shots on net and a plus-6 rating through 30 outings overall.

DECEMBER 17, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Sergei Bobrovsky - Excellent in win Bobrovsky stopped 38 of 39 shots in Saturday's 5-1 win over the Oilers.

Impact The Oilers provided plenty of tests for Bobrovsky, but he stopped everything aside from a Zach Hyman marker in the second period. Bobrovsky also picked up a power-play helper on Sam Bennett's tally -- the assist was Bobrovsky's first point since he joined Florida in 2019-20. The 35-year-old netminder improved to 14-8-1 with a 2.49 GAA and a .911 save percentage through 23 outings. He's won five of his last seven games and will likely start again Monday in Calgary to end the Panthers' five-game road trip.

DECEMBER 17, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Verhaeghe, with 2 goals and an assist, leads Panthers over Oilers 5-1

Carter Verhaeghe had two goals and an assist as the Florida Panthers bounced back from two consecutive shutout losses with a 5-1 victory over the Edmonton Oilers

DECEMBER 17, 2023 • Associated Press

Sergei Bobrovsky - Starting in Edmonton Bobrovsky will defend the road net Saturday against Edmonton, Jameson Olive of the Panthers' official site reports.

Impact Bobrovsky has allowed seven goals on 39 shots during his two-game losing skid. He has supplied a 13-8-1 record this season with a 2.56 GAA and a .906 save percentage through 22 games played. Edmonton is tied for fifth in the league this campaign with 3.52 goals per contest.

DECEMBER 16, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Jonah Gadjovich - Unavailable Saturday Gadjovich (illness) isn't expected to play Saturday versus Edmonton, per George Richards of Florida Hockey Now.

Impact Gadjovich also missed Thursday's 4-0 loss to Vancouver due to the disease. He has an assist, 43 PIM and 10 hits in nine contests this season. Gadjovich will sometimes serve as a healthy scratch, so even once he's available, he might not immediately draw into the lineup.

DECEMBER 16, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Anton Lundell - Not playing Saturday Lundell (illness) will miss Saturday's tilt in Edmonton, according to George Richards of Florida Hockey Now.

Impact Lundell sat out Thursday's action in Vancouver as well. He has two goals and 12 points in 28 games this season and has been rather cold of late with only three assists in his last nine games. Lundell could return to action Monday as the Panthers travel down the highway to Calgary.

DECEMBER 16, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

William Lockwood - Summoned from minors Lockwood was recalled from AHL Charlotte on Saturday.

Impact Lockwood played seven games earlier in the season with the Panthers and did not hit the scoresheet. The 25-year-old winger had three goals and seven points in 14 AHL games before his recall. He could replace Jonah Gadjovich -- who missed Thursday's game with an illness -- on the fourth line.

DECEMBER 16, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Uvis Balinskis - Heads to minors Balinskis was reassigned to AHL Charlotte on Friday.

Impact Balinskis has a goal and an assist in 18 games with Florida this season. He's also scored a goal in his lone appearance with Charlotte.

DECEMBER 15, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Edmonton and Florida square off in non-conference matchup

The Edmonton Oilers and the Florida Panthers take the ice in an out-of-conference matchup

DECEMBER 15, 2023 • Associated Press

Anthony Stolarz - Hardly any work in relief outing Stolarz stopped the only shot he faced in relief of Sergei Bobrovsky in Thursday's 4-0 loss to the Canucks.

Impact Stolarz played the whole third period, but he received little work as the Canucks protected their lead cautiously. The 29-year-old Stolarz has won three of his last five starts dating back to Nov. 14. The 29-year-old backup goalie is at a 4-2-1 record with a 2.19 GAA and a .915 save percentage over eight appearances this season, but he's had few chances to play with Bobrovsky mostly in good form.

DECEMBER 15, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Sergei Bobrovsky - Falters in loss Bobrovsky allowed four goals on 17 shots over two periods of Thursday's 4-0 loss to the Canucks.

Impact Bobrovsky was replaced by Anthony Stolarz in the third, but it didn't spark the Panthers' offense. The 35-year-old Bobrovsky has given up four or more goals in just five of his 22 appearances this season, and it's reasonable that this game in Vancouver would be one of them. For the year, he's at a 13-8-1 record with a 2.56 GAA and a .906 save percentage. Bobrovsky could be in line for another tough test if he starts Saturday in Edmonton.

DECEMBER 15, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Jonah Gadjovich - Late scratch due to illness Gadjovich was a late scratch Thursday versus the Canucks due to an illness, Colby Guy of Florida Hockey Now reports.

Impact Gadjovich was set to play against the team that drafted him, going as far as to participate in warmups. In the end, he couldn't play, with defenseman Uvis Balinskis dressing instead. There's a bug going around for the Panthers -- Gadjovich joins Anton Lundell as players currently battling the illness. Gadjovich is no guarantee to play once healthy, as he's been in and out of the lineup throughout the season between injuries and performance.

DECEMBER 15, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Aaron Ekblad - Dealing with lower-body injury Ekblad exited Thursday's game versus the Canucks due to a lower-body injury, Colby Guy of Florida Hockey Now reports.

Impact Ekblad's injury could be "less than day-to-day," per head coach Paul Maurice, but the team took him out of Thursday's game since they dressed seven defensemen. This sounds like a cautionary move, so Ekblad should be considered questionable to play Saturday in Edmonton.

DECEMBER 15, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Sergei Bobrovsky - Tending twine versus Vancouver Bobrovsky will defend the cage on the road against the Canucks on Thursday, Jameson Olive of the Panthers' official site reports.

Impact Bobrovsky is sporting a 1.82 GAA and .927 save percentage in his last five outings to go with a 4-1-0 record. The Russian netminder has seen action in 21 games this season and should continue to see the bulk of the workload ahead of Anthony Stolarz moving forward.

DECEMBER 14, 2023 • ROTOWIRE