NHL insider provides major update on Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov (image credit: IMAGN)

NHL insider Elliotte Friedman shared a key update on Saturday about Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov’s injury. Barkov left Thursday’s game against the Ottawa Senators after crashing into the boards in the final minute. He hurt his lower body while trying to prevent an empty net goal and needed help leaving the ice.

Friedman talked about Barkov’s recovery timeline via a post on X:

“We will see about exact timeline, but good news for Aleksander Barkov is imaging determined no fracture. So he will be out a bit, but worst outcomes avoided, thankfully”

This means the injury is less serious than some feared. Barkov will still miss some time, starting with Florida’s next game against the Buffalo Sabres. The earliest he could return is Monday versus the Boston Bruins, per CBS.

In Barkov’s absence, Anton Lundell will move into a top six role, with Patrick Giles also joining the lineup.

Aleksander Barkov has been with the Panthers for 12 seasons and is a key player for the team. He posted one assist in two games this year after scoring 23 goals and 80 points last season. His leadership and defensive skills are also vital to the Panthers’ success.

How did Aleksander Barkov get injured?

Barkov’s injury happened during the 3-1 loss to the Ottawa Senators. He was chasing the puck when he collided with Tim Stutzle and crashed into the boards. After staying down for a minute, he couldn’t put weight on his right leg as teammates helped him off the ice.

There’s hope Aleksander Barkov will recover soon. The team will monitor his condition as they prepare for their upcoming games, including two in his native Finland in early November.

Ottawa Senators dominated the game with Linus Ullmark in net against Florida Panthers

Ottawa Senators’ Tim Stutzle scored the first goal on a power play and added an empty net goal in the third period. Shane Pinto also scored for the Senators in the first period which gave them a 2-0 lead. Gustav Forsling scored for Florida with just over four minutes left in the game.

Ottawa’s goalie Linus Ullmark, in his first game for the team, made 30 saves to secure the win. He stopped key shots from Anton Lundell, Mackie Samoskevich and Carter Verhaeghe late in the game.

Florida goalie Sergei Bobrovsky made 29 saves but couldn’t prevent the loss. The Panthers won their first game of the season against Boston but struggled to recover after falling behind early to Ottawa. Ottawa’s defense was strong, blocking 27 shots throughout the game.