In Game 2 between the Panthers and Oilers, a significant incident occurred when Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov exited the game with 9:28 left in the third period after enduring a high hit from Oilers’ star Leon Draisaitl.
During the play, Barkov was controlling the puck along the boards when Draisaitl charged towards him. Instead of a conventional shoulder-to-shoulder check, Draisaitl aimed high, striking Barkov with his elbow directly to the head.
The impact left Barkov on the ice, where he received medical attention from a trainer before being assisted off and down the tunnel.
The referees reviewed the incident and penalized Draisaitl with a two-minute minor for roughing. This penalty led to a power-play opportunity for the Panthers, during which Evan Rodrigues scored his second goal of the game, increasing the Panthers’ lead to 3-1.
Barkov did not return to the ice after the hit, and his specific injury remains unclear. Given the nature of the collision, there are concerns he may have been evaluated for a concussion.
After the game, Panthers head coach Paul Maurice did not provide an update on Barkov’s condition. When questioned about the hit, Maurice responded in his characteristic manner but firmly stated he had no authority to prevent Barkov from returning if he was able to play.
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