Panthers Coach Paul Maurice Unimpressed with Draisaitl’s Hit on Barkov
In a post-game interview after the Florida Panthers’ 4-1 victory over the Edmonton Oilers in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final, Panthers coach Paul Maurice appeared perturbed and frustrated when asked about Leon Draisaitl’s hit on Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov. With a stern expression and glassy eyes, Maurice made it clear that he wasn’t pleased with the hit. “This isn’t The Oprah Winfrey Show,” Maurice snapped. “My feelings don’t matter.”
The incident occurred with just under ten minutes left in the third period. Draisaitl, one of the Oilers’ star players, went in for a check on Barkov, leaving his feet and hitting Barkov in the jaw with his right forearm. Barkov, a two-time Selke Trophy winner, fell to the ice and had to be assisted by trainers. He appeared dazed and was unable to return to the game.
Initially, the referees did not call a penalty on the play. However, after conferring with the linesmen, they assessed a two-minute minor to Draisaitl for roughing. On the ensuing power play, Evan Rodrigues scored his second goal of the period, giving the Panthers a two-goal lead and snapping the Oilers’ streak of 34 successful penalty kills.
Maurice did not provide an update on Barkov’s condition after the game but made it clear that the decision to keep him out was not precautionary. “There was 9:28 on the clock, I believe, in a 2-1 game,” Maurice tersely stated. “I’m not holding him (out).”
The head of the NHL’s Department of Player Safety, George Parros, was in attendance at the game. It remains to be seen if Draisaitl will face supplemental discipline for the hit. Maurice acknowledged that the league will review the play. “The league looks at everything,” he said. “They’ll look at every hit.”
The Oilers, who had only managed seven shots through two periods, seemed to lose their composure in the waning minutes of the game following Rodrigues’ power-play goal. However, Draisaitl denied that his hit was fueled by frustration. “I don’t think that’s frustration. It was just a hit,” he stated. “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.”
Interestingly, the Panthers players were instructed not to comment on the hit or Barkov’s injury. They either claimed not to have seen the hit or declined to offer any opinions. This deliberate silence from the Panthers players suggests a coordinated effort to avoid escalating the situation.
Barkov, who is tied for the team lead with 19 points in the postseason, has been instrumental in the Panthers’ success. He has shut down top stars from the Tampa Bay Lightning, Boston Bruins, and New York Rangers. In the first two games of the Stanley Cup Final, Draisaitl, Connor McDavid, and Zach Hyman have failed to score against Barkov.
Barkov’s defensive prowess has earned him praise from hockey legend Wayne Gretzky, who compared him to Bryan Trottier, saying, “No. 16 is the best defensive hockey player I’ve seen since Bryan Trottier.” This high praise speaks to Barkov’s importance to the Panthers’ defensive game.
Kyle Okposo, a Panthers forward, highlighted Barkov’s commitment to defense as a driving force behind the team’s success. “I think when your captain is a Selke Trophy winner—and you heard what the best player in the world (Wayne Gretzky) said about him the other day—it’s kind of hard for anybody else to not take the defensive side of the puck seriously,” Okposo explained. “So it starts with him. It starts with his commitment to defense, and he’s just such a phenomenal player and leader for us.”
The Panthers’ success in the playoffs, particularly in the third period, can be attributed in part to Barkov’s defensive contributions. They have outscored their opponents 28-11 in the third period throughout the postseason.
As the series continues, the Panthers will eagerly await updates on Barkov’s condition. His leadership and defensive prowess will be crucial in their pursuit of their first Stanley Cup in franchise history.