Balinskis played one game with the Checkers, scoring his first career AHL goal

The Florida Panthers are bringing back defenseman Uvis Balinskis after a quick stint in the American Hockey League.

Balinskis was loaned to the AHL’s Charlotte Checkers by Florida on Friday.

He was there just long enough to suit up for his first career AHL game, scoring a goal in Charlotte’s 5-2 home loss to the Hershey Bears on Saturday night.

On Sunday, the Panthers summoned the 27-year-old first-year NHL'er back to South Florida. 

The move was reflected on both the AHL transaction log and Florida's official roster on the NHL Media website. 

Before being loaned to Charlotte, Balinskis had been a healthy scratch in six of the Panthers past seven games.

The lack of playing time had nothing to do with his level of play.

Balinskis was a casualty of Florida’s health, with the addition of Aaron Ekblad and Brandon Montour to the active roster last month creating a ripple effect that saw the departure of Mike Reilly – claimed off waivers by the New York Islanders – and the drop in ice time for Balinskis.

Florida now carries eight defensemen on a full 23-man roster.

The Panthers will next be in action on Wednesday when they host the Dallas Stars at Amerant Bank Arena.  

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