Barkov standing unclear for Panthers after damage in Recreation 2 of Cup Ultimate – NHL.com

Heart leaves following excessive hit from Oilers ahead Draisaitl halfway by third interval
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SUNRISE, Fla. — The Florida Panthers took a 2-0 lead within the Stanley Cup Ultimate on Monday, however the standing of star middle and captain Aleksander Barkov is murky.
Barkov didn’t play the ultimate 9:28 of the Panthers’ 4-1 win in opposition to the Edmonton Oilers at Amerant Financial institution Area after taking a excessive hit from ahead Leon Draisaitl, who was given a two-minute penalty for roughing.
Barkov was down for a minute or so after the hit earlier than being helped off the ice and to the dressing room.
Requested for an replace on Barkov’s standing after the sport, Panthers coach Paul Maurice gave a one-word reply: “None.”
When requested if he thinks the NHL Division of Participant Security ought to take a look at the hit, he mentioned, “The League seems at each hit.”
When requested a second time about his emotions on the hit, he mentioned, “This isn’t ‘The Oprah Winfrey Present.’ My emotions don’t matter.”
When requested if he held Barkov out of the remainder of the sport for precautionary causes, Maurice reminded the media the rating was 2-1 on the time of the damage, saying, “I’m not holding him.”
Draisaitl mentioned the play was not out of frustration and that it was “only a hit.”
“I don’t assume there was something soiled about it,” Draisaitl mentioned. “I don’t know, perhaps I bought him a bit excessive, however definitely not any intent to injure or something like that.”
NHL Tonight discusses the damage to Aleksander Barkov
Barkov’s teammates mentioned little in regards to the play, with ahead Matthew Tkachuk saying, “I’ve no response or touch upon that.”
No matter how they really feel in regards to the play, dropping Barkov for any video games within the Ultimate can be a giant blow for the Panthers, who’re searching for their first Stanley Cup championship.
Voted the Selke Trophy winner as the very best defensive ahead within the NHL this season, Barkov has been a key a part of shutting down Oilers famous person forwards Connor McDavid and Draisaitl by two video games. McDavid had one help and three pictures on purpose in Recreation 2, and Draisaitl was held and not using a level on two pictures. Earlier than the Oilers misplaced 3-0 in Recreation 1 on Saturday, McDavid (31 factors; 5 objectives, 26 assists) and Draisaitl (28 factors; 10 objectives, 18 assists) had mixed for 59 factors by 18 playoff video games.
In truth, the NHL’s high three scorers within the postseason — McDavid, Draisaitl and Oilers defenseman Evan Bouchard (28 factors; six objectives, 22 assists) — have mixed for 2 assists within the Ultimate. Bouchard additionally had an help Monday.
Barkov had two pictures on purpose in 17:47 of ice time in Recreation 2 after having two assists in 21:06 of ice time in Recreation 1.
With the sequence shifting to Edmonton for Video games 3 and 4, the Oilers could have the final change and can be capable to try to get favorable matchups for McDavid and Draisaitl’s strains.
Ahead Evan Rodrigues, who scored two objectives within the third interval Monday, appreciated how the Panthers responded after seeing Barkov get injured.
“I feel we rallied,” Rodrigues mentioned. “We did what we needed to do to win the sport. You by no means wish to see your captain go down, however I assumed everybody did an incredible job, targeted in, bought the job carried out.”
Florida ahead Kyle Okposo mentioned, “I imply, yeah, clearly you do not wish to see anyone get harm. However I assumed we did a superb job of sticking with it. And we discovered a manner. It was an enormous purpose by ‘Roddie’ there to interrupt the dam on the [power play] there (to make it 3-1 at 12:26) and I simply thought we did an incredible job within the third interval after that.”
🔹 Florida Panthers vs. Edmonton Oilers

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