Niko Mikkola Suffers Chilling Injury Amid Two-Goal Performance Against Carolina

Mikkola had just scored Carolina's 3rd goal of the game minutes before:

Former NHL defenseman and current analyst Chris Pronger, who once suffered a devastating ACL tear in the middle of the Stanley Cup Playoffs during his playing career, expressed fear on X about the potential severity of Mikkola's injury.

That could be a huge loss for the Panthers if Mikkola is seriously injured. That looked like a brutal fall into the boards. Might be a separated shoulder based on the times I have done the same thing. Hope he is ok. Playing awesome right now.

Pronger then responded to a fan asking if Mikkola would be able to play if the result of the incident was in fact a separated shoulder.

If in fact that is what happened maybe in 2 weeks. Depends on the severity of the injury. It will still be very uncomfortable and painful to play. Luckily for him it is his right shoulder which is his top hand. Easier to play hurt with that shoulder as a left shot.

Mikkola has been in trouble with the NHL earlier in the postseason opening round against the Tampa Bay Lightning , getting himself ejected in the after boarding Lightning forward Zemgus Girgensons; he was fined $5,000 for his actions.