The Florida Panthers are expecting to get two key players back in time for Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Head coach Paul Maurice told reporters that both Aaron Ekblad and Carter Verhaeghe remain on track to make their returns.
Ekblad has been sidelined since April 2 with an undisclosed injury that ruled him out for the remainder of the regular season. The 28-year-old has 18 points (four goals and 14 assists) in 50 games this season.
Verhaeghe has been week-to-week with an undisclosed injury and last played on April 1 against the Toronto Maple Leafs. He was on a roll before getting injured scoring five points in his last six games to bring his season totals to 33 goals and 38 assists in 75 games.
Maurice said that defenceman Oliver Ekman-Larsson remains day-to-day and forward Aleksander Barkov was absent from practice but did not consider the injury to be serious.
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