1. Are Barkov, Ekblad, and Forsling Back Yet?
It's no secret to anyone that these three players carry a huge impact and influence on how well the Florida Panthers do or how capably they're able to compete on a nightly basis. When any one of these three are absent, they are sorely missed and it is immediately apparent to anyone watching.
Of the three players out currently, Gustav Forsling and Aleksander Barkov are the most likely to draw back in soon; I, personally, am not expecting Aaron Ekblad back for at least 2-3 more weeks.
At any rate, despite the absence of these players playing a huge role in the Cats' recent backslide, I would much rather them rest and get back to 100% before taking the ice again. At this point in the season, I'd rather head into the postseason with a fully healthy roster than already be dealing with injuries in the early rounds of the playoffs. That being said, the first key to success is to have at least one of these three draw back into the lineup.