Matthew Tkachuk lifts Panthers past Kings 2-1, but Brad Marchand leaves hurt as Barkov is ruled out 6 to 8 weeks

The Florida Panthers won a game and lost another forward on Tuesday night. Matthew Tkachuk scored midway through the third period to give Florida a 2-1 win over the Los Angeles Kings at Crypto.com Arena, but 38-year-old Brad Marchand was helped off the ice late in the second period with a left leg injury and did not return. Earlier the same day, the team confirmed that captain Aleksander Barkov will miss 6 to 8 weeks with a lower-body injury, leaving the two-time defending champions without two of their most important veterans as they head home for their first game in Sunrise.

The win closed a four-game road trip to open the 2026-27 season and lifted Florida to 2-0-2, good for 6 of a possible 8 points. The Panthers host the Minnesota Wild in their home opener at Amerant Bank Arena on Saturday.

How the Panthers beat the Kings

Los Angeles took a 1-0 lead into the first intermission when Alex Laferriere converted a cross-slot pass from Erik Haula with one minute left in the period, according to the NHL's game summary. Florida then had to kill an extended Kings power play in the second period, including 1:21 of a five-on-three advantage after penalties to Eetu Luostarinen and Dmitry Kulikov.

Defenseman Seth Jones tied the game at 3:49 of the second period by driving to the net and lifting the puck over Kings goaltender Darcy Kuemper. The score stayed 1-1 until 11:20 of the third, when Sam Bennett forced a Kings turnover in the neutral zone and Tkachuk finished the play for the winning goal. It was Bennett's assist in a third straight game, and Tkachuk has two goals and an assist over the last three games, according to The Associated Press.

Jacob Markstrom made 19 saves for Florida. Kuemper stopped 26 shots for Los Angeles. Shots were even at 28 apiece, according to the box score.

Marchand hurt in his second game back

Marchand was injured with 53 seconds left in the second period. Kings defenseman Brandt Clarke high-sticked him as he drove to the net, and Marchand twisted awkwardly into the right post, according to NHL.com. He stayed down for several minutes holding his left knee while a trainer attended to him. Brady Tkachuk and Niko Mikkola helped him off the ice, and he did not return. Clarke was assessed a double minor on the play.

Coach Paul Maurice offered little after the game. "We'll get him looked at probably Thursday," Maurice said, according to the team.

The timing is cruel for Marchand. He missed the first two games of the season while recovering from offseason surgery for a lower-body injury and had not played since March 6 before returning Sunday in Anaheim. In that game he scored the tying goal with 1:50 left in regulation to earn Florida a point in a 3-2 overtime loss to the Ducks. "It was a bit of a rude awakening. The speed of the game and the intensity definitely ramped up at times, but it was great to be back out there," Marchand said afterward, according to NHL.com.

Tuesday was only his second game of the season. Florida has not said whether the new injury is related to the one that required surgery.

Barkov out 6 to 8 weeks

The Marchand scare came hours after the Panthers delivered better, but still significant, news on Barkov. The captain was hurt in the second period of a 4-3 overtime loss at San Jose on Thursday, Oct. 1, when he went down awkwardly while battling for the puck in the right corner during a power play. He signaled for the bench door and left for the locker room.

Florida placed Barkov on long-term injured reserve on Saturday, which keeps him out at least 10 games and 24 days. On Tuesday, Maurice gave a timeline. "He's scheduled to be out 6-8 weeks, non-surgical rehab, and that's our best window," Maurice said, according to NHL.com.

The injury is a painful setback for a player who missed all of the 2025-26 season. Barkov tore the MCL and ACL in his right knee on the first day of training camp last fall and had surgery the next day. He returned to play for Finland at the IIHF World Championship in May, where he captained the team and posted 11 points in 10 games. The San Jose game was only his second of the new season. Before the extent of the latest injury was known, Maurice said, "We don't even know the extent of it yet, so it doesn't feel anything like last year."

A 6 to 8 week window puts a possible return somewhere between mid-November and early December.

A new-look roster carrying the load

The Panthers already look different from the group that won back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2024 and 2025. Florida acquired Brady Tkachuk, Matthew's younger brother, from the Ottawa Senators in June for a package of four draft picks, including two 2026 first-rounders. Brady Tkachuk, 26, carries an $8.25 million cap hit with two years left on his contract.

In goal, Florida reacquired Markstrom from the New Jersey Devils on June 30, sending Evan Rodrigues, Jesper Boqvist and the rights to Ben Steeves to New Jersey for Markstrom and winger Angus Crookshank. The deal signaled the end of Sergei Bobrovsky's run in South Florida; the 37-year-old who backstopped both Cup titles was headed to free agency. Markstrom, who began his NHL career in the Florida organization, has started the season with a 2-0-1 record.

With Barkov sidelined and Marchand's status unknown, more responsibility falls on Bennett, both Tkachuks and Carter Verhaeghe up front, and on a defense corps led by Gustav Forsling and Jones.

How the road trip unfolded

Florida opened the season on the road against the defending champion Carolina Hurricanes on banner night and has played all four games away from home. The results, in order:

Three of the four games went to overtime, and Florida has allowed just eight goals in four games. That defensive base, built under Maurice over the past several seasons, is what the Panthers will lean on while the injuries sort themselves out. NHL.com noted the Panthers sat atop the Atlantic Division after Tuesday's win.

What's next

The Panthers return to South Florida for their home opener Saturday at 6 p.m. against the Minnesota Wild at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise. Florida then hosts the Buffalo Sabres in a 1 p.m. matinee Monday, Oct. 12.

The next concrete update on Marchand is expected after he is examined, which Maurice said would probably happen Thursday. Barkov will continue non-surgical rehab and is not expected back before mid-November at the earliest.