FORT LAUDERDALE – The Florida Panthers aren't counting on either goaltender Jacob Markstrom or defenseman Radko Gudas to take the ice during their two-game homestand.
Both players missed Tuesday’s win at Columbus and are considered day-to-day with undisclosed injuries.
“Both making improvements,” head coach Paul Maurice said following Thursday’s morning skate at Baptist Health IcePlex. “Jake was back on the ice [this morning]; Radko might get to a point where he can play Saturday, but we’ve got three days on the other side of it so it may make more sense to get him right. He’s purely day-to-day. He’s walking around and he's just fine.”
Back for their second stints with the Panthers, both Markstrom and Gudas have looked solid in the early goings of the season.
Markstrom, who was acquired from the New Jersey Devils in a trade this past summer, has posted a 2-1-1 record with a 2.03 goals-against average, a .904 save percentage and one shutout.
Returning to the Panthers on a six-year deal as a free agent during the offseason, Gudas has recorded 13 hits, 11 blocked shots and a +2 plus/minus rating through seven games.
In Markstrom’s absence, Akira Schmid, who earned the win against the Blue Jackets, will continue to handle No. 1 duties.
On the blue line, Uvis Balinskis has been filling in for Gudas.
Following their battle with the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday, the Panthers will wrap up their two-game homestand against the Seattle Kraken at Amerant Bank Arena on Saturday.
From there, they’ll have three days off until kicking off their four-game road trip in Ottawa on Oct .21.
While there’s a chance – as Maurice mentioned – that either one or both of the injured veterans could return sooner, the safest bet would be for them to suit up against the Senators.
“We’d expect both of them to be able to play in Ottawa,” Maurice said.
