BUFFALO, N.Y. – Florida Panthers defenseman Niko Mikkola left Saturday’s game against the Buffalo Sabres due to an upper-body injury. The Sabres won with a score of 3-0. Mikkola, 29 years old, suffered the injury in the second period after a struggle with Sabres forward Tyson Kozak. Mikkola was penalized for holding and left the game shortly after. The Panthers, who are seeking their third consecutive Stanley Cup championship, have been heavily impacted by injuries so far this season. Aleksander Barkov will be out for at least seven months due to a knee injury, while forward Matthew Tkachuk could return in December after suffering a torn adductor muscle. Coach Paul Maurice reported on Wednesday that defenseman Dmitry Kulikov is expected to be out for about five months due to an upper-body injury. Florida has lost four straight games after starting the season with three straight wins.
Mikkola agreed to an eight-year, $40 million contract extension on October 2. Last season, he set career highs with six goals and 16 assists, and led Florida defensemen with 137 hits. He could be part of the Finnish team at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics.We are missing important players, but on the other hand, others have the opportunity to step up and earn a place on the team, in the league. It’s a good opportunity for them. The structure is there. We have a great group of players, and everything is in our hands. We are simply going to reset, refocus, and prepare for the next game.
Sergei Bobrovsky
