The Florida Panthers are going to be struggling for a playoff spot, three points out an Eastern Conference playoff spot now, with the loss of leading scorer Nathan Horton. Horton will be out of the lineup for 4-6 weeks with a broken leg according the Miami Herald. Horton was injured in the Islanders game on Thursday night. Horton currently leads the team with 46 points.
Nathan Horton Out 4-6 Weeks With Broken Leg
Here is what Panthers General Manager Randy Sexton had to say about the injury:
``There’s never a good time for this, but especially at this time of year,“ said general manager Randy Sexton. ``This is an opportunity for other guys to step up and show that they belong and carry some of the offensive load. The silver lining is two weeks of Nate’s rehab will be done during the Olympic break. It’s unfortunate, but it’s a fact we have to deal with and move on.”
Our Panthers site, Litter Box Cats, seems to think the same way as Sexton does:
Nine games remain before the Olympic break in mid-February. With David Booth still on the mend - and having as yet gone unreplaced in the lineup - the loss of Horton completes a one-two punch Florida can ill afford. Promotion from within the organization to cover numerous injuries sustained by the parent club has proven unremarkable at best while leaving the Rochester Americans gasping for coverage.
Obviously the loss of Horton is going to be a huge blow to the Panthers, but could this be a big chance for a player like Michal Repik, best scoring winger in Rochester, to step up and show his worth to the Panthers.
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