Panthers, Senators Face Off Amid Key Injuries This Weekend

SUNRISE, Fla. — The Florida Panthers are set to face the Ottawa Senators this Saturday at 7 p.m. ET, despite struggling with key injuries to several players. Panthers’ coach Paul Maurice announced that forward Aleksander Barkov will not play due to a lower body injury sustained in a recent game against the Montreal Canadiens.

“It’s not serious, but he’s not playing this weekend,” Maurice said in a press conference on Friday. Barkov’s absence is compounded by the injuries of Matthew Tkachuk, Dmitry Kulikov, and Nico Sturm, raising concerns about the Panthers’ offensive capabilities.

The Panthers will still field a competitive lineup, featuring Jesper Boqvist, Sam Bennett, and Sam Reinhart on the top line, followed by Eetu Luostarinen centering Anton Lundell and Brad Marchand. The defensive pairings include Gustav Forsling with Seth Jones and Niko Mikkola paired with Nate Schmidt.

In contrast, the Senators are dealing with injuries as well. Brady Tkachuk‘s status is questionable for Saturday’s game, as he has not resumed skating since a hit from a Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman. Coach Travis Green hopes Tkachuk will only miss one game and has made adjustments to the lineup to compensate.

The Senators’ projected lineup includes Claude Giroux centering Tim Stutzle and Fabian Zetterlund. They also welcome David Perron, Dylan Cozens, and Drake Batherson on the second line. Defensively, Jake Sanderson and Thomas Chabot are expected to play significant roles against the Panthers.

The Sabres, also in action against the Senators earlier on Saturday, are facing their own set of challenges with Jordan Greenway and Josh Norris sidelined due to injuries. Coach Lindy Ruff noted that both players remain in rehab and will not be available for tonight’s game.

As the teams prepare for this important matchup, both the Panthers and Senators aim to secure valuable points in the standings. The outcome may hinge on the ability of each side to adapt to their roster’s absence and capitalize on opportunities during the game.