The Florida Panthers could be without their leading goal scorer when they travel to Tampa Bay to face the Lightning on Tuesday.
Nick Bjugstad has been dealing with some lower-body soreness since the Panthers’ loss to the Montreal Canadiens on March 17. Panthers head coach Gerard Gallant is likely to keep Bjugstad out of the lineup Tuesday, according to George Richards of the Miami Herald.
“He has lower body soreness and continues to get evaluated,” Gallant told the Herald. “It’s been an issue for a while, the soreness, and it’s got to a point where the guy works hard every night but we had to sit him the last seven or eight minutes the other night.”
Bjugstad, who is averaging 16:35 minutes per night this season, played just 11:27 in the Panthers’ win over the Boston Bruins Saturday.
The 22-year-old leads the Panthers with 24 goals and is tied with winger Jonathan Huberdeau for the team lead in scoring with 43 points. Bjugstad could return to the lineup on Thursday when the Panthers visit the Toronto Maple Leafs, according to Gallant.
The Panthers currently trail the Bruins by four points for the Eastern Conference’s second wild card playoff spot.