The Panthers injury cycle continued today. The good news- After missing the first 19 games of the season with a hand injury, Center Nick Bjugstad is set to return. The bad news- Defenseman Alex Petrovic had an MRI today and it revealed he had a broken ankle after blocking a shot. Petro will Ben out for two months. The Petrovic injury is bad news. Petro has been the team’s most consistent defensive defenseman this year and the Cats past two victories have relied on the superb efforts of goaltenders Roberto Luongo and James Reimer. Mark Pysyk has performed admirably in his partner’s absence but the other blueliners need to step it up in their own zone.

Projected Lines

Jokinen-Barkov-Jagr

Marchessault-Trocheck-Smith

Malgin-Bjugstad-Sceviour

McKegg/Thornton-MacKenzie-Rau

Yandle-Demers

Kindl/McIllrath-Ekblad

Matheson-Pysyk

Luongo

Reimer