The Florida Panthers are waiting for a clearer picture on Brad Marchand after the veteran winger left Tuesday night’s game against the Los Angeles Kings with an apparent lower-body injury.
Marchand was helped off the ice and could not put weight on his left leg, a troubling sight for a player who had just returned to the lineup Sunday in Anaheim. The Panthers have not announced a diagnosis or a timetable.
The injury happened when Marchand, in only his second game since March, drove toward the net and was clipped by Kings defenseman Brandt Clarke’s stick. His left leg folded underneath him as he slammed into the net and the post. He stayed down for several moments while team medical staff attended to him before teammates Brady Tkachuk and Niko Mikkola helped him off the ice.
It’s a significant setback for the 38-year-old winger, who had been out since March 6 when Florida shut him down with a core injury. He had surgery in August, and general manager Bill Zito said at training camp the club would be conservative in easing him back.
On social media, Dr. Harjas Grewal, who has not examined Marchand, said an MCL injury would be the concern.
He added that the same type of contact could also lead to a high ankle sprain, and noted that a grade 2 MCL sprain often comes with four to six weeks out. He said an ACL tear seemed unlikely.
Reaction to the play was split. Some fans believed Clarke deliberately stuck out his leg and wanted a suspension.
Others saw it as Clarke leaning into Marchand to take away his lane to the net. The NHL Department of Player Safety has not announced a review.
Marchand finished last season with 27 goals and 27 assists in 52 games. Further testing is expected to show how serious the injury is and how long he’ll be out.
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