ST. LOUIS (AP) — St. Louis Blues forward Robert Thomas, who is second on the team with 33 points, will take a temporary leave of absence because of a personal matter.
Blues president of hockey operations and general manager Doug Armstrong announced the leave of absence on Wednesday.
Thomas is expected to return to the team on Friday.
In 42 games, Thomas has 11 goals and 22 assists. He was placed on injured reserve on Jan. 16 with a lower body injury and has not returned. He made his last appearance in a game on Jan. 10 against the Vegas Golden Knights.
Feb 18, 2026; Port St. Lucie, FL, USA; New York Mets pitcher Jonah Tong (21) throws a pitch during spring training workouts at Clover Park. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-Imagn Images | Reinhold Matay-Imagn Images
Mets lineup
Carson Benge – RF
Juan Soto – LF
Francisco Alvarez – DH
Mark Vientos – 1B
Hayden Senger – C
Christian Arroyo – 3B
Vidal Brujan – SS
Cristian Pache – CF
Grae Kessinger – 2B
Jonah Tong – RHP
Cardinals lineup
JJ Wetherholt – SS
Jose Fermin – 2B
Nolan Gorman – 3B
Nelson Velazquez – RF
Leonardo Bernal – C
Nathan Church – CF
Joshua Baez – DH
Blaze Jordan – 1B
Chase Davis – LF
Richard Fitts – RHP
Broadcast info
First pitch: 1:10 PM EST TV: PIX11 Radio: Audacy Mets Radio WHSQ 880AM, Audacy App, 92.3 HD2
The Pittsburgh Pirates are on the road against the Atlanta Braves, where they will try and pick up another win.
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Feb 19, 2026; PortCharlotte, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Brody Hopkins (88) poses for a photo during media day at Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images | Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
The Tampa Bay Rays top overall prospect will make his spring debut this afternoon, getting the start against the Baltimore Orioles.
There isn’t any radio coverage today, but the Orioles are broadcasting the game so it can be seen on MLB.tv.
That's all sharpshooting Hornets rookie Kon Knueppel needed to get to 200 3-pointers made — he set a new NBA record for fastest to 200 3s, besting former record holder Duncan Robinson by 11 games.
200 THREES FOR KON KNUEPPEL
He got there in just 58 games... the fastest player to reach that mark in NBA history! pic.twitter.com/TV7CZYNXlo
Knueppel has made an NBA-leading 201 3-pointers this season and needs just six more to pass Sacramento's Keegan Murray for the most threes made by a rookie.
Knueppel is averaging 19.3 points and 3.5 made 3-pointers a game while shooting 43.6% from beyond the arc. What really has him neck-and-neck with Dallas Cooper Flagg for Rookie of the Year is that Knueppel has shown off more playmaking and offensive diversity than was expected, as is the fact that he's doing this for a hot Hornets team that appears headed to the play-in in the East.
Who would have thought just two years ago that a Pistons vs. Thunder game would be getting flexed onto ESPN because both teams are number 1 in the Conference. Obviously, that isn’t a huge surprise for the reigning NBA Champs, but the Pistons lost 28 games in a row just 2 years ago, they aren’t supposed to be here this fast.
Monday’s game against the San Antonio Spurs lived up to the hype, but the Pistons ultimately fell as their offense sputtered in the 2nd half. With how reliant they are on inside shooting, facing off against a game-wrecker like Victor Wembanyama is not a good matchup. The Spurs might be the worst matchup for the Pistons for that reason alone.
This isn’t to downplay the Thunder at all, they have the best record in the West for a reason and also sport the number 1 defense in the NBA, just in front of the Pistons. They have length, they are physical, and play just like the Pistons, so this game could get ugly.
Game Vitals
Where: Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, MI When: Wednesday, February 25 at 7:30 pm EST Watch: ESPN or Fan Duel Sports Network Detroit Odds: Detroit (-7.5)
Analysis
You might be looking at those odds and be in shock, but there is a pretty good reason for it. The Thunder will be without Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and Ajay Mitchell. That does not mean that this will be an easy game. Just like the Pistons, the Thunder are a very deep team and their defensive infrastructure is still in place no matter who is on the court.
It goes without saying how important SGA and Jalen Williams are to the Thunder, but missing Ajay Mitchell is a very underrated loss. He has been a key player off the bench during his breakout season after going in the 2nd round last year. Just another example of the rich getting richer.
With those 3 players out, the Thunder will be forced to rely on Chet Holmgren and Cason Wallace to provide more offense. Both players are capable of providing more on offense, but there is a reason why they are complements to SGA and Jalen Williams to a lesser extent.
One player who has really stepped up in the absence of SGA is Isaiah Joe, who scored 22 points on 6-11 shooting from beyond the arc last night against the Raptors. He also had the exact same shooting line in a win against the Cavaliers on Sunday. He is a lethal shooter who can take over a game if left open, so the Pistons will need to adjust their defensive gameplan so they are not leaving him open like they did for the Spurs shooters on Monday.
The easy explanation for that is that the San Antonio Spurs have Victor Wembanyama, who is such a threat on both ends of the court that you have to change everything about how you play in order to stop him. For the Pistons, that meant putting extra pressure on him and leaving shooters open and letting your half court offense get completely stifled by his rim pressence.
Luckily, the Thunder don’t have anybody like Wemby. Chet Homgren is close, especially on defense, but he doesn’t have the same length and can be put in check a little bit with physicality. He also is not as skilled on offense, but can still make you pay if you don’t guard him. Whether he is able to step up offensively is a key factor in this game, as he is coming off a 7-point performance against the Raptors last night.
I would not be surprised to see some Paul Reed and Jalen Duren minutes to counter the Holmgren-Hartenstein frontcourt. This would have been a great matchup to unleash the Isaiah Stewart-Jalen Duren frontcourt, but Stewart is still out with his suspension. Tobias Harris should be able to handle Holmgren for some of the game, but is at a severe size disadvantage.
Another reason for the offensive struggles for the Pistons against the Spurs on Monday, and Cade Cunningham in particular, was the constant ball pressure by Stephon Castle. He was able to stay in front of him and had the strength to match his physicality. Castle is near the top of the list of defenders in the league capable of givng Cade Cunningham trouble.
Cason Wallace is at that level on defense with being able to pressure the ball and stay on his man, but he doesn’t quite have the size that Stephon Castle has, so the Thunder may opt to have Lu Dort guard Cade so he cannot get into rhythm offensively by outmuscling a smaller guard.
There is a reason these two teams are the top two teams in the league defensively, both are very physical and great at playing passing lanes to generate turnovers. With SGA being out, the Pistons are at least on an even playing field offensively, so this could be a very ugly game that ends with double digit scores for both teams.
With how tough the Pistons schedule is this week and next week, facing the Thunder while missing three key players is the perfect time to face them, so the Pistons need to take advantage of it. Don’t let the odds fool you, the Pistons have a great shot at winning, but the Thunder are where they are for a reason and it will not be easy.
PHOENIX, AZ - FEBRUARY 24: Jalen Green #4 of the Phoenix Suns handles the ball during the game against the Boston Celtics on February 24, 2026 at PHX Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
When the Phoenix Suns moved Kevin Durant to Houston last summer, the financial backbone of that deal centered on Jalen Green. The deal could not have happened without his $33.6 million price tag. At the same time, Phoenix brought in a young, explosive, athletic guard, along with Dillon Brooks and future draft capital. Green was the most fascinating piece of the return. He arrived with upside, volatility, and the kind of ceiling that still invites conversation about what he can become.
Green’s time in Houston did not close the way anyone with the Rockets hoped for or envisioned. He spent a season as the primary scoring option, averaging 21.0 points on 42/35/81 shooting splits. The postseason told a different story. Over seven games, he averaged 13.3 points on 37/30/67. Houston supported him the way teams typically do with young talent, and eventually pivoted, sending him to Phoenix as part of their push to acquire Durant and accelerate their timeline.
He is one of the most intriguing players on the Suns roster. Maybe the most. Jalen Green fits cleanly into the “new place, new opportunity, different results” narrative. A change of scenery can matter, and Phoenix represents that chance. At the same time, this opportunity carries real weight. This is not a Ryan Dunn conversation. This is not a late first round pick on a rookie scale deal. Green was the second overall pick in 2021. And he has two years left, totaling $72.3 million.
That reality turns this season into a meaningful evaluation. The Suns need to understand who he is, what he can be, and how he fits into their long-term picture. That was always the plan, even before the season tipped. Injuries disrupted the timeline. A hamstring issue cost him 48 games in what was supposed to be a defining year for both player and organization. Now the questions sharpen. Following this season, do the Suns continue to give him runway, space to grow, room to fail, and the opportunity to respond? Or do they begin gauging his value on the open market and make decisions with the broader future in mind?
Injuries continue to shape the evaluation of Jalen Green, and they are muddying the picture in real time. During his first extended stretch of health this season, he is not playing in the role the Suns actually need to study. With Devin Booker sidelined and without Dillon Brooks enforcing, Green has slid into the primary option role. We already know what that version looks like. Houston gave him plenty of runway in that role, and the results are well documented.
Even in this limited sample, and within a role he is not built to sustain, familiar tendencies are creeping back in. Inefficiency. Inaccuracy. Three-point attempts that stall possessions and tilt momentum the wrong way.
In the last 3 games, Jalen Green is 17-of-60 from the field (29.3%) and 4-of-26 from three-point range (15.4%). pic.twitter.com/ItIFS6jGsp
If you look at the last three games, the numbers are rough. He is shooting 28.3% from the field on 20.0 attempts per game. From three, he is at 15.4%, with four makes on 26 attempts, one of those being the game-winner against Orlando. You can acknowledge the rust, given how much time he spent in street clothes earlier this season, but it still grabs your attention. Not as a conclusion, more as a note being written in pencil.
This is not the moment to pass judgment. It is part of the evaluation, not the verdict.
There is still a long runway ahead for Jalen Green, and more opportunity for him to settle into a defined role once that role actually exists again. We have seen him operate as a number one in Houston, but this environment is different. With injuries piling up, he is pressing, trying to ignite the offense on his own. At times, that urge turns into forcing the issue, and you can feel it possession to possession.
Jalen Green is the kind of player you want to root for. The personality pops. The athleticism is undeniable. The upside is obvious. If it all ever clicks, the deal looks like a steal for Phoenix. Having someone with that kind of quick twitch, someone who can get to the rim whenever he wants and do it with real explosion, is not something this franchise has had in a long time. Gerald Green is probably the closest comparison, and even he had a ceiling. That is the concern here. Jalen Green likely has one too, and given the contract and the investment, the window to understand what that ceiling is feels smaller.
The hope is that this stretch ends up as a blip. That the rust fades. That efficiency starts to follow. Because when he is right, you can feel how much gravity he carries. He is a microwave scorer who can tilt a game in a hurry and shoulder an offense for stretches. That version exists. It becomes harder to access without Devin Booker on the floor, when defenses can load up and treat Green as the primary every possession. Still, recognizing those coverages and navigating them is part of growth.
Right now, with the roster thinned and the responsibility shifted, Green is being asked to carry real weight. So far, that load has been heavy. The hope is that as health returns and roles settle, things begin to look different.
This is the uncomfortable middle of the evaluation, where inefficiency is loud, and answers are still quiet. The shooting has been rough, the decision-making uneven, and the burden heavier than the role he is ultimately meant to carry. All of that is real, and it deserves to be acknowledged. It is also not a reason to panic.
This stretch is information, not a conclusion. Green is playing through rust, injuries around him have distorted the ecosystem, and the context matters. The Suns are not searching for perfection right now. They are collecting data, watching habits, and learning how he responds when things are hard. That process takes time, and patience is still the most valuable currency they have.
The NHL returns to action tonight, and we’ve got a marquee matchup between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Tampa Bay Lightning to kick things off.
Matthew Knies has been a thorn in the Lightning's side, which is why he's the subject of our Maple Leafs vs. Lightning predictions and NHL picks for Wednesday, February 25.
Maple Leafs vs Lightning prediction
Maple Leafs vs Lightning best bet: Matthew Knies anytime goal (+300)
Knies has scored 10 goals in 10 career games against the Lightning, including at least one goal in six of his last nine, which includes a hat-trick performance on April 9 of last season.
He’s also scored four goals in the five meetings against Andrei Vasilevskiy, who has struggled against the Leafs recently.
The perennial Vezina candidate has a 3.62 GAA and an .874 SV% over his last 10 meetings against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Maple Leafs vs Lightning same-game parlay
This matchup typically yields high-scoring games, which is why I’ll add Over 5.5 to my SGP. The total has gone Over the number in five of the last six meetings. Plus, with three weeks off, it could get sloppy, which often leads to higher-scoring games.
Auston Matthews returns to the Leafs a winner. I believe he’ll parlay his Olympic success into a shooting bonanza tonight and go Over his 3.5 shot total. He averages 5.4 shots per game in his last 10 meetings against Tampa.
Maple Leafs vs Lightning SGP
Knies to score
Matthews Over 3.5 shots
Over 5.5
Maple Leafs vs Lightning odds
Moneyline: Maple Leafs +185 | Lightning -225
Puck Line: Maple Leafs +1.5 (-135) | Lightning -1.5 (+115)
Over/Under: Over 6 | Under 6
Maple Leafs vs Lightning trend
The Maple Leafs are 8-2 on the moneyline in the last ten meetings between these two clubs. Find more NHL betting trends for Maple Leafs vs. Lightning.
How to watch Maple Leafs vs Lightning
Location
Benchmark International Arena, Tampa, FL
Date
Wednesday, February 25, 2026
Puck drop
7:30 p.m. ET
TV
TNT, HBO Max
Maple Leafs vs Lightning latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
In the responses to our last question, it seemed that people were generally expecting there to be a lockout at the end of this season, when the current Collective Bargaining Agreement expires. The duration and impact of that lockout is considerably less certain. But to follow up on that, today I wanted to get your opinions on what the impact of that lockout might be – in particular, with regard to the Diamondbacks.
What would a lockout do to this team? Which players or plans get derailed the most?
There are a whole number of levels at which you can look at this. Obviously, there will be a loss of revenue, and while the players may be on strike, that does not mean that all expenditure goes down to zero for the D-backs. On the roster level, it’ll potentially be a year lost for players under contract. But also a year gained for player development (albeit without formal competition, young prospects will still get older and stronger, and can gain experience outside of minor-league settings). Let’s presume the entire 2027 season is lost. Where will the team sit at the end of that year?
CLEARWATER, FL - FEBRUARY 22: The Philly Phanatic performs prior to the spring training baseball game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and Philadelphia Phillies at BayCare Ballpark on February 22, 2026 in Clearwater, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Feb 20, 2026; Surprise, Arizona, USA; Former Kansas City Royals Mike Moustakas and Texas Rangers manager Skip Schumaker (55) exchange line up cards prior to the game at Surprise Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images | Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
After months of waiting, the Kansas City Royals are back on the field. Granted, it’s for Spring Training games, but still–you can watch professional baseball players in actual games against other teams. The Royals last played a game on September 28, 2025, so it’s been almost five months since diehard Kansas City baseball fans were able to watch their team.
We all know that baseball is a marathon, which is part of its charm. The National Football League plays 17 regular season games a year. The National Basketball Association plays 82 regular season games a year, with the National Hockey League moving to 84 games a year soon. Major League Baseball? MLB blows them out of the water with 162 regular season games a year.
Nick Kappel, the Royals’ director of media relations, posted this, which really puts into perspective what is about to play out over the coming months:
Good morning, Kansas City!
Starting today, the @Royals will play 194 games over the next 220 days.
The Royals played their first game a few days ago on February 20. Their last scheduled game is on September 27. That means that, outside the four-day All-Star break, Kansas City will have played a baseball game in nine out of every 10 days for over seven consecutive months.
Don’t get me wrong–I’m glad the Royals are back to playing baseball. I prefer when it’s baseball season to when it’s not baseball season. But at the same time, I wonder if MLB’s total number of regular season games has surpassed the point of diminishing returns, and that a return to the 154-game regular season is the way to go.
From 1904 through 1960, MLB had a 154-game season except for a few outlier seasons like immediately following World War I. The league only shifted to 162 games coinciding with the American League’s 1961 expansion. So many legendary MLB players played all of or most of their careers before the 162-game season, from Babe Ruth to Jackie Robinson, Ted Williams, and Stan Musial.
The argument for a 154-game season is that it maintains baseball’s unique cadence while eliminating the “filler” that happens in a 162-game season, and we can think of this on two core axes.
The first axis here is simply player quality. You want your best players to play all your games, but a 162-game season is grueling and very few players play in the whole thing. Last year, only 6 hitters played in 162 games, and only 22 starting pitchers made 32 or more starts. Every time one of the clear best players in the league doesn’t play, they are replaced by a less talented and less exciting player. Meanwhile, there were 51 hitters who played in 154 games, and 54 starting pitchers who made 30 or more starts–all of whom would have played every possible game in a shorter season.
The other axis here is game quality. There are some games that are just not attractive for fans or teams alike, and those games are early-season weekday games. That’s when the weather is the most questionable, when school is in full swing, and when teams haven’t built up excitement in the product. I took a look at the five least-attended home games for each of the AL Central teams last year, and the results are just about what you’d expect for those 25 games:
19 were April games
5 of the non-April games happened when teams were 9+ games behind first place
24 were Monday-Thursday games
0 were Saturday/Sunday games
You can’t just cut eight Monday-Thursday games in April and call it a day. But you can do some of that, and also cut weekday games throughout the year to provide more off days.
While it seems unlikely that the union or the owners would want to cut 120 games off the books, it can be balanced in two ways. First, increase the divisional series to seven games to get multiple high-revenue playoff games on the books. Second, timing it alongside an expansion from 30 to 32 teams would increase the total games played from 2,430 to 2,464.
Baseball will never get to a truly short season, and it shouldn’t. However, cutting just a few games from the calendar could have a knockdown effect that gives everyone a breather and just might result in a better product.
Boston and Denver hook up in the marquee matchup of the night, and our NBA player prop projections have circled some of the best edges in this showdown.
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Celtics computer picks
Payton Pritchard Over 3.5 rebounds (+100)
Projection: 4.5 rebounds
Payton Pritchard plays bigger than his size when it comes to rebounding. He tracks long misses well and stays active around the perimeter. The projection has Pritchard clearing four boards with room to spare, and at plus money, that edge matters.
He's gone Over this number in three of his last four games.
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Neemias Queta Over 8.5 points (-112)
Projection: 10.0 points
Neemias Queta doesn’t need isolation touches to score. Rim runs, dump-offs, and put-backs are enough to push him toward double digits. The model projects Queta right around 10, giving this Over a clean cushion.
He's gone Over this number in three straight games with just 21 total field goal attempts.
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Sam Hauser Over 9.5 points (-115)
Projection: 10.9 points
Sam Hauser’s role is simple: space the floor and shoot. If he gets his usual volume from deep, this number is well within reach. The projection puts Hauser close to 11, which makes 10 points a reasonable expectation.
He's gone Over this total in three of his last four games.
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Nuggets computer picks
Nikola Jokic Under 28.5 points (-120)
Projection: 25.8 points
Nikola Jokic can explode at any time, but the model sees more distribution than domination. If the defense sends help and forces the ball out early, Jokic’s scoring settles into the mid-20s. That gives this Under a solid path.
He's stayed Under this number in four of his last six games.
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Cameron Johnson Over 11.5 points (-112)
Projection: 12.8 points
Cameron Johnson doesn’t need high usage to clear this number. A few clean looks from three and one trip to the line puts him on pace. The projection has Johnson nearly a full bucket above the line.
He's gone Over this number in two of his last three games.
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Jamal Murray Under 23.5 points (-120)
Projection: 22.3 points
Jamal Murray’s ceiling is obvious, but the projection leans slightly Under here. If shot volume dips or he shifts into more of a facilitator role, Murray lands closer to 22 than 25. It’s a thin edge — but still an edge.
He's gone Under this number in two of his last three games.
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How to watch Celtics vs Nuggets tonight
Location
Ball Arena, Denver, CO
Date
Wednesday, February 25, 2026
Tip-off
10:00 p.m. ET
TV
ESPN
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SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 24: Hunter Brown #58 of the Houston Astros pitches against the Athletics in the bottom of the second inning of a major league baseball game at Sutter Health Park on September 24, 2025 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
RHP Hunter Brown, who was announced by Joe Espada as the Astros Opening Day starter, will make his Spring debut today. In 2025, Brown established himself as one of the top starters in the Majors, going 12-9 in 31 starts with a 2.43 ERA with 206 strikeouts in 185.1 innings of work. Among AL starters, Brown ranked second in ERA and Quality Starts (21), third in strikeouts (206), fourth in WHIP (1.03) and fourth in pitching WAR (4.8). Brown was named to his first All-Star team and finished third in the voting for the AL Cy Young Award. He also earned AL Pitcher of the Month honors for June (1.19 ERA, .130 opp. avg.) and his season included a 28.0-inning scoreless inning streak in 2025.
Game Info
Game Date/Time: Wednesday, February 25, 12:10 p.m. CST
Location: Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium, Jupiter, FL
CURRENT CAMP NUMBERS: The Astros have 66 players at Major League Spring Training, including a full 40-man roster and 26 non-roster invitees…the roster consists of 36 pitchers, eight catchers, 12 infielders and 10 outfielders.
PORT ST. LUCIE, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 16: Francisco Lindor #12 and Carlos Mendoza #64 of the New York Mets look on during spring training workouts at Clover Park on February 16, 2026 in Port St. Lucie, Florida. (Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Carlos Mendoza provided an update on Francisco Lindor to the media today, saying that the Mets’ shortstop can restart “impact” activities in 2-3 days after having the stitches removed from his surgically repaired left hand on Tuesday.
Lindor underwent surgery on February 11 to repair a stress fracture in his left hamate bone and the estimated recovery time was six weeks, putting him on track to return right around Opening Day. Lindor is progressing as expected, according to Mendoza, and is still on track to meet that timeline provided all goes well as he resumes baseball activities. He has been present at Port St. Lucie with his teammates, but not an active participation in spring training thus far. However, that should change soon.
What is less clear is how long it may take Lindor’s power to return once he starts swinging the bat again. Baseball players are particularly susceptible to hamate injuries and in fact, multiple other players suffered hamate injuries right around the same time Lindor did this spring. Though the surgery recovery timeline is fairly standard, some players suffer lingering effects, particularly in the power department. However, the majority of players have good outcomes. The only thing that will determine which bucket Lindor falls into is time.
Speaking of time, Lindor has missed very little of it since coming to the Mets, despite playing through discomfort on a few occasions. The 32-year-old also underwent right elbow debridement surgery following the conclusion of the 2025 season, but there is not any evidence that has hindered him at all this spring. Though Lindor should be able to take the field for the Mets on March 26 as scheduled, his hamate injury has prevented him from participating in the World Baseball Classic for Team Puerto Rico, which plays its first game on March 6 against Colombia.
It’s been a long road for Dmitry Kulikov and Tomas Nosek, but with their recent upgrade from non-contact jerseys to full participants, their return to game action is near.
While the NHL was on pause, Kulikov and Nosek had begun participating in Florida Panthers practices, skating without contact. Prior to the Olympic break, they had both been seen skating in private groups.
Kulikov had played just two games before suffering a torn labrum. The 35-year-old rejoined the Panthers in the 2023 off-season, following their loss to the Vegas Golden Knights in the Stanley Cup final.
He’s played a vital role for the Panthers in their back-to-back Stanley Cup wins, and they’ve missed his defensive abilities and physical nature on the back end.
On Dec. 30, coach Paul Maurice spoke to the media and said the Panthers anticipate Kulikov's return in mid-March. With the way he’s progressed in his return, he appears to be on track to do so.
As for Nosek, he hasn’t played a game this season after undergoing off-season surgery to repair a knee injury. Maurice and the Panthers’ staff haven’t been as open about when Nosek could return to the lineup. They’ve approached his injury situation with patience and have been taking it day by day.
While it’s unknown when Nosek could make his season debut, he’s cleared multiple steps in his recovery and is now ramping up to get into game shape. He could return to the Panthers’ lineup at some point in March.
The Panthers will host the Toronto Maple Leafs tomorrow in a critical playoff hopeful matchup.
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Celtics
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