Oilers player Leon Draisaitl will not be suspended for hitting Aleksander Barkov

Edmonton Oilers star Leon Draisaitl avoided a suspension for his illegal hit that eliminated Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov from Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final.

The NHL’s Division of Player Safety ruled Tuesday that Draisaitl will not be fined or suspended for his hit, which was assessed a two-minute minor penalty for excessive force.

The Panthers lead the series 2-0 after Monday night’s 4-1 win. Game 3 is scheduled for Thursday night in Edmonton. Florida coach Paul Maurice said Tuesday that Barkov’s health is improving.

“He came today. He wasn’t getting any worse. That’s really good. The real assessment will be tomorrow, but if he continues to make progress, we should be in good shape,” said the coach.

Barkov is tied with Matthew Tkachuk for the team lead with 19 points in 19 games. Barkov, the winner of the Selke Trophy as the NHL’s best defensive forward, was crucial for the Panthers in shutting down Oilers star Connor McDavid, who had one assist in two games.

Meanwhile, Edmonton will have Draisaitl on the roster for its must-win Game 3. He is the Oilers’ second-leading goal scorer (10) and second-leading point scorer (28) in the postseason.

With the Panthers leading 2-1 in the third period of Game 2, Barkov played the puck in his defensive zone. Draisaitl came in on the forecheck, left his skates and his elbow connected with Barkov’s jaw. The Florida captain fell to the ice, was tended to by medical personnel and then went to the trainer’s room.

Maurice said his star center was unavailable for the final 9:28 minutes of the game. Panthers players said a key to the win was not letting the loss of Barkov affect the way they finished the game.

“I think we pulled together. We did what we had to do to win the game,” said winger Evan Rodrigues, who scored his second goal of the game on the ensuing power play. “You never want to see your captain go down, but I think everyone was very focused and did their job.”

Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch expected nothing more than a penalty. “I think he went in there to hit. His hands were a little high. He tried to knock him off the puck and that led to the penalty,” the coach said.

Sources told ESPN on Tuesday that Draisaitl’s hit did not rise to the level required for a Stanley Cup Final suspension. It was not considered predatory, nor was it made with the intent to injure. Draisaitl is not a player with a history of illegal strikes to the head. He has never been suspended and has only been penalized twice: in April 2017 for spearing and in November 2023 for dangerous diving.

But the NHL’s Division of Player Safety took Barkov’s status for Game 3 and beyond into account in its decision. If he had been out, that could have resulted in a possible suspension.

While injuries do not always result in suspensions, the unique dynamics of a seven-game playoff series between two opponents and the importance of a player’s injury absence to that series must be particularly considered. This came to the fore in 2023, when Toronto Maple Leafs forward Michael Bunting was suspended for three games for an illegal check to the head and obstruction of Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Erik Cernak, a key player on the team.

But Barkov seems to be on track to play in Game 3.

“We had to check some things today. They were checked – so there’s nothing scary about it – and he came through,” Maurice said. “He looked better today. Feels good. But you have to give him another 24 hours to make sure he still feels strong. If that continues to develop, he should be a player for us.”

Maurice dismissed speculation that emotions over the incident could linger into Thursday night’s game.

“It’s over. The referees called a penalty on the ice. The league looks at every single shot and will make their decision. We don’t have to deal with that today,” he said. “Part of it is the mental discipline of leaving the game where it is, regardless of the outcome. For me, it’s over. It’s all over.”

There was an additional disciplinary action in Game 2: Edmonton’s Sam Carrick was fined $2,213.54, the maximum penalty under the CBA, for sticking Florida’s Dmitry Kulikov.