SUNRISE (CBSMiami/AP) — Great news Cats fans, Florida Panthers’ forwards Jonathan Huberdeau and Aleksander Barkov have been cleared to return to the lineup and both are expected to play Friday against Anaheim.
Huberdeau has not played yet this season because of a preseason Achilles injury. Barkov has missed more than a month with a back injury.
The moves are timely for the Panthers, who entered Friday four points out of both the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference and third place in the Atlantic Division. The top two wild-card teams and the top three in divisions make the Stanley Cup playoffs.