Barkov Injury Update: Florida Panthers’ Paul Maurice Speaks
- OTTAWA — the Florida Panthers will be without captain Aleksander Barkov and center Nico Sturm for Saturday's game against the Ottawa Senators, coach Paul Maurice announced following Friday's...
- Barkov suffered an upper-body injury during the second period of Tuesday's overtime loss to the Montreal Canadiens.
- Sturm was injured in the same Montreal game when he collided with A.J.
Panthers’ Barkov, Sturm Out Against Senators; Lineup Changes Imminent
Table of Contents
- Panthers’ Barkov, Sturm Out Against Senators; Lineup Changes Imminent
OTTAWA — the Florida Panthers will be without captain Aleksander Barkov and center Nico Sturm for Saturday’s game against the Ottawa Senators, coach Paul Maurice announced following Friday’s practice.Both players are nursing injuries sustained earlier in the week.
Barkov’s Upper-Body Injury Sidelines Him
Barkov suffered an upper-body injury during the second period of Tuesday’s overtime loss to the Montreal Canadiens. He also missed Wednesday’s game against the Toronto Maple Leafs. While the injury is not considered serious and Barkov is listed as day-to-day, Maurice confirmed he will not play in either Ottawa or Sunday’s game in Detroit.
Sturm’s Collision Results in Absence
Sturm was injured in the same Montreal game when he collided with A.J. Greer at center ice. he will also miss the remainder of the current road trip, but could possibly return for the final homestand of the regular season, which begins Tuesday against the Maple Leafs.
Lineup Shuffles in Response to Injuries
With Barkov sidelined, Anton lundell and Eetu Luostarinen skated alongside Sam Reinhart on Florida’s top line against Toronto. However,Maurice is experimenting with different combinations. On Friday, Brad Marchand joined Lundell and Luostarinen, while Reinhart moved to a line with Sam Bennett and Jesper Boqvist, according to Jameson Olive of FloridaPanthers.com.
Evan Rodrigues is expected to remain centering the third line, playing with Carter Verhaeghe and Mackie Samoskevich.
Tomas Nosek,who has been a healthy scratch at times since Sturm’s acquisition before the NHL trade deadline,is slated to center the fourth line with Greer and Jonah Gadjovich.
The Panthers have not announced any further call-ups from AHL Charlotte, aside from defenseman Jaycob Megna, who replaced Toby Bjornfot.
Maurice Seeks Offensive Spark
“I am looking to find as many different combinations to get a look at it,see if we can get a couple of guys going offensively,”
Maurice added that the lineup decisions are also influenced by the upcoming matchups and the structure of thier opponents’ teams. The Panthers are currently 0-1-1 on their road trip.
“Some of it has to do with the matchup the next two days, how those teams are built… we have an opportunity to experiment, which is forced on us when Barkov is out of your lineup it changes the center icemen. So, we’re just looking at different guys.”
Game Information
The Panthers face the Senators on Saturday.
Florida Panthers Injury Update: Barkov and Sturm Out,Lineup Changes Incoming
The Florida Panthers are facing some key absences as they prepare to take on the Ottawa Senators.Coach Paul Maurice announced that captain Aleksander Barkov and center Nico Sturm will be out for Saturday’s game due to injuries. This news has prompted adjustments to the Panthers’ lineup as the team seeks to regain its form.
Why is Aleksander Barkov out?
Aleksander Barkov suffered an upper-body injury during the second period of Tuesday’s overtime loss to the Montreal Canadiens. He also missed Wednesday’s game against the Toronto Maple Leafs. While the injury is not considered serious and Barkov is day-to-day, he will also miss Sunday’s game in Detroit.
What happened to Nico Sturm?
Nico Sturm was injured during the same game against the Montreal Canadiens. The injury occurred when he collided with A.J. Greer at center ice. Sturm will miss the remainder of the current road trip but could potentially return for the final homestand of the regular season.
How are the Panthers adjusting their lineup?
With Barkov out, Coach Maurice has implemented several lineup changes. The team is experimenting with new forward combinations to find an offensive spark. Some key adjustments include:
- Anton Lundell and Eetu Luostarinen are skating alongside Sam Reinhart on the top line.
- Brad marchand joined Lundell and Luostarinen on Friday.
- Sam Bennett and Jesper Boqvist joined Sam Reinhart on a line.
- Evan Rodrigues is expected to remain centering the third line.
- Tomas Nosek will center the fourth line.
What are the Panthers’ current road trip results?
The Panthers are currently 0-1-1 on their road trip.
Panthers’ Projected Lineup Changes
To summarize the expected lineup changes, here’s a swift look at the forward lines:
| line | Players |
|---|---|
| 1st Line | Anton Lundell, Eetu Luostarinen, Sam Reinhart |
| Potential 1st Line (Experimenting) | Brad Marchand, Anton Lundell, Eetu luostarinen |
| Potential 1st Line (Experimenting) | Sam Reinhart, Sam Bennett, jesper Boqvist |
| 3rd Line | Evan Rodrigues, Carter Verhaeghe, Mackie Samoskevich |
| 4th Line | Tomas Nosek, A.J. greer,Jonah Gadjovich |
What did Coach Maurice say about the changes?
Coach Maurice stated,”I am looking to find as many different combinations to get a look at it,see if we can get a couple of guys going offensively.” He also mentioned that the lineup decisions are influenced by the matchups and the structure of their opponents’ teams, saying, “Some of it has to do with the matchup the next two days, how those teams are built… we have an prospect to experiment…”
When do the Panthers play next?
The Florida Panthers play the ottawa Senators on Saturday.