Bobrovsky was yanked after giving up four goals on 14 shots in the Panthers blowout loss to the Hurricanes on Tuesday. His Panthers career is off to a rocky start, posting an .859 SV% through three games. Bobrovsky has been notorious for slow starts in recent years though, so expect him to get back on track soon enough.
Kulikov missed Tuesday’s game in Pittsburgh but is expected to replace Sami Niku in the lineup on Thursday. Kulikov has one goal and one assist while averaging 20:18 TOI/gm in three games this season.
Rodrigues has been a healthy scratch for the first three games of the regular season but will draw into the lineup on Wednesday. With Conor Sheary day-to-day with an upper-body injury, Rodrigues will skate on the third line with Casey Mittelstadt and Jimmy Vesey.
Kulikov has left the Winnipeg Jets to attend to a “personal family matter.” Josh Morrissey was back on the ice for Monday’s practice and took Kulikov’s spot. Sami Niku will also be recalled from Manitoba (AHL) to provide the Jets with blueline depth while Kulikov is away.
Bobrovsky allowed three goals on 35 shots in the Panthers win over the Lightning on Saturday. Bobrovsky has allowed seven goals on 64 shots (.890 SV%) in his first two starts with the Panthers, both of them coming against the high-powered Lightning. Tonight he faces a Hurricanes team that has started the season 3-0-0 while ranking second in Shots-per game (38.3) and averaging 3.33 goals per game.
Bobrovsky allowed four goals on 29 shots in the Panthers opening night loss in Tampa Bay. It was a tough start to his Panthers career, but matchups don’t come more difficult than the Lightning. He’ll look to bounce back against the same high-powered squad tonight, but use Thursday as a cautionary tale.
It shouldn’t come as a big surprise that the Panthers prized offseason acquisition will start on opening night. Bobrovsky has started 60-plus games for three straight seasons and has led the NHL in wins (115), tied for second in SV% (.922) and tied for third in GAA (2.35) over that span. You didn’t draft Bobrovsky to bench him, but he draws a brutal matchup to open the season.
It shouldn’t come as a big surprise that the Panthers prized offseason acquisition will start on opening night. Bobrovsky has started 60-plus games for three straight seasons and has led the NHL in wins (115), tied for second in SV% (.922) and tied for third in GAA (2.35) over that span. You didn’t draft Bobrovsky to bench him, but he draws a brutal matchup to open the season.
After failing to eclipse 50 points in his first two NHL seasons, Tkachuk broke out for 34 goals and 43 assists (77 points) in 80 games. As good as Tkachuk played in 2018-19, he could see some regression in 2019-20, after relying on a 16.4 SH% and 10.2 on-ice SH%. Being stuck behind Johnny Gaudreau on the depth chart also limits Tkachuk’s chances of approaching a point-per-game this season.
Greer split the 2019 season between the AHL and NHL, scoring one goal and one assist in 15 games in Colorado. During his time in the AHL, Greer was second on the team with 44 points (19G / 25A) in 54 games. He will likely start 2020 in the AHL.
Rodrigues had nine goals and 20 assists (29 points) in 74 games during his first full NHL season in 2018-19. With bigger named prospects faltering around him, Rodrigues settled into a middle-6 role with the Sabres and finished the season ranked fourth among Buffalo forwards in TOI/GP (15:49). Entering the 2020 season, Rodrigues will once again be battling with Casey Mittelstadt for the No.2 centre role.
After missing just one game in 2017 and 2018 combined, Bennett appeared in just 71 games last season but averaged the least ice-time of his career (13:17 TOI/GM). Bennett wrapped the season up with 27 points (13G / 14A). Bennett will likely be fighting with Michael Frolik for a spot on the Flames’ second line but will likely open the year in the bottom-6.
Forsling had three goals and six assists (nine points) in 43 games with the Blackhawks last year and had a few games in the AHL. The 23-year-old blueliner was traded to Carolina this offseason and will likely be on their third-pairing to start 2020. If he plays a full season in the NHL, Forsling has 20-plus point upside with the Hurricanes.
The Lightning selected Nolan Foote with the No.27 overall pick last Friday and didn’t waste any time signing him to an entry-level deal. Foote, who is the son of for Avalanche defenseman Adam Foote, joins his brother (Cal) in the Tampa Bay organization. The left-winger had 36 goals and 27 assists (63 points) in 66 games with the Kelowna Rockets (WHL) this season.
Forsig had three goals and six assists (nine points) in 43 games with Chicago last season. He has appeared in at least 38 games in each of his first three NHL seasons, tallying a total of 27 points (8G / 19A) in 122 career games. Forsling is still a pending RFA but will likely get a contract to be the Hurricanes No.5/6 defenseman in 2020.
