Panthers forward Evan Rodrigues speaks after Florida's 7-5 win in Philadelphia on Dec. 5. The Florida Panthers should have their main goaltending tandem back together when they take the ice again on Saturday. Last week, Florida embarked on a two-game road trip through Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. Before departing, the Cats made a couple roster moves, loaning rookie Mackie Samoskevich to the AHL’s Charlotte Checkers and calling up goaltender Chris Driedger. Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjAwNjE3OTM2NjIzMjQ4NDky/img_6014.jpg] Florida needed a goaltender for their road trip because starting tendie Sergei Bobrovsky stayed back home with his wife Olga as they awaited the birth of their second child. Samoskevich was sent down because he is waivers exempt, meaning Florida did not have to risk passing him through waivers and potentially lose him to another team’s claim. Friday, as the Panthers returned to South Florida from their trip, they also made a roster move, returning Driedger to Charlotte, according to the AHL Transaction Log. That would indicate it will be Bobrovsky and Spencer Knight back together as Florida’s 1-2 punch in goal when they host the San Jose Sharks on Saturday night. Knight played both games on the Cats’ trip through Pennsylvania earning a 1-0-1 record while allowing 10 goals on 50 shots. It certainly wasn’t his best body of work, but overall, the youngster still holds a 5-4-1 record and 2.84 goals against average, though his save percentage has dipped down to .890 on the season. As for Samoskevich, while a move has not been formally announced, he is returning to Panthers in a corresponding move, per source. The youngster is having a strong rookie season in the NHL and he really seemed to pick things up of late. Of the five goals and nine points that he’s logged through 22 games, all but an assist have come during his past 13 outings. Whether either Samoskevich or Bobrovsky will be in Florida’s lineup on Saturday is yet to be determined. Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice will likely address the lineup when the team holds a morning skate on Saturday ahead of their matchup with San Jose that night. Florida is currently riding a five-game point streak, going 4-0-1 over the past 10 days. UPDATE: Florida has since made the moves official [https://twitter.com/FlaPanthers/status/1865162538289189032]. LATEST STORIES FROM THE HOCKEY NEWS - FLORIDA Three takeaways: A win to forget, Panthers power play rolling [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/latest-news/three-takeaways-a-win-to-forget-panthers-power-play-rolling] Tkachuk, Reinhart shine as Panthers win wild game in Philadelphia [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/game-day/tkachuk-reinhart-shine-as-panthers-win-wild-game-in-philadelphia] Panthers wrap up quick road trip in Philly against surging Flyers [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/game-day/panthers-wrap-up-quick-road-trip-in-philly-against-surging-flyers] Anton Lundell, Eetu Luostarinen, Niko Mikkola join Sasha Barkov on Finland 4 Nations roster [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/latest-news/anton-lundell-eetu-luostarinen-niko-mikkola-join-sasha-barkov-on-finland-4-nations-roster] Three takeaways: Odd game for Panthers, Knight struggles in Pittsburgh [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/latest-news/three-takeaways-odd-game-for-panthers-knight-struggles-in-pittsburgh] Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjAxNjQxMjA5NjI4NzMxMDIz/unnamed.jpg]
