Jameson Olive just reported that Aleksander Barkov and Brad Marchand are traveling with the Panthers, though Paul Maurice doesn't expect either to play.
It's a welcome sight for a team that has been without both. Barkov is listed on injured reserve with a knee injury, out until at least Nov 27, and Marchand is listed on IR with a knee injury, out until at least Nov 21.
Olive noted that Maurice wants to find time to get both on the ice with the group, because there aren't many practices this month. He added that the two could join the morning skate in Columbus.
Skating with teammates is a step, not a return date. Those listed timelines are estimates, and Barkov has played only 2 games this season.
Florida heads to Washington on Saturday at 9-5-2 with 20 points, 11th in the NHL and 5th in the Atlantic. The team itself is already looking ahead.
The Panthers are 7-3-0 over their last 10 and beat Chicago 5-3 on Wednesday. The road has been a bit rougher than home, 5-3-2 away against 4-2-0 at Amerant Bank Arena.
Washington has lost two straight, so the Capitals will want to stop the slide against a Florida team that keeps finding ways to score.
Who is carrying the Panthers without Barkov and Marchand
Start with the power play. Sam Reinhart has 9 goals and 16 points in 16 games, and 6 of those goals came with the man advantage.
Carter Verhaeghe sits right behind him with 9 goals and 15 points, including 5 power-play goals. Two of his goals have been game-winners, which tells you how much Maurice leans on him.
Matthew Tkachuk is the engine of the group with 22 points, and 18 of them are assists. We already looked at Matthew Tkachuk leading the Panthers earlier this week, and the numbers have only grown.
Brady Tkachuk has 17 points, 7 of them power-play assists. His eight-goal start without Barkov and Marchand was one of the early stories of the season, and he's at 8 goals now. A -4 rating tells you the defensive side still needs work.
Maurice is right to be patient. Nothing about 9-5-2 says Florida needs to rush two players with knee injuries, and Saturday in Washington will be another test of how deep this group really is.
Quick hits
LOS ANGELES KINGSPeter Laviolette says Alex Turcotte has progressed back to "day-to-day," with Kevin Fiala not far behind, per Zach Dooley. Good news for a Kings lineup that could use both.
UTAH MAMMOTHNHL Rosters reports the Mammoth have placed Kailer Yamamoto on injured reserve. Depth forwards matter, and Utah will need someone to step in.
TRADE BUZZPierre LeBrun says other teams believe the Red Wings could land a better Dylan Larkin deal outside his 10-team list. That's a loud hint for Detroit's front office.
TORONTO MAPLE LEAFSKirill Marchenko is still out as the injuries pile up in Toronto. Justin Bourne ranked which absence would hurt most, and Auston Matthews is the name nobody wants to test.
CAROLINA HURRICANESThe Hurricanes have a 10:30am ET morning skate set at Lane Arena ahead of Saturday night's game against the Blackhawks. Chicago has lost five straight.
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