Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov could be back in the lineup Monday night when the team takes on the Buffalo Sabres.
Barkov has missed the past eight games due to a lower-body injury he sustained on Oct. 10 against the Ottawa Senators.
The 29-year-old attempted to stop an empty-net goal when he crashed feet-first into the boards.
“We believe if Barkov gets off the ice feeling good today, we’ll see him against Buffalo,” Panthers head coach Paul Maurice said following Saturday’s morning skate.
Barkov recorded 80 points (23 goals and 57 assists) in 73 games during the regular season last year. He also had 22 points (eight goals and 14 assists) in 24 playoff games to help the Panthers capture their first Stanley Cup.
The Tampere, Finland, native has one assist in two games this season as the Panthers are set to visit his hometown at the end of this week to take on the Dallas Stars as part of the NHL Global Series.