Niko Mikkola Suffers Chilling Injury Amid Two-Goal Performance Against Carolina
Photo credit: NHL.com
The Panthers could be without key defenseman Niko Mikkola after he took an awkward fall into the boards during the 3rd period against the Hurricanes.
The Florida Panthers are on the verge of taking a 3-0 series lead over the Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference Final, but they could be without defenseman Niko Mikkola for the foreseeable future.
Mikkola crashed awkwardly into the boards after tripping over the leg of Hurricanes forward Logan Stankoven, and favored his shoulder as he immediately left the ice and went down the tunnel toward the team dressing room.
Mikkola had just scored Carolina's 3rd goal of the game minutes before:
Former NHL defenseman and current analyst Chris Pronger, who once suffered a devastating ACL tear in the middle of the Stanley Cup Playoffs during his playing career, expressed fear on X about the potential severity of Mikkola's injury.
That could be a huge loss for the Panthers if Mikkola is seriously injured. That looked like a brutal fall into the boards. Might be a separated shoulder based on the times I have done the same thing. Hope he is ok. Playing awesome right now.
Pronger then responded to a fan asking if Mikkola would be able to play if the result of the incident was in fact a separated shoulder.
If in fact that is what happened maybe in 2 weeks. Depends on the severity of the injury. It will still be very uncomfortable and painful to play. Luckily for him it is his right shoulder which is his top hand. Easier to play hurt with that shoulder as a left shot.
Mikkola has been in trouble with the NHL earlier in the postseason opening round against the Tampa Bay Lightning, getting himself ejected in the after boarding Lightning forward Zemgus Girgensons; he was fined $5,000 for his actions.
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