The Florida Panthers are only two wins away from winning the Stanley Cup
In Game 1, they were outshot and outplayed by the Edmonton Oilers but bailed out by superstar goalie Sergei Bobrovsky.
In Game 2, they were better, and despite an early goal for the Oilers, they dominated and won the second straight game at home.
But everything was not fun and game for the Panthers.
Aleksander Barkov, often mentioned as the most underrated player in the NHL, left the game after taking a hit from Leon Draisaitl along the boards with 9:28 remaining of the game.
Barkov immediately fell to the ice before getting helped to the locker room.
With just about half of the final frame left, Barkov didn’t return to play, and although the Panthers won the game 4-1, there were reasons to worry afterward.
Paul Maurice, known for his hilarious quotes in his pressers, was not happy.
But he still declined to comment about his true feelings about the hit.
”This isn’t the Oprah Winfrey Show. My feelings don’t matter,” he said, in true Paul Maurice fashion.
Maurice also claimed that he had no updates on Barkov’s status after the hit. When asked about potential supplemental discipline for Draisaitl, Maurice said he expects the league to look at it.
”The league looks at everything.”
Leon Draisaitl was assessed a minor penalty for roughing after the hit on Barkov, in which he appeared to hit him high with an elbow.
The Panthers did manage to score on the ensuing power play, as Evan Rodrigues gave Florida a 3-1 lead with his second of the game.
Barkov had 80 points in 73 games this regular season and has continued to impress with 19 points through 19 games in the postseason so far.
