Aleksander Barkov will be out 2-3 weeks for the Florida Panthers because of a lower-body injury.
The center left a 3-1 loss to the Ottawa Senators on Thursday with 1:10 remaining in the third period after sliding into the boards during a fight for the puck with Senators forward Tim Stutzle. Barkov did not put weight on his right leg when he was helped off the ice and to the locker room.
Panthers coach Paul Maurice said prior to their game at the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday (7 p.m. ET; SCRIPPS, MSG-B) that the team is optimistic Barkov, who was born in Tampere, Finland, will return prior to the 2024 NHL Global Series Finland presented by Fastenal, when Florida plays the Dallas Stars in Tampere on Nov. 1-2.
"We think 2-3 weeks," Maurice said. "That's probably the right window on him. He's a strong healer. He's just a big powerful man. Puts a lot of torque on his joints. ... He may play prior to that (Global Series) as well but it may also take us that amount of time."
Barkov, who has one assist in two games this season, was third on the Panthers last season with 80 points (23 goals, 57 assists) in 73 regular-season games. He also tied for the Panthers lead with 22 points (eight goals, 14 assists) in 24 Stanley Cup Playoff games last season to help Florida win the Cup.
"I think, you know, the next man up," forward Evan Rodrigues said. "We started off last year missing two key players and obviously never want to want to lose anybody, but we'll have a next-man up mentality, and everyone will have to step up their game."
Anton Lundell will move up to center the top line with Eetu Luostarinen and Sam Reinhart.
"So that's almost the default anytime Barkov's out of our lineup, we put that line back together, and it's more the production, probably," Maurice said. "[Reinhart] can play with Sam (Bennett), there's just never been great production between the two of them. They may have great chemistry now, we just haven't tried it in a long time. So that's the default we go to."
Forward Patrick Giles will make his NHL debut and replace Barkov the lineup for the Panthers, who will dress 11 forwards and seven defensemen. Florida will also be without forward Matthew Tkachuk Saturday because of an illness.
"I think we've been [dealing with injuries] the last couple of years even without 'Barky'," defenseman Gustav Forsling said. "He's such a big part for us, but we're going to find a way here tonight."
NHL.com independent correspondent Heather Engel contributed to this report
