Panthers get some much-needed positive injury news as they try to turn around season
Paul Maurice has argued it’s hard to actually judge this iteration of the Florida Panthers right now -- no matter how underwhelming their start -- because of the rash of injuries they sustained the last month, highlighted by multiple extended absences for Aleksander Barkov.
All indications are the coach will get a chance to look at something close to a full-strength roster this week when the Panthers resume their season after a five-day Christmas break.
Barkov and star defenseman Aaron Ekblad are both on track to return for Florida on Thursday when it hosts the Montreal Canadiens in Sunrise. Barkov missed the last four games before the holiday break, while Ekblad exited after just a few minutes in Florida’s final game before the break Friday in a 5-1 loss to New York Islanders.
The Panthers also expect to have defenseman Radko Gudas back after he missed 10 straight games with a concussion. Florida will have to activate him from injured reserve before it faces the Canadiens at 7 p.m.
“We won’t clear anybody until tomorrow,” Maurice said, “but our expectation is that Gudas and Barkov will be in the lineup tomorrow. We expect Ekblad also, unless there’s a change, to be available to play tomorrow.”
Barkov and Gudas were both full participants in practice Wednesday, and Ekblad skated in a noncontact jersey for the second straight day.
Forward Chris Tierney, who also skated in a yellow noncontact jersey Tuesday and Wednesday, will remain out.
With center Anton Lundell also back in the lineup for the last week after missing nine games earlier in December with an upper-body injury, the Panthers are past using injuries as an excuse. Right wing Patric Hornqvist, typically a fourth-line forward, is the only player from Florida’s season-opening lineup — not counting winger Rudolfs Balcers, whom the Panthers waived in October — still sidelined, currently on long-term IR with a concussion.
Right wing Anthony Duclair also remains on long-term IR after July surgery to repair his left Achilles tendon, although he was on the ice for part of practice Tuesday, as was Hornqvist.
“You can survive without your best players, you can grind and you have to when they’re out of your lineup,” Maurice said, “but you take two of the top three centermen off every team and you run them for 10 games — you’re going to be challenged.”
Barkov’s return is particularly important. Florida has a winning record with its captain in the lineup and lost 7 of 10 when he was sidelined.
The star center also missed six games with an illness in November and December.
“It feels kind of like new season, a new start,” Barkov said. “We needed that, just to clear our minds from hockey and get back home, spend time with your family and hit the reset button and now we’re here, excited to get back to work and we’re getting also really healthy as a team, so it’s really good to have a healthy team.”
