Aleksander Barkov, captain of the Florida Panthers, exited Monday night’s game against the Edmonton Oilers in the third period after taking a high hit from Oilers’ star Leon Draisaitl. The incident occurred as Barkov maintained possession of the puck along the boards. Draisaitl charged towards him but instead of delivering a shoulder-to-shoulder check, he launched himself high, making contact with Barkov’s head and connecting his elbow with Barkov’s jaw.
Barkov remained on the ice and was attended to by the team’s trainer before being helped off and taken down the tunnel. The officials reviewed the play and assessed a two-minute minor penalty to Draisaitl for roughing. During the ensuing power play, Evan Rodrigues scored his second goal of the game, extending the Panthers’ lead to 3-1. However, Barkov did not return to the game, and the specifics of his injury were not immediately clear. Given the nature of the hit, it was speculated that Barkov was being evaluated for a concussion.
Panthers head coach Paul Maurice provided no specific update on Barkov’s condition post-game. When asked about the hit, Maurice responded in his typical stern manner, stating, “This isn’t the Oprah Winfrey Show. My feelings don’t matter.” He emphasized that Barkov was not held back from returning to the game and that if he was able to play, he would have been on the ice.
On Tuesday, Maurice offered a more hopeful update, saying Barkov “wasn’t worse, so that’s a really good thing.” He mentioned that if Barkov continued to show progress, the team would be in “good shape.” Maurice noted that the real assessment would come after 24 hours, indicating that Barkov had passed initial evaluations and felt better.
Barkov’s condition seemed to improve, as he skated with the team on Wednesday. Maurice confirmed that Barkov participated fully in practice and looked good. Barkov was placed on his usual line with Evan Rodrigues and Sam Reinhart, suggesting he was trending in the right direction for a return.
On Thursday, Barkov participated in the morning skate, and Maurice later announced that Barkov would be in the lineup for Game 3 against the Oilers. His presence is crucial as the Panthers look to extend their 2-0 series lead as the Stanley Cup Final shifts to Edmonton.