Florida Panthers
Aleksander Barkov and Aaron Ekblad are expected to return to the lineup next week, possibly as soon as their game against the Boston Bruins on Tuesday.
Barkov, a center, missed his third straight game because of a lower-body injury when the Panthers defeated the Philadelphia Flyers 4-1 on the road Sunday. Ekblad, a defenseman, missed a sixth straight game because of a lower-body injury.
"Barkov is close," coach Paul Maurice said before the game. "Ekblad is right on schedule. He was kind of middle of next week, that was the idea. Next week sometime is probably a more accurate way to put it. Barkov may play against Boston. If not, it'll be the next one (against the New York Islanders on Thursday), I think."
Florida is 2-3-1 without Ekblad and 1-1-1 without Barkov, but Maurice says it's important for other players to step up.
"This is good for us to go through now," he said. "Yeah, I want [Barkov] back in the lineup; it changes everything. He's your No. 1 center. ... All we're looking at is opportunity for all these guys to make a difference to our team. That's all it is.
"Nobody ever comes into your office and says, 'Hey, you're playing me too much and you're giving me too much opportunity.' It's usually, 'Hey, I think I can do more to help the team,' so tonight's your night."
The Panthers (46-20-5) are tied for first in the Atlantic Division with the Boston Bruins. -- Adam Kimelman
Vegas Golden Knights
Jiri Patera was recalled from Henderson of the American Hockey League for the Golden Knights’ four-game road trip that begins at the St. Louis Blues on Monday (8 p.m. ET; SCRIPPS, BSMW, NHLN, TVAS).
Adin Hill made 12 saves on 13 shots before leaving with an undisclosed injury at 4:00 of the third in a 4-2 win against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday.
“[Hill] came to the bench and said he wasn't feeling 100 percent, so we made the switch,” Vegas coach Bruce Cassidy said after the game. “Other than that, he's getting his tests.”
Logan Thompson was scheduled to start Monday prior to Hill’s injury, Cassidy said.
Patera is 1-3-0 with a 3.75 goals-against average and .901 save percentage in five NHL games (four starts) this season.
Hill, who helped the Golden Knights win the Stanley Cup last season, is 18-10-2 with a 2.62 GAA and .914 save percentage in 32 games. -- Paul Delos Santos
Dallas Stars
Defenseman Jani Hakanpaa will be out for "the near future" because of a lower-body injury sustained during a 4-1 win against the Los Angeles Kings on March 16.
The Stars (44-19-9) are tied for first in the Central Division with the Colorado Avalanche after a 4-2 win at the Arizona Coyotes on Sunday.
"He's shut down for the near future here," Dallas coach Pete DeBoer said Friday. "He's having some tests done and things like that, so we'll see where that goes. But I don't see him having any availability in the immediate future."
Hakanpaa has 12 points (two goals, 10 assists) in 64 games and averages 3:16 of short-handed ice time per game, second on the Stars.
Nils Lundkvist played for a third straight game Sunday. -- Taylor Baird
Minnesota Wild
Joel Eriksson Ek missed his fifth straight game when the Wild lost to the St. Louis Blues 5-4 in overtime on Saturday.
The forward left a 4-1 win against the Coyotes on March 12 during the third period with a lower-body injury. He practiced Friday, but his participation was limited after he had skated on his own prior to joining the team.
Minnesota coach John Hynes said defenseman Jonas Brodin (lower body) is progressing, but he did not play Saturday. He is a possibility to play against the San Jose Sharks on Thursday, the next game for the Wild.
Brodin left early in the third period of a 4-0 win at the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday following a hit from Alex Killorn. He missed a 6-0 loss at the Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday.
"It looks like it should be fairly short order here with him," Hynes said Friday. "It's not something where you're looking at a long-term thing here. I think he’s got to let some time pass a little bit and get himself going. So, that's good news." -- Jessi Pierce
