But while the Cats were able to salvage a point in the Bay Area, they potentially came away with far worse news.This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners.If you sign up or place a wager, FOX News may be compensated.
This content was created by a team that works independently from the FOX newsroom.Following an awkward fall in the second period, Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov left the ice with an apparent knee injury, looking visibly frustrated as he made his way down the tunnel and into the locker room.NHL DEFENSEMAN BROCK FABER OUT INDEFINITELY AFTER SUFFERING SKULL FRACTURE FROM SHOT TO HEADAleksander Barkov #16 of the Florida Panthers lies on the ice during a game against the San Jose Sharks on Oct.1, 2026, at SAP Center in San Jose, Calif.
(Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)Barkov was able to skate and walk on his own, however, there are fears that this could be more severe than initially expected, with one South Florida doctor who is familiar with hockey-related injuries saying on social media an ACL tear could still be possible.While coach Paul Maurice was unable to confirm the severity of the injury in his postgame press conference, Florida fans are especially anxious, considering an ACL tear kept Barkov out for the entire season last year.MAPLE LEAFS STAR MAX DOMI REPORTEDLY FACING SCARY COMPLICATIONS, MOBILITY ISSUES AFTER SURGERYThis injury is thought to be unrelated to last year's, but you can hardly blame anyone for fearing the worst.A little over a year ago, the Panthers were thought to be the favorites to make it back to the Stanley Cup Finals and even potentially become the first NHL team to three-peat since the New York Islanders teams of the early 1980s.Florida Panthers center Aleksander Barkov (C) and NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly, right, pose with the Prince of Wales trophy at the end of Game 5 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Eastern Conference finals Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in Raleigh, N.C.They advance to the ...