The upcoming matchup features the Golden Knights facing off against the Panthers on a Saturday evening. Both teams bring a mix of veteran presence and fresh talent to the ice. As each franchise strives for an upper hand, predicted lineups are starting to take shape.
Golden Knights: Current State and Lineup
The Golden Knights have opened their season strongly with a record of 5 wins, 0 losses, and 2 overtime losses (5-0-2). The team recently signed goalie Carter Hart to a two-year contract worth $4 million, effective for NHL play starting December 1. Their current roster features several key players, including:
- Ivan Barbashev – Jack Eichel – Brandon Saad
- Pavel Dorofeyev – Tomas Hertl – Mitch Marner
- Reilly Smith – William Karlsson – Alexander Holtz
- Brett Howden – Colton Sissons – Keegan Kolesar
Defense will be anchored by Brayden McNabb and Shea Theodore, alongside Jeremy Lauzon and Kaedan Korczak. Goaltending duties may fall to Akira Schmid while Carl Lindbom prepares for a potential NHL debut against the Panthers or the Tampa Bay Lightning on Sunday.
Injury Updates
However, the Golden Knights will contend with injuries. Mark Stone is dealing with an upper-body injury, while Adin Hill is sidelined with a lower-body issue. Noah Hanifin is also listed as undisclosed.
Panthers: Line Changes and Challenges
The Panthers are managing a tough start with a record of 4 wins and 5 losses (4-5-0). Following a recent 5-3 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins, they executed a lineup change, moving Evan Rodrigues and Sam Bennett in their positions.
- Carter Verhaeghe – Evan Rodrigues – Sam Reinhart
- Eetu Luostarinen – Anton Lundell – Brad Marchand
- Mackie Samoskevich – Sam Bennett – Jesper Boqvist
- A.J. Greer – Cole Schwindt – Jonah Gadjovich
Gustav Forsling and Aaron Ekblad will lead the defensive unit. Sergei Bobrovsky is expected to start in goal, supported by Daniil Tarasov.
Injuries Affecting the Panthers
The Panthers face significant challenges with injuries. Notably, Aleksander Barkov is out due to a knee injury, and Matthew Tkachuk is also sidelined with a lower-body injury. Other absentee players include Tomas Nosek and Dmitry Kulikov.
Looking Ahead
As the two teams prepare for this exciting encounter, the Golden Knights hope to maintain their unbeaten streak while the Panthers seek a much-needed win. With the recent roster changes and injuries each team faces, the anticipation for the game’s outcome grows.
