The Florida Panthers hold a full team practice at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Jan. 3. The Florida Panthers made a couple roster moves on Friday as the team continues navigating what is proving to be a very dangerous road trip. Ultimately the trip has been a success thus far, as the goal is always to win games and that’s exactly what Florida has done, defeating the Arizona Coyotes and Vegas Golden Knights to open the extended roadie. Those wins have come at an apparent cost though. Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjAwNjE3OTM2NjIzMjQ4NDky/img_6014.jpg] Tuesday in Arizona, Nick Cousins was the recipient of an illegal check from behind that came courtesy of Coyotes forward Jason Zucker. Cousins has been placed on Injured Reserve and Zucker was suspended for three games by the NHL Department of Player Safety [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/latest-news/jason-zucker-suspended-3-games-nick-cousins-in-concussion-protocol-after-boarding-incident-in-arizona]. Two nights later in Las Vegas, the Panthers lost both Sasha Barkov and Evan Rodrigues [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/latest-news/barkov-rodrigues-to-be-reevaluated-after-leaving-vegas-game-with-injuries], two-thirds of Florida’s top line, in the span of just a few minutes. Barkov was caught in the face by what appeared to be an unintentional elbow from Vegas defenseman Alec Martinez. He spent a few minutes on Florida’s bench after the hit but ultimately was ruled out of the game with an upper-body injury. Earlier in the period, Rodrigues took a Brayden McNabb slapshot off what appeared to be the outside of his lower leg and staggered to the bench. He missed most of the first period but came back briefly, playing three short shifts before leaving the game for good. The Panthers cancelled their Friday practice in Las Vegas and flew to Denver to prepare for Saturday’s 2 p.m. local time puck drop. It’s not known whether Barkov or Rodrigues will be available to play, but Florida did recall rookie Mackie Samoskevich from AHL Charlotte on Friday after placing Cousins on IR. That may be telling, because Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice has said in the past that he wouldn’t call up guys like Samoskevich or fellow rookie Justin Sourdif only to have them sit out as healthy scratches. The 21-year-old Samoskevich is enjoying a solid season in Charlotte, with 9 goals and 22 points in 27 games, but he’s picked things up of late, logging multi-point outings in five of his past 10 games. He last played in the NHL on Oct. 24 against San Jose. In three games with Florida earlier this season, Samoskevich logged five shots and a minus-two rating. Should he get into the lineup, it will be interesting to see how his game has grown over the past two months. Maurice will address the media on Saturday afternoon, around two hours before Florida takes the ice to face the Avalanche. That’s likely when we’ll find out the health status of Barkov and Rodrigues, how each is recovering after being hurt on Thursday, and whether either or both has to miss any time. LATEST STORIES FROM THE HOCKEY NEWS - FLORIDA Streaking Panthers arrive in Colorado riding high, but with injury questions [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/latest-news/streaking-panthers-arrive-in-colorado-riding-high-but-with-injury-questions] Three takeaways: Panthers dig deep for clutch win in Vegas, Tkachuk turning a corner [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/features/three-takeaways-panthers-dig-deep-for-clutch-win-in-vegas-tkachuk-turning-a-corner] Barkov, Rodrigues to be reevaluated after leaving Vegas game with injuries [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/latest-news/barkov-rodrigues-to-be-reevaluated-after-leaving-vegas-game-with-injuries] Panthers pick up first win in Vegas, lose Barkov and Rodrigues to injury [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/latest-news/panthers-pick-up-first-win-in-vegas-lose-barkov-and-rodrigues-to-injury] Sam Reinhart selected to first NHL All-Star Team, will represent Panthers in Toronto [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/latest-news/sam-reinhart-selected-to-first-nhl-all-star-team-will-represent-panthers-in-toronto] Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjAxNjQxMjA5NjI4NzMxMDIz/unnamed.jpg]
