Florida Panthers forward Anthony Duclair is expected to miss between 7-10 days after sustaining an upper-body injury. Head coach Joel Quenneville provided an update on Duclair’s injury status after the Panthers’ 4-1 victory over the Detroit Red Wings.
Coach Q says Anthony Duclair is likely to be out for a week to 10 days. #DETvsFLA
— Florida Panthers (@FlaPanthers) March 31, 2021
Duclair Upper-Body Injury
The injury occurred at the end of the second period on Tuesday night. Duclair found himself driving into the slot unmarked and attempted to deke it around Thomas Greiss on his forehand when the goaltender inadvertently tripped him with his outstretched stick. As a result, the first-line winger slipped and collided at full speed into the boards. He left the ice clutching his shoulder as he headed to the dressing room. He did not return to the game afterwards.
Here's what happened to Duclair.
Was favoring his shoulder as he walked off. pic.twitter.com/RmynltZRA2
— Jameson Olive (@JamesonCoop) March 31, 2021
What This Means Going Forward
Florida has been decimated by injuries of late. Duclair joins forwards Aleksander Barkov, Patric Hornqvist and defenceman Aaron Ekblad on the sidelines. According to Quenneville, Barkov and Hornqvist are both day-to-day and are expected to return during Florida’s four-game homestand. Meanwhile, Ekblad suffered a season-ending leg injury, which required surgery. The former first overall pick was having a Norris-calibre year and arguably one of his best since his rookie season back in 2014-15 before going down.
Although, in spite of the recent glut of injuries, Joel Quenneville’s side has now won three games in a row and sits third in the Central Division on points percentage. Though they are level with the table-topping Tampa Bay Lightning on points (50).
Needless to say, the Panthers could have a very interesting NHL trade deadline. First and foremost, the team needs to go out and acquire a defenceman after losing Ekblad. However, many fans will be wanting more activity with the franchise in a position to make the playoffs for the first time in five years. Since the turn of the century, Florida has only made the First Round of the playoffs on three occasions.
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