The Panthers can’t catch a break.
On the same day they finally received some good news in the health department -- Nick Bjugstad is ready to make his season debut, after missing 19 games with a hand injury -- the Panthers announced that d-man Alex Petrovic would miss the next eight weeks with an ankle injury, and has been placed on IR.
Petrovic, 24, scored one goal and five points in 16 games this year, averaging just under 18 minutes per night. He was hurt blocking a shot during Florida’s overtime win in Montreal last Tuesday, and hasn’t played since.
With Petrovic out, the Panthers rolled a six-man defensive unit of Aaron Ekblad, Jason Demers, Mike Matheson, Keith Yandle, Mark Pysyk and Jakub Kindl in Sunday’s shootout victory over the Rangers.
It’s possible that Dylan McIlrath, acquired in a trade with the Blueshirts earlier this month, could draw back into the lineup at some point -- he hasn’t played since a 6-1 drubbing in Toronto last week.
As for Bjugstad, he’s on target to play in tomorrow’s home date against the Flyers. His season debut is almost certain, given the Panthers sent Jared McCann down to AHL Springfield.
The Panthers are still without the services of former Calder winner Jonathan Huberdeau, who’s out 3-4 months with a lacerated Achilles. Jussi Jokinen also missed extended time earlier this season with a lower-body ailment.