Panthers D Dmitry Kulikov (upper body) week-to-week

Field Level Media|published: Wed 19th March, 16:37 2025

NHL: Florida Panthers at New York Islanders

Mar 16, 2025; Elmont, New York, USA; Florida Panthers defenseman Dmitry Kulikov (7) gets up off the ice following a collision in the first period against the New York Islanders at UBS Arena. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

The Florida Panthers have lost another blueliner for a while.

Defenseman Dmitry Kulikov is listed as week-to-week with an upper-body injury, Panthers coach Paul Maurice told reporters Wednesday.

Kulikov sustained the injury after colliding awkwardly at high speed with New York Islanders forward Anthony Duclair in the first period of the Panthers' 4-2 loss on Sunday.

The Panthers have been without top defenseman Aaron Ekblad since March 10, when he was suspended for 20 games without pay for violating the terms of the NHL/NHLPA Performance Enhancing Substances Program.

The Panthers have lost three of four games since Ekblad's suspension and will not have him back until the postseason.

Kulikov, who leads the Panthers with 110 hits, had been playing alongside Niko Mikkola on Florida's second pairing in Ekblad's absence. Kulikov will be out of action for an extended period but is expected to return before the start of the playoffs, Maurice said.

Kulikov, 34, has four goals and nine assists through 68 games. He has tallied 247 points (50 goals, 197 assists) across 1,016 career games with eight teams.

--Field Level Media