George Richards, FHN Publisher
The Florida Panthers made two roster moves Wednesday afternoon as their injuries continue to mount.
Both Toby Bjornfot and Mikulas Hovorka were brought up from the AHL Charlotte Checkers and will be in the lineup Thursday against the Boston Bruins.
Florida lost Aaron Ekblad and Dmitry Kulikov to separate injuries in the third period of Tuesday’s 6-3 win over the Ottawa Senators.
Ekblad, who tied Sasha Barkov for most games played in franchise history with 804, blocked a shot with his right hand while on a penalty kill late in the game.
Even though he could not get his right hand on the stick, Ekblad stayed out on the ice and helped protect Daniil Tarasov and keep the Senators off the board.
Ekblad was in obvious pain when he came to the bench and took his glove off. He disappeared down the tunnel and obviously did not return.
Sources close to the Panthers say Ekblad does have a broken bone in the hand although the extent of the damage is not yet known.
Thursday morning, Paul Maurice confirmed Ekblad is out with a broken finger.
With Florida playing its final game in two weeks, it appears safe to say that Ekblad will not play again this season. Maurice said Ekblad will be evaluated again in 10 days. The Panthers play their final game on April 15 against the Red Wings.
Kulikov left earlier in the third when a deflected puck struck him in the face.
Maurice said Tuesday night that Kulikov would need a CT scan.
On Thursday, he said that Kulikov had a broken nose yet wanted to play against the Bruins.
He will not. But, Maurice said it was possible Kulikov could return this weekend during the doubleheader in Pittsburgh against the Penguins.
Donovan Sebrango also left Tuesday’s game after blocking a shot but is OK and is expected to play against the Bruins.
With Ekblad and Kulikov out, the Panthers will be missing 11 regulars — and will have only two defensemen (Gus Forsling, Seth Jones) from their Opening Night lineup.
Sebrango will play against the Bruins.
Currently Injured: Aaron Ekblad (broken finger), Dmitry Kulikov (broken nose), Evan Rodrigues (broken finger), Sam Reinhart (foot), Niko Mikkola (knee), Anton Lundell (ribs), Uvis Balinskis (fractured foot), Brad Marchand (lower body), Cole Schwindt (lower body), Sasha Barkov (knee), Jonah Gadjovich (upper body)
ON DECK: GAME No. 75
BOSTON BRUINS at FLORIDA PANTHERS
- When: Thursday, 7 p.m.
- Where: Amerant Bank Arena, Sunrise
- Local TV: Scripps Sports — WSFL 39 (Miami/FTL); WHDT 9 (WPB); LAFF 36.3 (SWFla)
- Streaming: Panthers+, ESPN+
- Radio: WQAM; WBZT 1230-AM (Palm Beach); WCTH 100.3-FM (Florida Keys); SiriusXM
- Panthers Radio Streaming: SiriusXM 932, NHL App
- This Season (Panthers Lead 2-0) — At Florida: Panthers 5, Bruins 4 (Feb. 4); Thursday. At Boston: Panthers 4, Bruins 3 (Oct. 21)
- Last Season: Tied 2-2
- All-time Regular Season Series: Boston leads 66-41-7, 6 ties
- All-Time Postseason Series (Panthers Lead 2-0): Florida won 2023 First Round (4-3); Florida won 2024 ECSF (4-2).
- Up Next for the Panthers: Saturday at Pittsburgh Penguins, 5 p.m.