FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Aleksander Barkov is in the Florida Panthers lineup against the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference First Round at Amerant Bank Arena on Saturday (1 p.m. ET; FDSNSUN, SCRIPPS, MAX, truTV, TBS, SN, TVAS).
Barkov, Florida's captain, left the Panthers' 2-0 win in Game 2 on Thursday after sustaining an undisclosed injury when he was hit away from the puck by Lightning forward Brandon Hagel at 9:51 of the third period.
Barkov did not return to the game and was not part of Florida's optional practice Friday.
The Panthers lead 2-0 in the best-of-7 series.
Hagel was assessed a major penalty for interference for the hit. He was suspended for Game 3 by the NHL Department of Player Safety on Friday.
Maurice did not go into specifics on Barkov's condition.
Barkov missed three games from April 2-6 because of an upper-body injury, and the Panthers also rested him for two of their final three regular-season games.
He had two assists in Florida's 6-2 victory in Game 1 on Tuesday and assisted on Nate Schmidt's eventual game-winning goal in Game 2.
