The Hit and Its Consequences
Leon Draisaitl's hit on Alexander Barkov during the Edmonton Oilers' matchup against the Florida Panthers resulted in a two-minute minor penalty for roughing. The incident occurred while the Panthers were leading 2-1 in the game.
Barkov was handling the puck in his defensive zone when Draisaitl came in aggressively on the forecheck. Draisaitl left his skates and made contact with his elbow to Barkov's jaw. As a result, Barkov fell to the ice, needed medical attention, and headed to the trainers' room. He was unavailable for the last 9:28 of the game. Despite his absence, the Panthers' players rallied to close out the game, securing a victory and extending their series lead to 2-0. Evan Rodrigues scored his second goal of the game on the ensuing power play, capitalizing on Draisaitl's penalty.
Player Safety Decision
The NHL Department of Player Safety reviewed the hit and concluded that it did not rise to a level that warranted a suspension. The Department determined that Draisaitl's hit was neither predatory nor executed with intent to injure. Additionally, Draisaitl does not have a history of illegal hits to the head; he has no suspensions and only two fines in his career. The Department of Player Safety also considered Barkov's availability for Game 3 in their decision-making process. Reports indicated that although Barkov was visibly shaken by the hit, his health is trending positively, and he appears on track to play in the next game.
Key Player Contributions
Barkov has been instrumental for the Panthers, tying for the team lead with 19 points in 19 games, alongside Matthew Tkachuk. He has played a crucial role in shutting down Edmonton's star player, Connor McDavid, who has managed only one assist in the first two games of the series.
On the other hand, Draisaitl remains a vital player for the Oilers, ranking second on the team in both goals and points in the postseason. Having him available for Game 3 will be a significant relief for the Oilers as they work to turn the series around.
Team Reactions
Panthers' head coach commented on Barkov's condition: "He came in today. He wasn't worse. That's a really good thing. The real assessment will be tomorrow, but if he continues to progress, we should be in good shape."
A teammate added, "You never want to see your captain go down, but I thought everyone did a great job focusing and got the job done."
Addressing the hit itself, a Panthers' representative noted, "I think he went in there to hit. His hands got up a little bit high. He was trying to knock him off the puck, and that led to the penalty."
Looking Ahead
With a 2-0 series lead, the Panthers are poised to maintain their momentum heading into Game 3. Barkov's expected return will be a significant boost for the team as they aim to apply more pressure on the Oilers.
The Oilers, on the other hand, will need to capitalize on Draisaitl being back in the lineup and find ways to generate more offense, particularly from McDavid, who has been effectively contained so far. Edmonton will also need to maintain discipline, as forward Sam Carrick was fined $2,213.54 for slashing Florida's Dmitry Kulikov.
Both teams understand the importance of maintaining focus and discipline as they continue to vie for playoff success. As one veteran player pointed out, "Part of that is the mental discipline to leave the game where it is regardless of the result. It's done for me. It's all done."
Fans are eagerly awaiting the next matchup, with Edmonton's home crowd ready to support their team in what promises to be another fiercely contested game. Game 3 will undoubtedly be pivotal for both teams, with the Oilers looking to make a comeback and the Panthers aiming to extend their lead.