Leon Draisaitl is public enemy number one in Florida at the moment.
The Panthers have earned a 2-0 series lead in the Stanley Cup Finals and are now only two wins away from winning their first-ever Stanley Cup.
But now awaits two straight games in Edmonton, and they may have to do it without superstar forward Aleksander Barkov.
Barkov had a great regular season, and he’s often acknowledged as one of the most underrated players in the league.
So far in this year’s playoffs, he has 19 points through 19 games, but he couldn’t finish Game 2 due to a controversial hit from Leon Draisaitl.
The hit occurred at 9:28 in the third period as Barkov battled for the puck along the boards.
Draisaitl appeared to hit him in the head with his elbow, and Barkov needed help to the locker room.
Barkov didn’t return to the game, and from the locker room, he could watch the Panthers score on the ensuing power play to get a 3-1 lead.
The Panthers now hold a 2-0 series lead, but after the game, Paul Maurice could not give any updates on Barkov’s status.
It did not look good for him, and now, many have asked for the NHL to take another look at the hit, and consider supplemental disciple for Draisaitl.
But Draisaitl himself, per Daniel Nugent-Bowman of The Athletic, thought the hit was just fine, and that it’s part of the game, and that it had nothing to do with him letting his emotions take over.
”I don’t think that’s frustration. It was just a hit,” Draisaitl said.
”I don’t think there’s anything dirty about it. Maybe I got him a little high. Certainly not with intent to injure, though, or anything like that.”
