Panthers’ Anton Lundell day-to-day with upper-body injury
The Florida Panthers will be without a relied-upon center for at least a game.
Head coach Paul Maurice revealed that Anton Lundell is currently considered day-to-day with an upper-body injury, meaning he’ll be out for Thursday’s game against the St. Louis Blues.
Tarasov in net and Lundell out with upper-body and is day-to-day, per Maurice
Lundell, 24, suffered the injury during Tuesday’s 4-3 loss to the Utah Mammoth, though it’s unclear exactly when or how it happened.
The Finnish national has played his largest role yet for Florida this season, with top-line center and fellow Finn Aleksander Barkov out for the year. In 52 games played, Lundell has 15 goals and 21 assists for 36 points, while averaging a career-high of over 19 minutes of ice time.
Initially selected 12th overall by the Panthers in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, Lundell is now in his fifth season for Florida, having gradually increased his role to become one of their mainstays down the middle. He was a key member of the Panthers’ Stanley Cup championship teams over the past two years.
Last season in particular was a breakout of sorts for Lundell. In 79 regular season games, he notched 17 goals and 28 assists for 45 points. In the playoffs, he centered a formidable third line flanked by Eetu Luostarinen and the newly acquired Brad Marchand, contributing six goals and 12 assists for 18 points in 23 games.
Lundell was also named to the Finnish men’s national team for the upcoming Milano Cortina Winter Olympics. Assuming this injury isn’t more serious than it currently appears, he should play a role for Finland similar to the one he plays for Florida, centering the second or third line while providing a strong forechecking and two-way presence.
After playing the Blues on Thursday, the Panthers will kick off a three-game homestand when they host the Winnipeg Jets on Saturday.