Both Ekblad and Montour haven't played for Florida since Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final

The Florida Panthers will wrap up a three-game California swing on Friday night when they face the Anaheim Ducks at Honda Center.

Florida has been one of the hottest teams in the NHL, boasting a 10-3-1 record over the team’s past 14 outings.

One of the most impressive things about the Panthers strong start to the season is that they’ve done it without several key players in the lineup.

Defensemen Brandon Montour and Aaron Ekblad both had shoulder surgery back in June and have yet to play this season, and center Sam Bennett played his first full game of the year on Sunday after suffering a pair of lower-body injuries, one during the preseason and another on Oct. 30.

Montour and Ekbald have been practicing regularly with the team for several weeks and there was hope that each would make their regular season debuts at some point during Florida's current road trip.

That appears to be the case as Florida may have Ekblad and Montour in the lineup when they face the Anaheim Ducks on Friday. 

Both blueliners have been progressing in their respective recoveries and received medical clearance several days ago. 

Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice indicated late last week that it was possible both players would crack the lineup during the road trip, saying the team had entered a “10-day window” in which they could be cleared to play.

Following Thursday's 2-1 loss in Los Angeles, Maurice hinted at Montour and Ekblad making their debuts the following night. 

"We might get a couple players back in our lineup that would excite the group," Maurice said. "And you need a little jolt on a back-to-back."

Florida won't hold a morning skate on Friday, so expect a final update from Maurice around 5 p.m. PST.  

When the two defensemen do officially return, Florida General Manager Bill Zito will need to make space on the roster.

Typically this season, the Panthers have kept 13 forwards, seven defensemen and two goalies on the active roster, filling 22 of a maximum 23 spots. 

One possible option would be to loan Uvis Balinskis to AHL Charlotte, simply because he is on an entry-level contract and waivers exempt. 

The 27-year-old has played quite well for Florida in his first NHL season, but when Ekblad and Montour return, the trickle-down effect almost certainly will end with two current Panthers defensemen no longer being on the roster, unless Zito elects to keep eight rearguards instead of seven. 

Other than Balinskis, all of Florida's blueliners would have to pass through waivers in order to be loaned to Charlotte. 

Would the Panthers risk losing Dmitry Kulikov, who Maurice has spoken positively about many-a-times this season, or Josh Mahura? It seems unlikely. 

That would leave Mike Reilly and Balinskis as the apparent odd men out. 

Mahura suffered a lower-body injury on Thursday in Los Angeles that caused him to leave the game early, but the extent of the ailment is unknown. 

Maurice said after the game that Mahura would get checked out the following day in Anaheim. 

"We're going to look at it tomorrow," Maurice said. "I don't think its anything significant."

Whatever Zito and his staff end up deciding to do with the roster, it's all likely going to shake out in the coming days. 

Stay tuned. 

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