Panthers' Petrovic expected to miss 2 months with ankle injury

Florida Panthers defenseman Alex Petrovic was placed on injured reserve and is expected to be out for eight weeks with an ankle ailment, the club announced Monday.

Petrovic was hurt blocking a shot against the Montreal Canadiens last Tuesday, according to George Richards of the Miami Herald.

The announcement comes on the same day Panthers forward Nick Bjugstad was cleared to make his season debut Tuesday against the Philadelphia Flyers.

Petrovic has five points in 16 games, logging an average ice time of 17:55.