Barkov out 2-3 weeks with lower-body injury

Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov is expected to miss two-to-three weeks with a lower-body injury, head coach Paul Maurice said Saturday, according to team reporter Jameson Olive.

Barkov was helped off the ice after going feet-first into the end boards. He was trying to stop forward Tim Stutzle from scoring on an empty net in Thursday's loss to the Ottawa Senators.

Maurice is "very optimistic" Barkov will be available for Florida's Global Series games in Finland, according to Olive. The Panthers play the Dallas Stars on Nov. 1 and 2 in Tampere, Barkov's hometown.

Barkov tallied 23 goals and 80 points in 73 games last season, and he added eight goals and 22 points in 24 playoff contests in Florida's Stanley Cup triumph. He also won the Selke Trophy.

The Finnish star hasn't played a full season since the 2018-19 campaign.

Forward Matthew Tkachuk will miss Saturday's contest against the Buffalo Sabres due to illness. Defenseman Adam Boqvist returns to the lineup after missing one game.