Defenseman Dmitry Kulikov leaves Panthers game early after suffering upper-body injury
Jan 25, 2025; San Jose, California, USA; Florida Panthers defenseman Dmitry Kulikov (7) skates before the start of the second period against the San Jose Sharks at SAP Center at San Jose. (Robert Edwards-Imagn Images)The Florida Panthers may be down a defenseman after one of their top six blueliners went down with an injury.
Late in the first period of Florida’s road matchup with the New York Islanders on Sunday night, Dmitry Kulikov appeared to injury his right arm or wrist in a collision with Anthony Duclair.
Kulikov was actually called for a holding penalty on the play.
As Duclair cut across the neutral zone with the puck on his stick, Kulikov reached across Duclair’s body and attempted a poke check.
With Kulikov’s arm stretched out in a vulnerable position, the speedy Duclair’s momentum seemed to take Kulikov’s arm to a painful place.
He immediately went down, grabbing at his wrist-area while skating off the ice and down to the Panthers locker room.
Kulikov did not return for the second period, and about 30 minutes later the team officially gave word that he would not be returning due to an upper-body injury.
After Sunday’s game on Long Island, Florida has three days before their next game, which potentially gives Kulikov time to heal.
It also gives Florida time to decide who they would bring up from the American Hockey League’s Charlotte Checkers.
Should Kulikov need to miss any time, the Panthers will need to bring up a sixth defenseman from Charlotte.
The coaching staff was pleased with what they saw from Toby Bjornfot during an eight-game stint back in January, so he’s a likely candidate to be the next man up.
Another option could be Matt Kiersted. The fourth-year pro is having a strong defensive season, leading the Checkers with a plus-25 on-ice rating.
We’ll see if Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice has any update following the game when he meets with the media.
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