Paul Maurice just gave the first update on Sandis Vilmanis' injury, and the Panthers coach has no diagnosis to share yet.
Vilmanis was helped off in Washington this afternoon and did not return, and the Panthers dropped a 4-3 decision to the Capitals. The wait for answers starts now.
According to Jameson Olive, Maurice told Katie Engleson that Vilmanis will be seen by another doctor tomorrow. But the team will likely have to wait until he's back in Florida for its own doctors to examine him.
Olive passed along Maurice's words on the timeline, and they leave plenty of room for worry.
Maurice said, "He'll get looked at by another doctor tomorrow, but probably have to wait to get him back to see our guys [in Florida] before we have a real good idea." No diagnosis. No timeline.
The hit came from Tom Wilson's boarding major and ejection, a five-minute major and a game misconduct. Olive noted early that he expected supplemental discipline.
Asked about Wilson's hit, Maurice kept it short: "I'll leave that to the Department of Player safety."
That's a coach choosing his words carefully while a player is still waiting on a diagnosis. Nothing has come down from the league yet, and nobody should pretend to know what will.
Who steps in for Vilmanis in Boston
The timing is ugly for Florida. Vilmanis had four points against Chicago on Wednesday, and he has 3 goals and 4 assists in 15 games this season.
He had been producing at a time the Panthers needed it. Florida came into today at 9-5-2, and they now head to Boston on Sunday to face the Bruins, who sit first in the Atlantic.
Boston is 12-4-1 with a +24 goal differential, so this isn't the night to be short a forward. If Vilmanis can't go, Maurice has to find a replacement on the left side in a matter of hours.
Florida got two goals from Brady Tkachuk today and still came up short, as the late push fell just short. Losing a productive winger on top of that loss stings.
The Panthers won't know much about Vilmanis before puck drop in Boston. Who takes his spot is the question Maurice will have to answer on Sunday.
Quick hits
NASHVILLE PREDATORSNashville beat the Blues 3-1 in the NHL Network showcase. The game flipped in the second period when the Predators stopped chasing and started smothering.
WASHINGTON CAPITALSLogan Thompson made 27 saves in the 4-3 win over Florida in Washington's Hometown Remix debut at home. Not a bad way to answer the noise.
TAMPA BAY LIGHTNINGDavid Pagnotta said that if the Lightning offered Nikita Kucherov 7x20 right now, he would probably say no. That's a contract story to keep watching.
SEATTLE KRAKENMike Sullivan confirmed Joonas Korpisalo will start for the Rangers tonight in Seattle, per Mollie Walker. It's his Rangers debut.
PITTSBURGH PENGUINSEvgeni Malkin skates on the top line with Sidney Crosby in the projected lineup in Los Angeles tonight, according to NHL Game Day Lines. Fun reunion.
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