Panthers' Dmitry Kulikov: Garners helper in overtime loss
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Kulikov registered an assist, two PIM and a plus-2 rating in Tuesday's 5-4 overtime loss to the Penguins.
Kulikov snapped a seven-game dry spell with the helper. That's his longest slump this season, as the 34-year-old defenseman has remained involved in the offense in a bottom-four role. He's now at six points, 26 shots on net, 42 hits, 23 blocked shots and a plus-12 rating through 26 appearances. Kulikov's offense is likely to be too limited to help most fantasy managers.
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Panthers' Dmitry Kulikov: Nets goal Saturday
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Kulikov scored a goal, took three shots and recorded two hits in Saturday's 5-0 win over the Jets.
Kulikov has scored twice in his last four appearances, but fantasy managers shouldn't get overly excited. He's cracked the scoresheet just five times all season long, so Kulikov shouldn't have a lot of upside in standard leagues despite averaging 20:22 of ice time per game for one of the best teams in the league.
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Panthers' Dmitry Kulikov: Tallies in shootout win
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Kulikov scored a goal on two shots, blocked two shots and went plus-2 in Saturday's 4-3 shootout win over the Flyers.
Kulikov ended a four-game dry spell with his second-period tally. The defenseman is up to four points, 14 shots on net, 24 hits, 14 blocked shots and a plus-8 rating through 15 contests. He's filling a second-pairing role this season, but it comes with no power-play time, so don't expect him to do much more than the 20 points he produced over 76 regular-season outings in 2023-24.
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Panthers' Dmitry Kulikov: Chips in with helper
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Kulikov notched an assist, two shots on goal, two hits and two PIM in Thursday's 3-1 win over the Rangers.
Kulikov picked up his second point of the campaign when he helped out on a Sam Bennett tally. The 33-year-old Kulikov has seven shots on net, 21 hits, six blocked shots, four PIM and a minus-1 rating through nine appearances. He's more of a shutdown defenseman and is paired with Niko Mikkola, who plays a similar game. Kulikov could be useful in banger leagues, but he doesn't offer much offense.
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Panthers' Dmitry Kulikov: Scores in Tuesday's win
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Kulikov scored a goal and went plus-3 in Tuesday's 4-3 win over the Blue Jackets.
Kulikov's goal was initially credited to Sam Reinhart, but the defenseman's shot got through cleanly to tie the game at 2-2 at 11:59 of the second period. Even in a seven-defenseman lineup, Kulikov was able to log 19:20 of ice time -- he's been above 18 minutes in four of the Panthers' first five games. The 33-year-old blueliner's goal was his first point of the season to go with three shots on net, seven hits and four blocked shots as he occupies a top-four role.
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Panthers' Dmitry Kulikov: Staying with Stanley Cup champs
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Kulikov penned a four-year, $4.6 million contract with the Panthers on Monday, Bob McKenzie of TSN reports.
Kulikov appears to be enjoying his second stint with Florida, having started his career with the club after being selected 14th overall in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. Considering the veteran blueliner hasn't recorded a power-play point since the 2016-17 campaign when he was with the Sabres, fantasy managers probably shouldn't be expecting more than 20-25 points out of Kulikov this upcoming season.
Kulikov notched an assist in Monday's 2-1 win over the Oilers in Game 7.
Kulikov's only two points in the playoffs were both assists, and they came in the last two games. The defenseman added 56 hits, 25 blocked shots and a minus-1 rating while playing in a bottom-pairing role over 24 postseason appearances. The 33-year-old is set to be an unrestricted free agent this summer, one of three regulars on the Panthers' blue line that could hit the open market July 1.
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Panthers' Dmitry Kulikov: Nabs helper in loss
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Kulikov posted an assist, two shots on goal and four hits in Friday's 5-1 loss to the Oilers in Game 6.
The helper was Kulikov's first point since April 4, ending a 27-game dry spell that had covered all of the Panthers' postseason run. While his offense has been absent, the 33-year-old blueliner has racked up 55 hits, 25 blocked shots and a minus-1 rating over 23 playoff appearances. He's been a fixture in a third-pairing role, though that's not one that comes with much ice time given the talented defensemen on the Panthers' roster.
Kulikov will be eligible to play Sunday against Philadelphia after serving his two-game suspension.
Kulikov received a two-game ban for an illegal check to the head on Tampa Bay's Conor Sheary on March 16. The 33-year-old Kulikov has collected 16 assists, 61 shots on goal, 70 blocked shots and 121 hits in 64 contests this campaign. With Aaron Ekblad (lower body) unavailable and Gustav Forsling (illness) questionable for Sunday's matchup, Kulikov could replace Tobias Bjornfot in the lineup.
Kulikov was suspended for two games by the NHL Department of Player Safety on Monday for an illegal check to the head on Tampa Bay's Conor Sheary during Saturday's contest.
Kulikov will be eligible to return to the lineup Sunday against Philadelphia. He picked up a match penalty for the hit at the 3:38 mark of the second period in Saturday's 5-3 loss to the Lightning. Kulikov has generated 16 assists, 61 shots on goal, 70 blocked shots and 121 hits in 64 contests this campaign. Tobias Bjornfot will probably replace Kulikov in the lineup Thursday versus Nashville.
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Panthers' Dmitry Kulikov: Having a hearing
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Kulikov will have a hearing with the NHL Department of Player Safety on Monday for an illegal check to the head against Tampa Bay's Conor Sheary on Saturday.
Kulikov was assessed a match penalty for the hit at the 3:38 mark of the second period in Saturday's 5-3 loss to the Lightning. He has accumulated 16 assists, 59 PIM, 61 shots on goal, 70 blocked shots and 121 hits in 64 contests this campaign.
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Panthers' Dmitry Kulikov: Ready to return Wednesday
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Kulikov (undisclosed) is good to return Wednesday versus Detroit.
Kulikov didn't play in Monday's 5-4 overtime loss to Anaheim because of the injury. He has 10 assists in 39 contests in 2023-24. With Kulikov back, Josh Mahura might be a healthy scratch Wednesday.
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Panthers' Dmitry Kulikov: Won't play Monday
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Kulikov (undisclosed) won't play Monday against Anaheim, according to Jameson Olive of the Panthers' official site.
Kulikov has accounted for 10 assists, 39 shots on goal, 50 blocked shots and 51 hits in 39 games this season. He will be replaced in the lineup by Josh Mahura.
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Panthers' Dmitry Kulikov: Game-time call Monday
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Kulikov (undisclosed) will be a game-time decision Monday against Anaheim, Colby Guy of Florida Hockey Now reports.
It's unclear exactly what's ailing Kulikov, but the 33-year-old defenseman played just 13:49 in a loss to the Devils on Saturday. Kulikov has 10 points, all assists, through 39 games in his return to the Panthers this season. Josh Mahura would likely slot onto Florida's third pairing if Kulikov ultimately can't suit up.
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Panthers' Dmitry Kulikov: Slides helper in loss
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Kulikov managed an assist in Thursday's 4-1 loss to the Blues.
Kulikov's first run with the Panthers between 2010-15 resulted in him averaging more than 20 minutes of ice time per game, including action on the power play, but nowadays, he's on the third defensive pair and not tasked with doing anything on the man advantage. The 33-year-old has yet to score this season, though he does have nine helpers, 38 blocked shots and 41 hits.
Kulikov (illness) is expected to play Saturday against the Kraken, Katie Engleson of Bally Sports Florida reports.
Kulikov was reported to be a game-time decision while battling an illness, though it appears he'll be good to go Saturday against Seattle. The 32-year-old blueliner has three assists in his first six games with Florida this season while averaging 20:13 of ice time.
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Panthers' Dmitry Kulikov: Dealing with illness
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Kulikov is dealing with an illness and will be a game-time decision against Seattle on Saturday, Colby Guy of Florida Hockey Now reports.
Kulikov is not exactly known as an offensive powerhouse -- he's reached the 20-point threshold just once in the last eight seasons -- but he's off to a strong start with three helpers in six games. If the blueliner is unable to play versus the Kraken, Mike Reilly could be in line to make his season debut for the Panthers.
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Panthers' Dmitry Kulikov: Snags assist in win
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Kulikov registered an assist in a 4-3 victory over the Devils on Monday.
Kulikov has points in back-to-back games already this season, a feat he accomplished just once last year. While the 32-year-old defenseman could be thrust into a more offensively-minded role with both Aaron Ekblad (shoulder) and Brandon Montour (shoulder) out long-term, the fact is Kulikov has just one 20-plus point campaign in the last eight seasons and has never managed to get to the 30-point mark in his 15-year career.
