Florida Panthers forward Aleksander Barkov to play in Game 3 of Stanley Cup Final

Aleksander Barkov is sweet to go for Sport 3 of the Stanley Cup last.

The Panthers captain was a query mark forward of Thursday after taking a forearm to the jaw from Edmonton Oilers centre Leon Draisaitl halfway by means of the third interval of Monday’s 4-1 victory that put Florida up 2-0 within the title collection.

Head coach Paul Maurice added winger Vladimir Tarasenko (undisclosed) would additionally play.

The winner of this yr’s Selke Trophy because the NHL’s high defensive ahead, Barkov practised Wednesday earlier than the staff flew to the Alberta capital after not returning to motion in Sport 2.

The Oilers, in the meantime, have a few harm query marks heading into the essential tilt at Rogers Place, together with defenceman Darnell Nurse (suspected hip harm) and winger Evander Kane (sports activities hernia).

Veteran ahead Corey Perry can also be anticipated to decorate. He sat out Sport 2 of the best-of-seven collection as a wholesome scratch.

Edmonton needed to play most of Monday with 5 blueliners after Nurse took successful from Florida winger Evan Rodrigues within the first interval. The 29-year-old acquired again out for a pair extra shifts, however was largely a spectator from the bench.

“Dropping Darnell clearly wasn’t superb early,” Oilers defenceman Evan Bouchard mentioned after the sport. “He’s a giant a part of the again finish.”

Draisaitl, in the meantime, was assessed a two-minute roughing penalty on the play that injured Barkov, however prevented supplementary self-discipline from the league’s division of participant security.

The 28-year-old German has by no means been suspended by the NHL.

“I checked out it,” Draisaitl mentioned Thursday of the incident. “I’m not a participant who performs with an intent to injure anyone by any means. I’ve no observe report of that. I’m not a participant who enjoys that a part of the sport — injuring different gamers or something like that. I caught him in an unlucky spot.

“I’ll depart it at that.”

Barkov’s inclusion within the lineup is a giant enhance for the Panthers, who took the primary two video games of the collection on dwelling ice by limiting Edmonton’s firepower led by Draisaitl and Connor McDavid.

Panthers ahead Kyle Okposo was impressed with 28-year-old’s potential to guard the puck and have a powerful stick as an opponent.

The commerce deadline acquisition has now seen the entire image.

“He simply does so many issues exceptionally effectively,” the 36-year-old mentioned of Barkov. “His consciousness on the defensive aspect of the puck and the way exhausting he works off the ice — simply all the pieces.

“Phenomenal all-around participant.”

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Edmonton Oilers again at dwelling for Sport 3 of Stanley Cup last

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