Panthers' Aleksander Barkov: Will not return Saturday

Barkov (upper body) will not play Saturday in Boston, Doug Plagens of Panthers Radio Network reports.

Analysis:

It will be the second straight absence for Barkov, who's been a dynamic power-play pivot on a Panthers team that was officially eliminated from the playoffs with a 6-2 loss to the Canadiens on Thursday. His 52 points -- including 14 on the power play -- to go along with a plus-13 rating undoubtedly aided plenty of fantasy owners this season, though now we'd be worried about his availability for the four games that remain on the Panthers' schedule beyond Saturday's tilt.