The host Florida Panthers are getting another All-Star for next week’s game.
The Toronto Maple Leafs announced that four-time NHL All-Star Auston Matthews will miss at least the next three weeks because of a sprained knee. He was injured during Wednesday’s game against the New York Rangers.
Matthews, who was voted in by fans, will be replaced during All-Star weekend by Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov. The Panthers had only one representative at the game, Matthew Tkachuk, who was part of the initial 32 players named by the NHL.
Matthews was named Hart Trophy winner (MVP to his team) last season after scoring a career-best 60 goals. He has 25 goals and 53 points this season in 47 games and sat out two games earlier this month because of an unspecified nagging injury.
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Barkov is making his second appearance in the All-Star Game (also 2018). He has 43 points in 40 games and has missed 10 games because of injury or illness.
The NHL will also have to monitor the status of Seattle Kraken All-Star representative Matty Beniers after the rookie of the year candidate hit his head on the ice following a check from Vancouver Canucks defenseman Tyler Myers.
Beniers will miss Friday’s and Saturday’s games, coach Dave Hakstol said. The team called up forward Max McCormick.
The NHL All-Star skills competition will be held on Friday, Feb. 3 (7 p.m. ET, ESPN) and the main game will be on Saturday, Feb. 4 (3 p.m. ET, ABC).
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NHL All-Star Game: Aleksander Barkov replaces injured Auston Matthews
