Panthers Reveal Injury Status of Sasha Barkov

The Florida Panthers have learned that captain Sasha Barkov will be out "week to week" after he slammed into the end boards feet first while chasing down an empty-net goal attempt and had to be helped off the ice, unable to put weight on his right leg.

Barkov needed help getting off the ice after colliding into the boards with Stützle pic.twitter.com/p5BNzHYc2E

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) October 11, 2024

The injury occurred due to the fact that Barkov’s stick broke as he tried to shoot the puck from the point inside the Ottawa Senators blue line, leaving the puck on Tim Stutzle's stick who fired it down the ice towards the gaping Florida net. Barkov turned and headed down the ice at full speed to defend against the empty net goal, and with no stick was unable to brace himself before slamming into the end boards. 

Insider David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period reports that it's a bad sprain, but fortunately nothing broken or torn, so not considered a significant injury.

Some positive news regarding Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov’s status, all things considered: Hearing he’s not sustained a significant injury, but what’s being considered a bad sprain. He is likely out week-to-week.

— David Pagnotta (@TheFourthPeriod) October 11, 2024

With Barkov out, it's likely that Sam Bennett would move up to take over the first-line center duties in Florida.

The Panthers lost 3-1 in Ottawa's home opener.