The Florida Panthers might get injured captain Aleksander Barkov back a bit quicker than expected. If nothing else, he is still on track to play when the Stanley Cup champions go to his native Finland for a pair of games next month.

Aleksander Barkov was on the ice getting some work in before Panthers morning skate ahead of a date with the Canucks on Thursday.

Panthers coach Paul Maurice said that star center Aleksander Barkov will be out weeks due to the lower-body injury he suffered in Florida’s loss to the Ottawa Senators.

Entering Saturday's contents against the Buffalo Sabres, which the Panthers ended up losing 5-2, head coach Paul Maurice provided a relatively positive, albeit fuzzy, update on Barkov's injury.

Florida Panthers captain and top-line center Aleksander Barkov sustained a lower-body injury late in their 3-1 loss to the Ottawa Senators on Thursday at Canadian Tire Centre.

Barkov was trying to prevent an empty-net goal when he got hurt after crashing feet-first into the end boards, immediately grimacing in pain.

The Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers lost captain Aleksander Barkov to an injury late in the third period of their 3-1 loss to the Ottawa Senators on Thursday night

Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov left with 1:10 remaining after crashing into the end boards against the Senators. He was set to undergo testing to determine the extend of the injury.