Panthers’ Aleksander Barkov to miss at least two more games

After already missing Wednesday’s showdown versus the Atlantic Division rival Toronto Maple Leafs, Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov will be sidelined for at least two more games due to an upper-body ailment, Panthers head coach Paul Maurice confirmed Friday per team reporter Jameson Olive.

The shutdown will see Barkov held out of the lineup Saturday against the Ottawa Senators and Sunday versus the Detroit Red Wings. Barkov’s injury marks his third absence this season after missing back-to-back games in mid-December due to an illness plus an eight-game set through late October after he suffered a lower-body ailment.

On the season, Barkov has made 64 appearances with the Panthers in which he has recorded 19 goals and 48 assists to sit second in team scoring with 67 points. Originally chosen second overall in the 2013 NHL Draft, the 29-year-old Finnish-born forward has spent 12 seasons with the Panthers counting 801 career contests in which he has collected 285 goals and 493 assists for 778 points. On three occasions, Barkov has scored 80 points or better, highlighted his career-high 96-point showing in 2018-19.

The two-time Selke Trophy winner has also impressed in the postseason where through 71 playoff outings he has picked up 59 points highlighted by eight goals and 14 assists through 24 games last spring en route to the Panthers’ first-ever Stanley Cup championship.

With Barkov sidelined, he joins a Florida infirmary that already counts fellow forward Matthew Tkachuk, who has been out of the lineup since competing with Team USA at the 4 Nations Face-Off, as well as veteran blue-liner Dmitry Kulikov who has not played in seven games due to an upper-body injury.

For the Panthers, on the season the club sits 44-27-4 and four points back of the Maple Leafs for top spot in the Atlantic Division.