The Florida Panthers got some positive news on captain Aleksander Barkov, with imaging determining no fracture, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports.
There is still a timeline that needs to be determined, with Barkov expected to be sidelined, but as Friedman mentions, the Panthers avoided the worst outcome.
Barkov left Thursday’s game against the Ottawa Senators after crashing into the end boards. Barkov was trying to prevent an empty-net goal when he got hurt, giving chase toward a loose puck but he and the Sens’ Tim Stützle got tangled up and the Florida forward — at basically full speed — crashed feet-first into the end boards, immediately grimacing in pain.
Barkov needed about a minute before he could get to his feet, then needed help from teammates Evan Rodrigues and Uvis Balinskis to get off the ice and get to the Florida dressing room for evaluation.
The 29-year-old Barkov — the reigning Selke Trophy winner as the NHL’s best defensive forward — is in his 12th season, all with the Panthers. He was the first Finnish-born player to be the captain of a Stanley Cup champion when Florida topped Edmonton for last season’s title.
—With files from the Associated Press.