Florida Panthers Get Injury Timeline for Aleksander Barkov After Ugly Fall into End Boards

In the Florida Panthers last game against the Ottawa Senators, Barkov had a scary feet-first fall into the end boards while racing for a puck against Tim Stutzle. Stretchers were taken out, but Barkov was barely able to get off the ice with the help of his teammates. Seemingly unable to put weight on one leg, fans were concerned Barkov could be out long term.

According to David Pagnotta this afternoon, Barkov avoided the worst case scenario with this injury. Barkov apparently suffered a bad sprain which will keep him out for a few weeks.

It's certainly fortunate to hear that Barkov avoided a more significant injury and will be able to return to play relatively soon. After a few years of consistently being named the NHL's most underrated player, Barkov really made a name for himself with his Stanley Cup victory last year. Now, no one is underrating the Panthers.

Florida should be able to survive in the standings with a very deep forward group while Barkov is out with injury. In his place, Sam Bennett, Anton Lundell, Sam Reinhart, and Matthew Tkachuk will need to step up. The Panthers believe they can get back to the Stanley Cup next year, and Matthew Tkachuk even said that he thinks they'll see the Oilers again.

The Oilers will first play the Panthers in a Stanley Cup Rematch game on December 16th at home. It will be a major test for both teams, and one of the few opportunities for players to get their licks back - it will be a fantastic game.