The Florida Panthers lose their best player

The loss of a team's finest player is never pleasant, but the Florida Panthers are relieved Wednesday morning.

Captain Aleksander Barkov won't need surgery after suffering a lower-body injury on Tuesday, according to head coach Andrew Brunnette.

«Best-case scenario,» Brunnette told Florida Hockey Now.com's George Richards.

Barkov was hurt in a 2nd period knee-on-knee collision with Islanders defenceman Scott Mayfield. Barkov had to be carried off the ice, and Mayfield was given a five-minute major and a game misconduct.

Credit: Sportsnet

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