The Florida Panthers are nearing a return to full strength.
Captain Aleksander Barkov, scoring leader Sam Reinhart and defenceman Gustav Forsling will re-enter the Panthers lineup for Tuesday's game against the Toronto Maple Leafs, head coach Paul Maurice told reporters after morning skate.
Maurice also announced that forward Sam Bennett remains out with an upper-body injury but is on track to play Game 1 of the playoffs.
Florida suddenly finds itself fighting for third place in the Atlantic Division. A three-game losing streak has left the reigning Stanley Cup champion just two points ahead of the Ottawa Senators with five games to play.
But Tuesday's returns should provide a boost.
Barkov, 29, will likely reclaim his spot as first-line centre. The two-time Selke Trophy winner as the game's top defensive forward also has 19 goals and 48 assists in 64 appearances this season.
Reinhart, also 29, sits at 37 goals and is set to resume his quest for consecutive 40-goal campaigns after potting 57 last season.
Forsling, 28, returns with a team-high plus-31 mark to go with 10 goals and 17 assists in 76 games.
Sergei Bobrovsky will get the nod in net.
For Toronto, defenceman Jake McCabe and centre David Kampf were already ruled out with injuries.
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