Panthers defenseman Brandon Montour speaks after Florida's 6-4 loss to Toronto on April 1. The Florida Panthers may have lost more than just a hockey game on Monday night in Toronto. Florida fell behind 5-1 to the Toronto Maple Leafs through two periods before ultimately losing 6-4 at Scotiabank Arena. The loss, while frustrating and embarrassing, may be overshadowed by the loss of a key Panthers forward. Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjAwNjE3OTM2NjIzMjQ4NDky/img_6014.jpg] Carter Verhaeghe, who has 33 goals and 70 points so far this season for Florida, left Monday’s game early in the third period and did not return. “We’ll say day-to-day,” Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice said after the game. “We’ll get him looked at tomorrow and we’ll get a better handle on that.” Maurice did not specify whether the injury was upper-body or lower-body. Verharghe’s final shift came 3:22 into the third period and lasted just 25 seconds. It started with a faceoff in Toronto’s end to the left of Ilya Samsonov. Off the draw, Verhaeghe was briefly tied up with Toronto’s Bobby McMann but ultimately came away with the puck and carried it to the corner before sending a pass toward the slot. Verhaeghe was checked by Leafs defenseman Simon Benoit as he released the puck, but the hit seemed pretty tame. Afterwards, Verhaeghe went to the front of the net, where he battled some more with Beniot before a point shot by Oliver Ekman-Larsson was stopped and swallowed up by Samsonov, leading to a whistle. That was the whole shift, and Verhaeghe did not play another. Looking back at his previous shift, which came during the first 90 seconds of the period, there was nothing apparent that happened that would think he suffered any injury. Maurice did say that if Verhaeghe has to miss any time, he'd likely slide Vladimir Tarasenko up to the top li We’ll find out more from Maurice on Tuesday afternoon when he speaks ahead of Florida’s game in Montreal. LATEST STORIES FROM THE HOCKEY NEWS - FLORIDA Comeback effort falls short, Panthers dropped 6-4 in Toronto [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/game-day/comeback-effort-falls-short-panthers-dropped-6-4-in-toronto] Original voice of Florida Panthers Jeff Rimer honored Saturday ahead of retirement [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/latest-news/original-voice-of-florida-panthers-jeff-rimer-honored-saturday-ahead-of-retirement] Big week ahead for the Panthers in battle for top spot in Atlantic division [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/latest-news/big-week-ahead-for-the-panthers-in-battle-for-top-spot-in-atlantic-division] Panthers begin final road trip of regular season against Auston Matthews, Maple Leafs [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/game-day/panthers-begin-final-road-trip-of-regular-season-against-auston-matthews-maple-leafs] Spencer Knight sets new Charlotte Checkers shutout streak record [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/latest-news/spencer-knight-sets-new-charlotte-checkers-shutout-streak-record] Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjAxNjQxMjA5NjI4NzMxMDIz/unnamed.jpg]
