Panthers' Niko Mikkola Escapes Serious Injury in Eastern Conference Final

Niko Mikkola, a key defenseman for the Florida Panthers, suffered an upper-body injury after an awkward collision with the boards during Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Final against the Carolina Hurricanes. Despite exiting the game with a shoulder injury, Panthers coach Paul Maurice and other reports indicate Mikkola is expected to be fine and likely to play in Game 4, which could send Florida to the Stanley Cup Final for the third consecutive year. Mikkola has had a strong postseason performance, tallying 3 goals and 2 assists in 15 games, including a standout two-goal effort in the game where he was injured. His defensive and offensive contributions have been crucial for the Panthers, who currently lead the series 3-0. The team and fans are hopeful that Mikkola’s injury will not impact their push for another Stanley Cup appearance.