Dmitry Kulikov, Key Panthers Defenseman, Out with Injury
Veteran defenseman Dmitry Kulikov, a key piece in the Florida Panthers’ defense during their recent Stanley Cup title campaigns, will be out indefinitely due to an injury.
Kulikov, 34, suffered the injury in the second game of the season, a 2-1 victory against the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday. During that game, he played 11 shifts, totaling a time of 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 reserve list on Friday. On Saturday, following the morning skate before his team’s 6-2 victory over the Ottawa Senators, coach Paul Maurice informed reporters that the veteran might require surgery.
The Panthers, who have had a promising start to the season with a 3-0-0 record, are already without their captain Aleksander Barkov, who underwent knee surgery last month, and without forward Matthew Tkachuk, who will be out until at least December due to a lower body injury.
This is Kulikov’s second stint with the Panthers. Last season, he participated in 70 games, scoring four goals and adding 13 points.
