SUNRISE, Fla. _ If the Florida Panthers are going to make the playoffs, they'll have to do so without their best player.
Forward Aleksander Barkov will miss the final two games of the regular season after suffering a shoulder injury, Panthers coach Bob Boughner said Saturday morning. Boughner said the injury would not require surgery, and Barkov could return for a potential playoff series next week.
"Hopefully a Game 1, if not, Game 2 or 3," Boughner said. "Like I said, it's day-to-day and it's definitely not this weekend. It's something that's not a long-term, surgery kind of repair. It's just a rehab."
Barkov got hurt in the third period of Thursday night's Panthers win over Boston, after absorbing a hit by Bruins forward Colby Cave along the boards. Barkov's right side crashed into the boards and he skated to the bench holding his right arm.
After a few moments hunched over on the bench, Barkov went to the dressing room. He did not play the final 6:51 of the game.
In order to make the playoffs, the Panthers need Philadelphia to lose in regulation to the New York Rangers on Saturday afternoon and Florida must win its final two games. Any Flyers point or Panthers loss eliminates Florida from postseason contention.
The Panthers finish the season with a Saturday night game against Buffalo and a Sunday evening visit to Boston.
There is also an unlikely scenario that would result in a tiebreaking game Tuesday between Philadelphia and Florida.
"It's tough to be in that situation, but I like where we're at right now, our guys, the way we're playing," Boughner said. "It's going to be tough without Barky, but we have a lot of guys in there that are hungry to get into the playoffs."
For Barkov, the injury comes at the end of his fifth and best NHL season. He set a career-high for points (78), assists (51), average ice time (22:04) and faceoff percentage (53.5 percent). He was a goal away from tying his career-high 28 in a season.
The 22-year-old was named to his first All-Star team, and is a serious candidate for the Selke Trophy (best defensive forward) and an outside one for the Hart Trophy (most valuable player).
He also seemed to rid himself of the injury bug that followed him in the last two seasons. He missed 16 games in 2015-16 and 21 more in 2016-17. He only missed one game earlier this season and set a career-high with 79 games played.
Without Barkov occupying his familiar top-line center position, Boughner was forced to rearrange his lineup. After Barkov got hurt on Thursday, Jared McCann filled his spot on the top line, but Boughner rolled out a more balanced forward corps during Saturday's morning skate.
Vincent Trocheck rose to the top line alongside left wing Jonathan Huberdeau and right wing Colton Sceviour. Evgenii Dadonov, McCann and Nick Bjugstad were on the second line. Frank Vatrano, Denis Malgin and Jamie McGinn manned the third. The fourth line of Micheal Haley, Derek MacKenzie and Maxim Mamin will remain the same.
MacKenzie did not participate in morning skate, but Boughner said he would play against the Sabres.
"So a little bit of juggling this morning, but I think we got some pretty good balance still," Boughner said.
.jpg?w=600)
