The Florida Panthers could be about a month away from nearing full forward health.
Captain Aleksander Barkov and veteran winger Brad Marchand both resumed skating Thursday as they take a step toward a return from injury, head coach Paul Maurice told reporters.
Barkov remains four weeks away from playing games while Marchand is three weeks out, Maurice added.
The captain, who missed all of last season due to a right knee injury, went down in just his second game this season with a left knee injury that ultimately did not require surgery.
His original timeline of six to eight weeks from the early October exit appears to still be intact.
Marchand has also been out since early October with a left leg injury.
“We’re no stranger to guys going down the last few years, and guys have done a great job of stepping up," Matthew Tkachuk said in the wake of the Marchand injury. “Worst case, you just got to win 1-0, 2-1.”
Indeed, the Panthers have held their own without the star forwards, going 7-4-2 record in 13 games to hold the top wild-card spot in the East.