Forward Nick Bjugstad and defenseman Alexander Petrovic will each return after missing time with injuries. "Obviously it's a big boost for us," coach Tom Rowe said. "They're two NHL players, big bodies and excited to play." Bjugstad missed nine games because of a lower-body injury after he missed the first 19 games of the season with a wrist injury. "It's getting old, the injuries," Bjugstad said. "I don't know, the last couple of years has been kind of a roller coaster as far as injuries go and returning and all that. It's no fun. I've just got to be grateful. I'm living, I'm here, so I've got to take advantage of every opportunity I get." Bjustad is expected to skate on the fourth line with Shawn Thornton and Greg McKegg. He led the Panthers with 24 goals in 2014-15 but has scored one goal and one assist in 21 games this season. "When I was scoring, I was generating five shots a night," Bjugstad said. "When I came back, it was hard to find ways to get a shot, it felt like. That's probably my biggest attribute is coming here and use my speed and shoot. If I'm not doing that, it makes it tough to produce and help the team out as far as offensively. It's tough at times, but [I'm going to try to] find ways to weather the storm. I'm going to wipe the slate clean here and try to just come back and do my best these 30-whatever games we've got left." Petrovic missed 33 games because of a foot injury.
