The Florida Panthers are hoping to come home to Nick Bjugstad with the good news that Game 6 is still on.
After needing stitches to repair a head wound after he falling face-first into the boards Friday, the Sun Sentinel's Harvey Fialkov reports that Bjugstad didn't travel with his teammates to New York for Game 6 against the Islanders on Sunday, citing a source. The Panthers trail the series 3-2 after losing Game 5 at home in double overtime.
Panthers head coach Gerard Gallant said Saturday morning that Bjugstad was day-to-day, and he hoped the center would be able to make the trip. With or without Bjugstad, the job remains the same.
"We'll see what happens," Gallant said. "But we haven't made any excuses all year and we're not going to make one now."
Bjugstad missed time earlier this season with migraines, so he does have head-injury history, giving the report legs. Based on how serious the injury looked at the time - Bjugstad laying on the ice looking stunned after hitting the boards - not traveling north makes sense for the young forward.
It's a tough loss for the Panthers. Bjugstad has two goals and two assists in five games, with the 23-year-old clearly enjoying his first taste of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
