The Florida Panthers Get Key Player Back for Islanders

FORT LAUDERDALE — The Florida Panthers will ice their whole lineup for the first time in weeks Thursday when the New York Islanders come to town.

Aaron Ekblad has missed the past seven games after colliding with Vladimir Tarasenko at center ice earlier this month but will be back tonight.

Florida got Sasha Barkov and Gus Forsling back on Tuesday.

Ekblad has been a full participant in morning skates and practices the past few days but coach Paul Maurice has been wary of putting him back in too soon.

Thursday morning, Ekblad was back running with Forsling on Florida’s top defensive pairing.

Josh Mahura will be scratched; Uvis Balinskis was sent back to Charlotte.

The starting goalies for tonight: Anthony Stolarz vs. Semyon Varlamov.

Florida will clinch a playoff spot with a win tonight. The Islanders are six points back of Washington for the final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference.