East Notes: Panthers, Anisimov, Benn

While the Panthers were without center Anton Lundell and goaltender Spencer Knight today, both players might be available for tomorrow’s contest against Seattle, relays Florida Hockey Now’s Colby Guy (Twitter links).  Lundell is dealing with a mild upper-body injury but is skating and his absence is supposed to be a short-term one.  He’s off to a quieter start to his sophomore campaign but still has 13 points in 24 games.  As for Knight, he’s working his way back from an illness and while he won’t dress as the backup goalie this afternoon, head coach Paul Maurice indicated that there’s a chance that he’ll be able to start on Sunday.  The youngster has been much better than Sergei Bobrovsky in the early going this season with a GAA nearly a full goal below the veteran.

More from the Eastern Conference:

• The Flyers have converted veteran center Artem Anisimov’s AHL PTO to a full-season contract, notes Tony Androckitis of Inside AHL Hockey (Twitter link). The 34-year-old has played six games since joining them in mid-November and has been productive with three goals and an assist in that stretch.  At the beginning of the month, it was reported that Philadelphia was hoping to convert Anisimov’s deal into an NHL one which would allow them to recall him but they remain at the maximum 50 contracts on the books.  Until they’re able to free one up, Anisimov will have to settle for this full-season AHL agreement.
• Maple Leafs defenseman Jordie Benn took part in the morning skate today for the first time as he works his way back from an upper-body injury, reports Sports Illustrated’s David Alter (Twitter link). The veteran has been out for a little more than two weeks due to the issue, his second extended absence of the season after missing the first 13 games due to a groin injury.  Benn has a goal and an assist in six games so far while logging a little over 17 minutes a night on Toronto’s back end.