Panthers Confirm Akira Schmid in Goal at Blackhawks Tonight; Blackhawks Expected to Turn to Soderblom

Panthers: Akira Schmid — confirmed. Florida's team site says Schmid will start Sunday's game at the Chicago Blackhawks (3 p.m. ET), according to Jameson Olive's preview on FloridaPanthers.com. The team lists Schmid at 2-2-1 with an .867 save percentage in five appearances this season.

Schmid gets the net after Cooper Black made 18 saves in his NHL debut on Thursday, a 4-0 loss at the Pittsburgh Penguins, per NHL.com's projected lineups. Jacob Markstrom remains out with an upper-body injury, the Panthers' preview notes. Florida is still looking for its first win of the road trip.

Blackhawks: Arvid Soderblom — expected. Chicago had not officially announced a starter in the sources we checked. NHL.com's projected lineup lists Soderblom first in goal, ahead of Spencer Knight, and says Soderblom "could play after Knight started the past five games." That is a projection, not a confirmation; we will move it to confirmed only when the Blackhawks or an on-site reporter says so.

Other notes from the NHL.com status report: Chicago forward Andrew Mangiapane may play his first game since the season opener after being activated off injured reserve, and Florida's Sandis Vilmanis and Radko Gudas are each likely to return after being scratched Thursday.

We will update this page and the NHL starting goalies board if Chicago confirms its goalie.