Florida Panthers
Forwards Matthew Tkachuk and Brad Marchand are nearing returning from injury, coach Paul Maurice said, but they remained out when the Panthers visited the Washington Capitals on Saturday. Tkachuk, who is recovering from surgery to repair a torn adductor muscle and sports hernia on Aug. 22, skated with Florida’s extra players Saturday morning, and Maurice said he has responded well to workouts. “He’s close,” Maurice said. “He’s getting pushed hard on the ice. He’s coming back. The recovery has been good. He hasn’t felt at a hundred percent, but the last two days he pushed hard, came back, felt good. So, I don’t think he’s very far away now.” Marchand missed his fifth straight game with an unspecified injury. Although Marchand did not skate with the Panthers’ extra players Saturday, Maurice said, “I would say [he is] fairly close, too. Neither one of those guys should be out very much longer.” After wrapping up a stretch of six consecutive road games Saturday, Florida returns home to host the San Jose Sharks on Monday (6 p.m. ET; SCRIPPS, NBCSCA).
