(Sunrise) Aleksander Barkov will be evaluated week to week with a knee injury, Florida Panthers coach Andrew Brunette said.
The 26-year-old Finn will not need an operation.
“The news could have been a lot worse,” said Brunette. We will manage this over time. ”
Barkov is the Panthers’ captain and leading scorer. He has nine goals and 17 points in 15 games.
Barkov was injured in a collision with Scott Mayfield of the New York Islanders on Tuesday.
Mayfield received a major penalty and match misconduct.
The Islanders said it wasn’t a dirty trick, and Brunette agrees.
“It was a bit hit and miss, but it’s more of a bad luck,” he said. Mayfield was just trying to complete his body check. ”
Florida has had an excellent start to the season (11-2-3). The team will be back in action Thursday in Sunrise, against the New Jersey Devils.