The Florida Panthers announced that Captian Aleksander Barkov is sidelined with a lower-body injury and is considered day-to-day.
Coach Q says Sasha Barkov is out for tonight. Day to day.
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) February 3, 2020
Aleksander Barkov Out
Half-way through their first game back after the All-Star break, the Panthers find themselves without superstar forward Aleksander Barkov.
During the second period against the Montreal Canadiens, Barkov and Canadiens defender Shea Weber tied up each other as they headed towards the corner. Battling for the puck Barkov goes down awkwardly to the ice. Barkov then takes a second before he would get back up and glide towards the bench.
Barkov immediately heads to the locker room immediately and did not return for the rest of the game.
So far this season, Barkov has scored 16 goals and 38 assists for 54 points to go along with 16 minutes in penalties. His possession numbers were 52.3 percent Corsi and a relative Corsi of 3.
Over his seven-year NHL career, Barkov has played for only the Florida Panthers. He has 151 goals and 248 assists for 399 career points in 462 career games. Setting himself up as third on the Panthers all-time list in franchise points. He was originally drafted by the Florida Panthers in the first round, second overall in the 2013 NHL draft.
What This Means for the Future
Moving forward, there are only 32 games remaining in the regular season and the Panthers find themselves fighting for every inch, sound familiar? The cats are still without defenceman MacKenzie Weegar and back-up goaltender Chris Driedger, who both are out for weeks to come. Adding Barkov to the list does not make anything easier.
In a heavily contested Eastern Conference, the Panthers currently sit in the third Atlantic spot tied with the Toronto Maple Leafs with 61 points. Yet, there is no reason to panic. For instance, they have one of the easier remaining schedules left. Leaving the Panthers in control of their own destiny. It will be interesting to see how the Panthers handle this injury going forward.
With back-to-back games against the Maple Leafs and Columbus Blue Jackets, the situation with Barkov bears watching.
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