Panthers make a lineup decision on Sandis Vilmanis ahead of the Red Wings game

Sandis Vilmanis is back in the Panthers lineup tonight against Detroit, per Jameson Olive, who relayed the word from Paul Maurice.

UPDATE (3:31 PM ET): Jameson Olive's post that Schmid is in net tonight is the only item here the article doesn't already treat as unconfirmed. Until now the piece had only George Richards and RotoWire pointing to Akira Schmid, so this is the first word tied to Paul Maurice's decisions.

The rest of the new posts, Vilmanis on the ice at the morning skate and Maurice's "just relief" quote, are already covered above.

UPDATE (2:29 PM ET): Nothing in the new posts goes beyond what the article already covers. George Richards' note on Sandis Vilmanis skating this morning, Jameson Olive's report on the Lundell and Luostarinen line, and Paul Maurice's "just relief" quote are all in the piece above.

I'd hold the update until something new comes in, such as a confirmed starter in net or further comments from Maurice.

UPDATE (1:58 PM ET): The new posts add nothing that the article doesn't already cover. Jameson Olive's quote from Paul Maurice about feeling "just relief" and the update on Sandis Vilmanis being on the ice at the morning skate are both already in the piece, as is David Dwork's report on the goalie. I'd hold off on publishing an update until a new fact comes in, such as a confirmed starter in net or further comments from Maurice.

UPDATE (1:27 PM ET): Paul Maurice said he felt "just relief" that Sandis Vilmanis will miss only two games, according to Jameson Olive. "It could have been real bad," the coach said. "Took a bunch of pictures and had a bunch of smart guys look at it and say it wasn't bad. It was just going to be as pain tolerated."

George Richards notes this is the second meeting with the Red Wings in just over a week. David Dwork also reports Florida is turning back to a familiar face in goal.

It's his first game since Tom Wilson boarded him Saturday, and the winger was on the ice at this morning's skate, according to George Richards. Jack Devine is the player who comes out.

Olive passed along Maurice's decision this morning:

Vilmanis is listed as day-to-day on the latest injury report, with an undisclosed injury and an expected absence through at least Nov. 14. Playing tonight puts him ahead of that estimate. We followed the aftermath of the hit in our coverage of the Wilson ruling over the weekend.

He slots in with Anton Lundell and Eetu Luostarinen, according to Olive.

The reasoning behind the lineup is simple. Maurice wants to keep Carter Verhaeghe, Sam Reinhart and Lars Eller together after what Olive described as a great game in Columbus.

That trio has been productive. Verhaeghe has 10 goals and Reinhart has 10 goals and 18 points through 19 games, so Maurice isn't touching it.

Olive added the line combination in a second post:

Why Jack Devine is the one who sits

Devine has played just one game this season and doesn't have a point. He is pointless in 7 career NHL games, and a healthy Vilmanis, with 3 goals and 4 assists in 16 games, is the clear call on the left side.

Someone had to come out, and the unit that just worked in Columbus was never going to be it. Devine drew the short straw, which is a tough spot for a 2022 seventh-round pick trying to stick.

In goal, Richards points to Akira Schmid for the Panthers against Detroit, and RotoWire has him as well. It isn't a confirmed start. Richards posted it this morning:

Schmid has played 9 games this season, while Jacob Markstrom started in Columbus. Maurice hasn't been shy about rotating his goalies.

Detroit has lost 4 straight and sits 26th in the NHL, so the Panthers have a chance to build on the 4-1 win over the Blue Jackets Tuesday. Barkov and Marchand are still on the mend, as we told you in our update on Maurice's timeline.

More to come.

This article was written with the help of artificial intelligence, based on public reports and official sources.