Feb 27, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers center Aleksander Barkov (16) looks on against the Edmonton Oilers during the first period at Amerant Bank Arena. (Sam Navarro-Imagn Images) [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/bf4d6648-a986-447d-8183-2ab1c635a4e9.jpeg] Feb 27, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers center Aleksander Barkov (16) looks on against the Edmonton Oilers during the first period at Amerant Bank Arena. (Sam Navarro-Imagn Images) The Florida Panthers will have a full roster for Game 3 against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Panthers Captain Sasha Barkov was on the ice for pregame warmups and will be in the lineup after being deemed a game-time decision by Head Coach Paul Maurice. Barkov left Game 2 in Tampa midway through the third period after taking an illegal hit from Lightning forward Brandon Hagel, who was given a five-minute major for interference. Hagel has since been suspended for Game 3 by the NHL Department of Player Safety as a result of the hit, and it was unknown whether Barkov would be able to play. Well, now we know that Barkov is good to go. He'll skate on the Panthers top line, flanked by Carter Verhaeghe and Sam Reinhart. Florida will also welcome defenseman Aaron Ekbald back into the lineup after the top pairing defenseman finished serving a 20-game suspension for violating the terms of the NHL/NHLPA Performance Enhancing Substances Program. Here is how the Panthers lined up during pregame warmups: Carter Verhaeghe – Sasha Barkov – Sam Reinhart Evan Rodrigues – Sam Bennett – Matthew Tkachuk Eetu Luostarinen – Anton Lundell – Brad Marchand Jesper Boqvist – Nico Sturm – Mackie Samoskevich Gus Forsling – Aaron Ekblad Niko Mikkola – Seth Jones Nate Schmidt – Dmitry Kulikov LATEST STORIES FROM THE HOCKEY NEWS - FLORIDA Ekblad set to return, Hagel suspended as Panthers seek to take stranglehold on series with Tampa Bay [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/latest-news/ekblad-set-to-return-hagel-suspended-as-panthers-seek-to-take-stranglehold-on-series-with-tampa-bay] Panthers' Nate Schmidt Ties NHL Record With Hot Playoff Start [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/latest-news/panthers-nate-schmidt-ties-nhl-record-with-hot-playoff-start] The Hockey Show: Playoff madness with Adnan Virk, including reaction to Hagel hit on Barkov [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/latest-news/the-hockey-show-playoff-madness-with-adnan-virk-including-reaction-to-hagel-hit-on-barkov] Sasha Barkov status for Game 3 remains unknown following illegal hit from Brandon Hagel [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/latest-news/sasha-barkov-status-for-game-3-remains-unknown-following-illegal-hit-from-brandon-hagel] Sergei Bobrovsky locked back into playoff-mode, providing elite goaltending for Panthers [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/players/sergei-bobrovsky-locked-back-into-playoff-mode-providing-elite-goaltending-for-panthers]
