The Florida Panthers may have both captain Sasha Barkov and top-line winger Evan Rodrigues in the lineup when they visit the Colorado Avalanche today at 4 p.m.
Barkov was knocked out of Thursday’s 4-1 win in Vegas after taking an inadvertent elbow to the face from defenseman Alec Martinez.
Rodrigues also left Thursday’s game after blocking a shot; he briefly returned in the first period before leaving for good.
According to team radio voice Doug Plagens, coach Paul Maurice said both would be game-time decisions.
“We are confident they are both going to play today,’’ Maurice said. “They came off their injury feeling well. We still have to put them on the ice; we didn’t skate yesterday. We want to get a little more healing time, but we think they are both in tonight.”
If either of those two would be out, Mackie Samoskevich or Steven Lorentz would slide into the lineup.
The Most Trusted Coverage of the Florida Panthers, Anywhere
Samoskevich was recalled from AHL Charlotte on Friday; Lorentz has been scratched in the previous six games.
As far as starting goalies go, Sergei Bobrovsky will be back in net for the Panthers while Alexandar Georgiev is expected to start for the Avs.
Bobrovsky has won five straight starts and six of his past seven. In his wins, Bobrovsky is allowing an average of 1.7 goals.
He has allowed one goal in each of his first two games on this road trip.
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Today’s game features two of the top teams in the NHL.
Florida comes in riding a season-long six-game winning streak; Colorado has won four straight and is on a seven-game point streak (6-0-1) dating to Dec. 21.
Colorado is a point behind Winnipeg for the top spot in both the NHL and Central Division standings with 53 points.
The Panthers have 50 and are two points back of Boston for first place in the Atlantic.
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