The Panthers will play their final two games of the regular season without star center Aleksander Barkov as a result of a shoulder injury, coach Bob Boughner said Saturday.
Boughner added it was not a surgery-type injury that would keep Barkov out long term and he could return for a potential playoff series, per a report from the Sun-Sentinel. Boughner also said "it's just a rehab" and he will be day to day.
The Panthers have two must-win games remaining in the regular schedule to have any chance at making the playoffs. Florida plays the Sabres on Saturday and Bruins on Sunday, but the Panthers also must have the Flyers lose in regulation Saturday against the Rangers to have a shot at the postseason. If the Flyers pick up a point, they would claim the last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. The news of Barkov's injury is a huge blow for the Panthers.
Although the details of his injury are not clear, Barkov left Thursday's 3-2 win over the Bruins with 6:51 remaining after taking a big hit from Boston's Colby Cave.
“Didn’t look great when he was going off the ice, to be honest. … Everyone’s playing hard at this time of year and finishing hits," Boughner said after the win Thursday (via the Sun-Sentinel). "We’ll take it day by day. Hopefully, he’s all right. Hopefully we can get him back, but I didn’t like the way it looked when he left the ice.”
Barkov closes out the regular season with a career-high 78 points (27 goals, 51 assists) in 79 games.
