Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl escaped supplemental discipline for his hit on Aleksander Barkov that eliminated the Florida Panthers captain from Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final on Monday night.
According Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedmanthe only punishment coming from the NHL’s Department of Player Safety following the Panthers’ 4-1 win will be a fine on the Oilers’ Sam Carrick for cutting Panthers defenseman Dmitry Kulikov.
Barkov exited the game with 9:28 left in the third period after taking a high hit from Draisaitl. Barkov did not return to the game, in which the Panthers took a 2-0 series lead.
Draisaitl received a harsh less than two-minute lesson.
Afterwards, Draisaitl said he saw nothing illegal on the site, at least nothing that would warrant additional discipline.
“I don’t think that’s frustration. It was just a success. I don’t think there’s anything dirty about it. Maybe I drugged him a little. Certainly not with the intent to hurt, or anything like that.” Draisaitl said.
The Department of Public Safety did not consider Draisaitl’s punch to be predatory or intended to injure, according to ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski,
Draisaitl has never been suspended and has only received two fines in his NHL career.
Panthers head coach Paul Maurice said Tuesday that Barkov was “no worse, so that’s a really good thing.”
Barkov will be evaluated again on Wednesday, a day before the series resumes for Game 3 in Edmonton (8 pm Eastern Time; ABC)
“We had some things that needed to be looked at today and they were looked at.” Mauricio said. “There’s nothing sinister there. That’s pretty much what happened. He felt better today. He feels good. But we have to wait another 24 hours to make sure he feels strong.”
Barkov missed only nine games during the regular season and has been involved in every Panthers game this postseason. He has 6 goals and 19 points in 19 games with Florida.
