Brad Marchand’s second game of the season ended with the Florida Panthers winger needing help to the dressing room after an apparent lower-body injury in the second period against the Los Angeles Kings at Crypto.com Arena on Tuesday.
Marchand was driving toward the net when Kings defenseman Brandt Clarke caught him with a high stick. The Panthers forward then twisted awkwardly into the right post with 53 seconds left in the period.
He remained on the ice for several minutes, visibly hurting and clutching his left knee while a trainer attended to him. Brady Tkachuk and Niko Mikkola helped Marchand leave the ice. Clarke received a double minor.
After the horn
The injury is another major concern for a Florida club that had already announced Tuesday that captain Aleksander Barkov is expected to miss six to eight weeks with a lower-body injury.
“He’s scheduled to be out 6-8 weeks, non-surgical rehab, and that’s our best window,” Panthers coach Paul Maurice said. “Could be a little less, could be a little more, but we think 6-8 is the right rehab time.”
Barkov was hurt Oct. 1 in a 4-3 loss to the San Jose Sharks. During a Panthers power play, he went down while fighting for the puck in the right corner at 8:07 of the second period. After getting back to his feet, Barkov immediately signaled for the Zamboni doors, dropped his gloves and headed off the ice.
The captain had only recently returned after missing the entire 2025-26 season with a right-knee injury suffered on the opening day of training camp. He underwent surgery the following day to repair his MCL and ACL, then did not return to game action until mid-May at the World Championships.
“It was harder to handle last year,” Maurice said. “You’re just hoping you could stick around and make the playoffs. He might be able to come back, but he didn’t really return until mid-May at the World Championships.
“He’s our captain, and we miss him. And he feels it when he’s not around, so he’s probably the happiest of all of us.”
Marchand, 38, had also entered the year coming off offseason surgery for an undisclosed injury. He missed Florida’s first two games before making his debut Sunday, when he scored with 1:50 left in regulation to force overtime against the Anaheim Ducks. Florida eventually lost that game 3-2.
The Panthers entered Tuesday at 1-0-2, and their depth will be tested if Marchand’s left-knee issue keeps him out alongside Barkov.
