In a significant blow to their defensive unit, the Florida Panthers will be facing an extended period without their key defenseman, Dmitry Kulikov. The 34-year-old Russian powerhouse, who has been pivotal to the Panthers’ success this season, has been ruled out of action on a week-to-week basis due to an upper-body injury he sustained recently.
Paul Maurice, the Panthers’ coach, made this announcement on Wednesday, leaving fans and team management alike concerned about the implications this could have on the team’s performance moving forward. Kulikov suffered the injury in a high-speed collision with New York Islanders’ forward Anthony Duclair during the first period of the Panthers’ recent match, which they lost 4-2.
Maurice, however, remains optimistic. He expressed confidence that Kulikov will return to the ice before the start of the playoffs. The stalwart defenseman, who leads the Panthers with an impressive 110 hits this season, was filling the void left by Ekblad’s suspension, playing alongside Niko Mikkola on Florida’s second pairing.
This injury adds to the Panthers’ recent woes, as they have only managed to secure one win in their last four games. The absence of Kulikov, coupled with Ekblad’s suspension, will undoubtedly be a challenge for the team.
Kulikov, who has a storied career spanning over a thousand games with eight teams, has contributed significantly to the Panthers’ defense this season. With four goals and nine assists in the 68 games he’s played this season, his presence on the ice will be sorely missed. Over his career, he has racked up 247 points, including 50 goals and 197 assists, proving his worth as a reliable contributor to the team’s success.