Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl escaped supplemental discipline for his hit on Aleksander Barkov that knocked the Florida Panthers captain out of Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final on Monday night.
According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedmanthe only punishment coming from the NHL Department of Player Safety after the Panthers’ 4-1 victory will be a fine for the Oilers’ Sam Carrick for cutting Panthers defenseman Dmitry Kulikov.
Barkov left the game with 9:28 left in the third period after taking a high hit from Draisaitl. Barkov did not return to the game, which saw the Panthers take a 2–0 series lead.
Draisaitl received a two-minute minor buff.
Draisaitl later said he saw nothing illegal in the play — at least nothing that would warrant additional discipline.
“I don’t think this is frustration. It was just a success. I don’t think there’s anything dirty about that. Maybe I got him a little high. Certainly not with the intent to harm, or anything like that.” Draisaitl said.
The DoPS did not consider Draisaitl’s attack to be predatory with intent to harm, according to ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski,
Draisaitl has never been suspended and has only received two fines in his NHL career.
Panthers coach Paul Maurice said Tuesday that Barkov was “no worse, so that’s a very good thing.”
Barkov will be evaluated again on Wednesday, the day before the series resumes for Game 3 in Edmonton (8 p.m. ET; ABC).
“We had some things that needed to be analyzed today and that were analyzed,” Mauricio said. “There’s nothing sinister about it. He’s kind of moved past it. He felt better today. It feels good. But you need to wait another 24 hours to make sure he feels strong.”
Barkov missed just nine games during the regular season and has been involved in every Panthers game this postseason. He has six goals and 19 points in 19 games with Florida.
