Aleksander Barkov's status for game 3 officially confirmed for the Panthers
The status of Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov has been confirmed ahead of Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Finals tonight in Edmonton.
Barkov received a dangerous hit from Leon Draisaitl in Game 2, forcing him to miss the final half of the third period. If you missed it, you can watch the hit here:
There were concerns about a possible broken jaw or concussion, but Panthers head coach Paul Maurice shared great news this afternoon. In his daily press conference, Maurice confirmed that Barkov will be in uniform tonight as the Panthers try to secure their third win of the series.
Chris Johnston reported:
With Barkov in the lineup, the Panthers will have a better chance to contain Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid. Even if he's not at 100%, Barkov has proven throughout the playoffs that he's essential to the team's success.
If the Panthers win the Stanley Cup, Barkov will likely be a top candidate, alongside Sergei Bobrovsky, for the Conn Smythe Trophy, awarded to the most valuable player of the playoffs.
Are you surprised by the decision to play Barkov in Game 3 after the massive hit from Draisaitl?
Source: hockeypatrolThe verdict is in for Aleksander Barkov game 3 status
| POLL | ||
13 JUIN | 423 ANSWERS Aleksander Barkov's status for game 3 officially confirmed for the Panthers Are you surprised that Florida Panthers forward Aleksander Barkov is playing in game 3 against the Edmonton Oilers? | ||
| Yes | 131 | 31 % |
| No | 292 | 69 % |
| List of polls | ||
