Vanecek is expected to start on the road against Washington on Saturday, per Doug Plagens of the Panthers Radio Network.

EDGE Analysis

Vanecek has a 4-11-3 record, 3.64 GAA and .888 save percentage between San Jose and Florida this season. He's appeared in two games with the Panthers since being traded March 5, posting a 1-1-0 record, 1.53 GAA and .944 save percentage over that stretch. The Capitals own a 46-15-8 record and a league-leading 3.62 goals per game, making the team a challenging adversary.

Vanecek allowed three goals on 33 shots in Sunday's 4-2 loss to the Islanders. The fourth goal was an empty-netter.

EDGE Analysis

Vanecek had a 2-0 lead to protect after two periods. He couldn't get the job done, allowing all three goals against in a span of 6:04 over the middle of the final frame, including two of those tallies coming from the Islanders' fourth line. All in all, it was a disappointing result for Vanecek, who dropped to 4-11-3 with a 3.63 GAA and an .888 save percentage over 20 appearances between the Panthers and the Sharks this season. The Panthers have a back-to-back next weekend -- Saturday on the road versus the Capitals and Sunday at home versus the Penguins -- so Vanecek shouldn't have to wait too long to get his next start.

Vanecek will defend the road net against the Islanders on Sunday, according to Jameson Olive of the Panthers' official site.

EDGE Analysis

Vanecek will get the second half of the Panthers' back-to-back after Sergei Bobrovsky played in Saturday's 3-1 loss to Montreal. During his Florida debut, the 29-year-old Vanecek earned a 21-save shutout in a 4-0 victory over Buffalo on March 8. The Islanders sit 28th in the league with 2.66 goals per game in 2024-25.

Vanecek made 21 saves in Saturday's 4-0 win over the Sabres.

EDGE Analysis

In his first start for his new club since being acquired from the Sharks, Vanecek demonstrated the benefits of improved defensive play in front of him as he recorded his first shutout in nearly two years. The 29-year-old goalie won't see much work behind Sergei Bobrovsky down the stretch, but Vanecek should deliver better ratios than the career-worst 3.89 GAA and .882 save percentage he produced over 18 outings for San Jose.

Vanecek was the first goaltender off the ice at the morning skate, Colby Guy of The Palm Beach Post reports, and is expected to defend the home crease versus Buffalo on Saturday.

EDGE Analysis

Vanecek will make his Florida debut in Saturday's matchup after being acquired from San Jose on Wednesday. He lost seven straight games for the lowly Sharks before the trade and was 3-10-3 with a 3.88 GAA and an .882 save percentage across 18 appearances this season. His numbers should improve with the Panthers. The Sabres have generated 3.18 goals per game, 11th in the NHL this season.

Vanecek was acquired by the Panthers from the Sharks on Wednesday in exchange for Patrick Giles, George Richards of Florida Hockey Now reports.

EDGE Analysis

Vanecek is currently mired in a seven-game losing streak, having gone 0-5-2 with a 4.46 GAA over that stretch. Overall, the 29-year-old Czech has managed a meager three wins in his 18 appearances for San Jose this year. With the move to Florida, Vanecek figures to slide into the No. 2 role behind Sergei Bobrovsky.

Vanecek won't start against the Sabres on Tuesday ahead of a potential trade, Heather Engel of NHL.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Vanecek is still expected to serve as the backup to Alexandar Georgiev, who will feature in back-to-back games after facing the Maple Leafs on Monday. The 29-year-old Vanecek hasn't exactly impressed this season, going 3-10-3 with a career-worst 3.88 GAA in his 18 appearances for the Sharks. Assuming Vanecek does get shipped out ahead of Friday's deadline, San Jose will likely bring back Yaroslav Askarov from the minors.

Vanecek made 27 saves in a 5-3 loss to Ottawa on Saturday.

EDGE Analysis

The most memorable part of Vanecek's game was the shoving match with Brady Tkachuk that he got into in the last few minutes of the first period. He has lost seven starts in a row (0-5-2) and hasn't won since Nov. 29. He's 3-10-3 in 17 starts, and he has a 3.88 GAA and .882 save percentage. We don't know of any format that makes sense to activate Vanecek.

Vanecek will defend the visiting net in Ottawa on Saturday, Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now reports.

EDGE Analysis

Vanecek was terrific Monday, turning aside 33 shots in a 2-1 overtime loss to Winnipeg. He is 3-9-3 with a 3.87 GAA and an .882 save percentage over 17 appearances for the Sharks this season. The Senators are generating 2.76 goals per game in 2024-25, 24th in the NHL.

Vanecek made 33 saves in Monday's 2-1 overtime loss to the Jets.

EDGE Analysis

It was a gut punch of a loss. Vanecek took a shutout into the final minute of regulation, but Josh Morrissey blasted a one-timer through traffic with 26 seconds left to tie it, and Mark Scheifele then banged home a rebound 93 seconds into OT. The 29-year-old netminder has started three of San Jose's last four games, going 0-1-2 with a 3.97 GAA and an .871 save percentage, but with Alexandar Georgiev having gone 0-6-0 since Jan. 16, Vanecek should remain in the mix in the crease despite his own lack of success.