BREAKING: Both Boston and Florida could be missing TOP players for Game 1

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Ryan
April 17, 2023 (11:32)

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The 2023 National Hockey League playoffs officially start tonight at 7pm when the New York Islanders and Carolina Hurricanes face off.

At 7:30, the Boston Bruins play host to the Florida Panthers, which is currently being speculated as a one-sided affair and could be the only sweep in the first round.

Both teams are loaded with talent, but the Bruins ran away with the season and the Panthers made the playoffs by the skim of their teeth, so it's heavily favoured in the Bruins direction.

The bad news though, is both teams could be missing some star players for game 1 as both were not at practice yesterday due to injuries.

It was announced yesterday that Aleksander Barkov was missing from the Florida Panthers practice:

Sasha Barkov is missing from #FlaPanthers practice this morning

Sasha Barkov is missing from #FlaPanthers practice this morning� George Richards (@GeorgeRichards) April 16, 2023

Then on the Bruins side, they decided to dress a full roster in the final game of the season against the Montreal Canadiens, and the worst outcome possible happened as Patrice Bergeron left the game with an injury. Well, he as well has missed practice and is a game time decision for game 1, as well as backup goaltender Jeremy Swayman:

Patrice Bergeron and Jeremy Swayman are not practicing.

Don Sweeney speaking now:

Another day of rest for Bergeron.

On Bergeron's status: «If he feels better, he'll play.»

Said Bergeron is dealing with both an injury and illness.

Swayman missed today's practice due to illness.� Conor Ryan (@ConorRyan_93) April 16, 2023