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GameDay No. 2: Chicago Blackhawks at Florida Panthers

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Florida Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky will be back in net Tuesday when the Chicago Blackhawks visit BB&T Center.

Well, here we go again. Due to the NHL’s new scheduling, teams are going to be seeing a lot of each other within a few days and Tuesday brings a rematch between the Panthers and Blackhawks.



The two teams met for the first time Sunday with the Panthers getting three goals in the third to keep Chicago winless with a 5-2 victory.

Tuesday’s match will be Florida’s last a home for a few days as they take off Wednesday for what will be a six-game trip with stops in Carolina, Columbus and Detroit.

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On Monday morning, Florida coach Joel Quenneville said there could be some lineup changes for the Panthers although he did not go into specifics.

We’re not expecting anything major.

Oh, except in net.

Florida will have Sergei Bobrovsky back after he started the season on the reserve list due to COVID-19 protocols.

He joined the team for his first practice on Wednesday and has been seeing a lot of practice time.

“To me, when you are ready you are ready,” Quenneville said. “He is more than ready to go and he’s looking forward to the start tomorrow.

“When your guy is ready, you want them in the net. I like the way Driedger played (Sunday) so we’re in a good situation right off the bat.”

MORNING SKATE UPDATE: It looks like Riley Stillman replaces Gustav Forsling on the backend with Vinnie Hinostroza taking Ryan Lombard’s spot on the fourth line.

Chicago Blackhawks at Florida Panthers

When: Tuesday, 7 p.m.

Where: BB&T Center; Sunrise, Fla.

TV/Radio: FSF/560-AM

Records: Chicago 0-3-0; Florida 1-0-0

All-time series: Chicago leads 25-12-3-2

Season series: Florida leads 1-0.

Up next: Florida at Carolina, Thursday, 7 p.m.; Detroit at Chicago, Friday, 8 p.m.

Projected Florida Panthers lines

Florida forwards

Carter Verhaeghe — Sasha Barkov — Anthony Duclair

Jonathan Huberdeau — Alexander Wennberg — Patric Hornqvist

Frank Vatrano — Eetu Luostarinen — Owen Tippett

Vinnie Hinostroza — Noel Acciari — Brett Connolly

Florida defensemen

MacKenzie Weegar — Aaron Ekblad

Riley Stillman — Anton Stralman

Keith Yandle — Radko Gudas

Florida goalies

Sergei Bobrovsky / Chris Driedger

Potential scratches: Ryan Lombard, Gustav Forsling.

PP1: Sasha Barkov, Jonathan Huberdeau, Patric Hornqvist, Aaron Ekblad, Keith Yandle

PP2: Alexander Wennberg, Owen Tippett, Anthony Duclair, Carter Verhaeghe, Anton Stralman

Projected Chicago Blackhawks lines

Chicago forwards

Alex DeBrincat — Dylan Strome — Patrick Kane

Dominik Kubalik — Pius Suter — Brandon Pirri

Mattias Janmark — Lucas Wallmark — Andrew Shaw

Matthew Highmore — David Kampf — Ryan Carpenter

Chicago defensemen

Duncan Keith — Connor Murphy

Calvin de Haan — Ian Mitchell

Nikita Zadorov — Adam Boqvist

Chicago goalies

Malcolm Subban / Collin Delia

Florida Panthers game notes

Keith Yandle said he always celebrates scoring because it happens so infrequently. Ok.

It was obvious a big weight jumped off of the Florida defenseman when he gave the Panthers a 2-0 lead in the second period on Sunday.

Now in his 15th season, Yandle’s goal Sunday was No. 100.

Taking away his seven-game first year in Arizona and the one game played this year and Yandle is averaging about eight goals a year.

Last year he got five as he averaged about one a month for the Panthers.

It was his first goal since Jan. 20 last season, a 5-4 victory at Minnesota.

Welcome Back: Drafted in Sunrise, Noah Juulsen joins Florida Panthers

— Sasha Barkov recorded an assist Sunday moving him within 12 points from passing Olli Jokinen (419) for second in franchise history.

Jonathan Huberdeau, who set the franchise points record last season, is Florida’s leading scorer after getting a goal and two assists in the opener.

— Aaron Ekblad scored the first Florida goal of the season. Last year, he scored five as he ended with a career-high 41 points.

— Patric Hornqvist made his debut with the Panthers after coming being acquired in a trade with Pittsburgh during the offseason. Hornqvist had a goal with an assist.

Chicago Blackhawks game notes

For the fourth time in his career, Alex DeBrincat scored a power play goal in consecutive games.

Since entering the league in 2017-18, Debrincat’s 31 power-play goals are the most among Blackhawks players and is tied for 13th among NHL skaters during that time.

Last season, he led Chicago with 10 power play goals.

— Dylan Strome has at least one point in each of the two games he has played this season. He won 71 percent of his face-offs Sunday and is seventh in the league by winning 62 percent of his draws.

— Pius Suter recorded his first career NHL point with an assist on Sunday night to become the second Swiss-born player (Reto Von Arx) in Blackhawks history to record an NHL point.

— Patrick Kane is 10 goals away from hitting the 400 goal mark.

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