Dmitry Kulikov, Key Panthers Defenseman, on Injured Reserve
Veteran defenseman Dmitry Kulikov, a key piece in the Florida Panthers’ defense during their recent successes in the quest for the Stanley Cup, is out of the lineup indefinitely after being placed on the injured reserve list.
Kulikov, 34, suffered the injury in the Panthers’ second game of the season, in a 2-1 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday. During the match, he played 11 shifts, accumulating 7:47 minutes on the ice. After a collision with Flyers forward Bobby Brink in the second period, Kulikov left the ice holding his right wrist.
The Panthers officially placed him on the injured list on Friday. On Saturday, after the morning skate before his team’s 6-2 victory over the Ottawa Senators, coach Paul Maurice informed the media that the veteran might require surgery.
Florida, which has had a promising start to the season with a 3-0-0 record, is already without its captain Aleksander Barkov, who underwent knee surgery last month, and without forward Matthew Tkachuk, who will be out of action at least until December due to a lower body injury.
This is Kulikov’s second stage with the Panthers. Last season, he participated in 70 games, scoring four goals and adding 13 points.
