Barkov leaves Panthers game after awkward fall in San Jose
Florida’s captain went to the dressing room during the second period after falling while battling for the puck on a power play.
Aleksander Barkov left the Florida Panthers’ game against the San Jose Sharks at SAP Center on Thursday, Oct. 1, after an awkward fall in the second period.
The Panthers captain was contesting the puck in the right corner during a power play when he fell. He got up and asked for the Zamboni doors to be opened, then headed to the dressing room and tossed his gloves to the floor, NHL.com reported. Its initial account did not provide an update on his condition.
Barkov, 31, was appearing in his second game of the season. He missed Florida’s entire 2025-26 season after injuring his right knee at the start of training camp and undergoing surgery to repair his ACL and MCL.
He returned to Florida’s lineup for Tuesday’s season opener against the Carolina Hurricanes, playing 20:32 in a 1-0 overtime victory.
