Panthers’ Marchand Leaves Game With Knee Injury, What’s the Latest?

The Florida Panthers are waiting on word about forward Brad Marchand after he left Tuesday night’s game against the Los Angeles Kings with an apparent lower-body injury. Marchand was helped off the ice and couldn’t put weight on his left leg. There is no official word on the seriousness of the injury, but it doesn’t look good.

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Marchand, playing only his second game since March, drove the net and was caught by the stick of Kings defenseman Brandt Clarke. His left leg went under him as he crashed into the net and the post. After several moments on the ice with team medical staff, he was helped off by teammates Brady Tkachuk and Niko Mikkola.

The Panthers have not announced a diagnosis or a timeline.

The injury is a major setback for the 38-year-old winger, who returned to the lineup Sunday in Anaheim. He had been out since March 6, when the Panthers shut him down with a core injury, and he had surgery in August. General manager Bill Zito said at training camp that the team would be conservative in bringing him back.

Dr. Harjas Grewal, who has not examined Marchand, said on social media that an MCL injury would be the concern. He said the mechanism could also cause a high ankle sprain, and that a grade 2 MCL sprain often means four to six weeks out. He considered an ACL tear unlikely.

Was the Marchand Play Dirty?

Reaction to the play was split. Some fans said Clarke intentionally stuck out his leg and called for a suspension. Others said Clarke was leaning into Marchand to cut off his path to the net. The NHL Department of Player Safety has not announced any review.

Marchand had 27 goals and 27 assists in 52 games last season. Further testing is expected to determine the extent of the injury and how long he will be sidelined.

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