Edmonton Oilers star Leon Draisaitl prevented suspension for his unlawful hit that took Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov out of Recreation 2 of the Stanley Cup Ultimate.
The NHL Division of Participant Security dominated on Tuesday that Draisaitl will neither be fined nor suspended for the hit, which acquired a two-minute minor for roughing.
The Panthers lead the collection 2-0 after Monday night time’s 4-1 victory, with Recreation 3 scheduled for Thursday night time in Edmonton. Florida coach Paul Maurice indicated on Tuesday that Barkov’s well being is trending in the precise course.
Editor’s Picks
2 Associated
“He got here in as we speak. He wasn’t worse. That is a extremely good factor. The actual evaluation will likely be tomorrow, but when he continues to progress we must be in fine condition,” stated the coach.
Barkov is tied for the staff lead with 19 factors in 19 video games, sharing it with Matthew Tkachuk. The winner of the Selke Trophy because the NHL’s high defensive ahead, Barkov has been important to the Panthers shutting down Oilers star Connor McDavid, who has one help in two video games.
In the meantime, Edmonton could have Draisaitl within the lineup for a must-win Recreation 3. He is second on the Oilers in objectives (10) and factors (28) within the postseason.
With the Panthers main 2-1 within the third interval of Recreation 2, Barkov performed the puck in his defensive zone. Draisaitl got here in on the forecheck, left his skates and his elbow contacted Barkov’s jaw. The Florida captain fell to the ice, was tended to by medical workers after which left for the trainers’ room.
Maurice stated his star heart was unavailable for the final 9:28 of the sport. Panthers gamers stated a key to victory was not permitting the lack of Barkov to influence how they closed out the sport.
“I feel we rallied. We did what we needed to do to win the sport,” stated winger Evan Rodrigues, who scored his second aim of the sport on the following energy play. “You by no means need to see your captain go down, however I believed everybody did an important job focusing and bought the job performed.”
Stanley Cup playoffs 2024
There are simply two groups left vying for the Stanley Cup. Try our protection, with TV instances, the newest information, outcomes and extra.• Playoff Central• Subscribe to ESPN+ • Stream the NHL on ESPN
Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch did not anticipate something greater than a penalty. “I feel he went in there to hit. His palms bought up somewhat bit excessive. He was attempting to knock him off the puck and that led to the penalty,” stated the coach.
Sources advised ESPN on Tuesday that Draisaitl’s hit didn’t rise to the extent essential to earn a suspension within the Stanley Cup Ultimate. It wasn’t considered as predatory or delivered with intent to injure. Draisaitl is just not a participant with a historical past of unlawful hits to the top. He is by no means been suspended and was solely fined twice: in April 2017 for spearing and in Nov. 2023 for a harmful journey.
However the NHL Division of Participant Security did take Barkov’s standing for Recreation 3 and past under consideration in its determination. If he was sidelined, it may have tipped the choice right into a doable suspension.
Whereas accidents do not all the time result in suspensions, there’s particular consideration for the distinctive dynamics of a seven-game playoff collection between two opponents, and what a participant’s absence to damage may imply for that collection. That got here into play in 2023 when Toronto Maple Leafs ahead Michael Bunting was suspended three video games for an unlawful verify to the top and interference in opposition to Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Erik Cernak, a key participant on the staff.
However Barkov seems on monitor to play in Recreation 3.
“We had some issues that wanted to get checked out as we speak. They bought checked out — so there’s nothing sinister there — and he handed that,” Maurice stated. “He appeared higher as we speak. Feels good. However you’ve got gotta give it one other 24 hours to make it possible for he is nonetheless feeling sturdy. If that continues to progress he must be a participant for us.”
Maurice shut down speak that feelings over the incident may carry over into Thursday night time’s sport.
“It is performed. Refs known as a penalty on the ice. The league seems at each single hit they usually’ll make their determination. We aren’t coping with that anymore as we speak,” he stated. “A part of that’s the psychological self-discipline to go away the sport the place it’s whatever the outcome. It is performed for me. It is all performed.”
There was one little bit of supplemental self-discipline from Recreation 2: Edmonton’s Sam Carrick was fined $2,213.54, the utmost allowable underneath the CBA, for slashing Florida’s Dmitry Kulikov.
