The Florida Panthers may get injured captain Aleksander Barkov back a bit quicker than expected. And if nothing else, he's still on track to play when the Stanley Cup champions go to his native Finland for a pair of games next month.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Aleksander Barkov skated Thursday for the first time since sustaining a lower-body injury and could return to the lineup for the Florida Panthers as soon as next week, coach Paul Maurice said.

Aleksander Barkov was on the ice getting some work in before Panthers morning skate ahead of a date with the Canucks on Thursday.

Panthers coach Paul Maurice said that star center Aleksander Barkov will be out weeks due to the lower-body injury he suffered in Florida’s loss to the Ottawa Senators.

Entering Saturday's contents against the Buffalo Sabres, which the Panthers ended up losing 5-2, head coach Paul Maurice provided a relatively positive, albeit fuzzy, update on Barkov's injury.

Florida Panthers captain and top-line center Aleksander Barkov sustained a lower-body injury late in their 3-1 loss to the Ottawa Senators on Thursday at Canadian Tire Centre.

Barkov went skates first into the boards. Behind Florida’s goal while trying to defend against an empty-net opportunity for Senators forward Tim Stutzle. He had not skated since suffering the injury, until Thursday morning.

Panthers injured captain Aleksander Barkov skated Thursday for the first time since leaving a game at Ottawa on Oct. 10 with a lower-body injury, a sign he may be back a bit quicker than expected.