It seems like the Florida Panthers have avoided a worst-case scenario regarding captain Aleksander Barkov.
Speaking with reporters on the Panthers’ off-day, head coach Paul Maurice felt the prognosis for the 28-year-old was promising.
“He came in today, and he wasn’t worse, so that’s a really good thing,” the bench boss said. “The real assessment will be tomorrow, but if he continues to progress, we should be in good shape.”
Barkov left the Panthers’ Game 2 win over the Edmonton Oilers midway through the first period after a hit from Leon Draisaitl appeared to catch up up high. He did not return to the game and Draisaitl was assessed a two-minute minor penalty for roughing. As of Tuesday afternoon, Draisaitl was not handed any supplemental discipline by the league regarding the hit.
Though Maurice did sound hopeful, he wasn’t prepared to reveal whether Barkov would travel with the team to Edmonton or not.
“I don’t know if I can do all the hypotheticals for you,” Maurice said when asked if his captain would be fit to travel. “He left (the game). We had some things that needed to get looked at today, they got looked at so there’s nothing sinister there, so we’re kind of past that. He felt better today, feels good. But you’ve got to give it, then, another 24 hours to make sure that he’s still feeling strong and effective, and if he continues to progress then we think he’ll be a player for us.”
This post-season, the Finn has been a point-per-game player, potting six goals and 13 assists for 19 points in 19 playoff games thus far.
Though not nearly as severe as their 2023 run to the Stanley Cup Final, the Panthers have dealt with injuries to key players this post-season. Forward Sam Bennett missed much of the first round and the first two games of the second with a hand injury.
It wouldn’t be ideal for the Panthers to play without their Selke Trophy-winning captain, but Maurice is confident that, should it be necessary, his team will adapt.
“We have experience with Barkov out, and when you, even in this run, while he didn’t miss a game, we played five games without Sam Bennett. So we’ve done it enough that everybody, if you walked in there and say ‘Barky doesn’t play, what are the lines?’ The guys would all probably know what the lines are.”
The Oilers will look to avoid surrendering a commanding 3-0 series lead to the Panthers as the Stanley Cup Final shifts to Edmonton on Thursday. Catch all the action on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+ at 8 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. MT.
