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.

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. Barkov has missed three games since slamming into the end boards skates-first after sliding in an attempt to stop an empty-net goal with 1:10 remaining in a 3-1 loss to the Ottawa Senators on Oct.