Florida Panthers avoid the worst with star center Aleksander Barkov’s latest injury scare
Aleksander Barkov wasn’t be on the ice for the Florida Panthers on Monday when they faced the Boston Bruins, but the star center avoided anything too serious after a scary apparent knee injury Saturday.
The captain left with 2.2 seconds left in the first period of the Panthers’ win against the New Jersey Devils and did not return after Nico Hischier chopped at Barkov’s left leg on a faceoff. Florida did not practice Sunday and then Barkov missed the Panthers’ morning skate Monday, getting ruled out before they faced the Bruins in Boston.
“Barkov’s day to day,” coach Paul Maurice said, “which is a real positive for us because that could’ve been a real long-term injury.”
Florida formally ruled Barkov out of the Devils game in the second period and Maurice said after the game the 27-year-old forward would “have to get looked at tomorrow before we know” the severity. Ultimately, the results of testing were positive and Barkov should miss less time than was initially feared.
It’s a positive development on the injury front for a team desperately in need of one. Barkov also missed six straight games in November and December due to an illness, which has also sidelined goaltender Spencer Knight and forwards Matthew Tkachuk, Anton Lundell and Carter Verhaeghe at various points throughout this month.
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Knight, Tkachuk and Verhaeghe all returned to the active lineup last week, and Lundell could return soon after getting over the illness and now trying to recover from an upper-body injury.
The center wore a non-contact jersey for the Panthers’ morning skate at TD Garden and is getting close to a return.
“Lundell is possibly closer than Barkov,” Maurice said.
Florida also had forward Colin White back in the lineup after he missed the last two games with an upper-body injury. Radko Gudas, however, remained out. Maurice said he was a game-time decision “based on testing” after missing seven straight with a concussion.
The defenseman is currently on injured reserve, so the Panthers will have to make a roster move whenever they activate Gudas.
Knight, who was active for the last two games after recovering from his illness, will also make his first start since a loss to the Winnipeg Jets on Dec. 6.
With Florida still hanging around in postseason contention despite the overwhelming rash of injuries and illness, the Panthers hope the challenge will serve them well in the long run.
“We’ve been struggling to be healthy, kind of all season. Even the guys that are playing are hurting on a daily basis,” star defenseman Aaron Ekblad said Saturday. “That kind of adversity is going to be what makes us strong toward the end, makes us realize that we can play through anything.”
Panthers make minor-league trade
Florida traded a minor leaguer for a minor leaguer Monday, acquiring left wing Givani Smith from the Detroit Red Wings in exchange for Michael Del Zotto.
Smith, who was a second-round pick in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft, has played in two games for the Red Wings this year and 19 for AHL Grand Rapids. The 24-year-old forward has 14 points in 85 career NHL games across four seasons.
Del Zotto, 32, has spent the entire season with AHL Charlotte.
