Panthers' Aleksander Barkov, Matthew Tkachuk nearing return

(Photo credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images)
The reigning Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers could have stars Aleksander Barkov (lower-body injury) and Matthew Tkachuk (illness) back in the lineup next week.

Barkov, 29, was expected to miss two to three weeks after being injured on Oct. 10, but he skated for the first time since the injury on Thursday and again on Saturday. He has missed the last four games.

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