No Update On Aleksander Barkov After He Left With Injury

TAMPA, Fla. — Aleksander Barkov left Thursday’s game with an undisclosed injury and did not return. Florida Panthers head coach Paul Maurice did not provide an update on Barkov’s status after the 2-0 win.

With 10:09 left in the third period, Lightning forward Brandon Hagel leapt and laid a high hit on Barkov against the corner wall. The puck was not near Barkov at the time.

Barkov was down on one knee for about one minute while trainers checked on him. He’d wind up getting off the ice and going back to the dressing room for the rest of the game. Hagel was assessed a five-minute major for interference.

The Panthers captain had an assist on the only goal of Thursday’s game and was a vital part of the Florida penalty kill that went five-for-five while he was on the ice.

Barkov, Florida’s first-line center, had 20 goals and 51 assists in the regular season, and notched two assists in their Game 1 victory on Tuesday.

“He means everything.,” said Anton Lundell, who will often take over the top-line center role and have added responsibility when Barkov is out. “He’s our captain, our leader. Obviously, we never want to have him out of the lineup, but at the same time, we have to be able to step up. Everybody. Not just me, the whole team.”

While the Panthers take a 2-0 series lead back home, they know making up for Barkov’s productivity will be difficult. For what it’s worth, the Panthers continued to lock down the Lightning over the final ten minutes, allowing just three shots on goal.

“He’s an irreplaceable player,” defenseman Seth Jones said. “Faceoffs, power play, penalty kill, five-on-five, playing against their top lines, those matchups every night. He’s one of the best centers in the league.”

The series continues at 1 pm. on Satursday in Sunrise .