The Florida Panthers are going to get some well-earned time to refresh and recharge before embarking on a tough 14-game stretch into the playoffs. Heading into their break on the heels of losses to the Carolina Hurricanes and Tampa Bay Lightning – their first consecutive defeats since Jan. 17-19 – the Panthers (45-19-5) still sit just one point behind the Boston Bruins for first in the Atlantic Division with a game in hand. “It's a huge break for us,” defenseman Niko Mikkola said after Monday's practice at the Baptist Health IcePlex.
Aaron Ekblad will be out at least two weeks for the Florida Panthers because of a lower-body injury. The defenseman collided with new teammate Vladimir Tarasenko at center ice late in the first period of the Panthers' 5-1 win against the Calgary Flames on Saturday and did not return. Florida (44-17-4), which leads the NHL with 92 points, is playing at the Dallas Stars on Tuesday.
With the Tampa Bay Lightning enjoying a day off on Monday, there was no update on the health of Erik Cernak. The defenseman suffered a lower-body injury in the team's win against the Flyers on Saturday, and Coach Cooper had no update on his status immediately following the game. If it's not a season-ending injury, it's unlikely that the team will release what's wrong with him after today's practice. Should he miss any extended time, it's likely that Matt Dumba moves into his spot and Max Crozier or Emil Lilleberg gets recalled from Syracuse.
No | Player | P |
---|---|---|
16 | C | |
9 | C | |
2 | D | |
72 | G | |
21 | C | |
5 | D | |
91 | D | |
42 | D | |
12 | LW | |
94 | LW | |
18 | C | |
15 | C | |
27 | C | |
28 | D | |
77 | D | |
62 | D | |
8 | RW | |
13 | C | |
17 | C | |
82 | C | |
41 | G | |
10 | RW | |
19 | LW | |
23 | C |