Don’t expect supplemental discipline to be announced today for a pair of Oilers forwards that laid controversial hits in last night’s Game 2 loss. Leon Draisaitl’s check to the head of Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov that knocked him out of the game will go unpunished past the two-minute minor assessed on the play, TVA’s Renaud Lavoie reports. Warren Foegele also won’t receive a suspension for his knee-on-knee hit on Eetu Luostarinen that got him tossed from the game in the first period, per ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski.
That’s good news for an Edmonton squad that needs to battle back from a 2-0 series deficit as the series shifts to their ice later this week. The Oilers became the first team since the Penguins in 2008 to score one goal or less in the first two games of a Stanley Cup Final. While they were dominant but stymied by Panthers netminder Sergei Bobrovsky in their Game 1 loss, Game 2 saw Florida’s defense limit the Oilers to 19 shots on goal and no high-danger chances at even strength. Draisaitl, in particular, would be a huge loss – he’s second on the club in playoff goals (10) and points (28) in 20 games.
Other updates from the Cup Final:
- While Draisaitl will be available for Game 3, Barkov is a question mark. Panthers head coach Paul Maurice said today that his first-line center isn’t feeling any worse this morning after taking the German forward’s elbow to his jaw area but will undergo further evaluation tomorrow (via Florida Hockey Now’s George Richards). The team hasn’t confirmed the nature of Barkov’s injury, but speculation indicates he’s likely in concussion protocol. Barkov, 28, is tied for the team lead in postseason scoring with 19 points in 19 games and has averaged 21:31 per game, second to Sam Reinhart among Florida forwards.
- Speaking to reporters via Zoom this morning, Oilers bench boss Kris Knoblauch had no update on the status of defenseman Darnell Nurse (per NHL.com’s Nick Cotsonika). The much-maligned blue liner missed significant chunks of last night’s loss after taking an awkward hit from Panthers winger Evan Rodrigues late in the first period (video link). Nurse has just three assists and a -15 rating in 20 postseason contests thus far, and his potential absence for Game 3 would make way for Cody Ceci to re-enter the lineup after being a healthy scratch for the first time as an Oiler in Game 2.
- Luostarinen and defenseman Aaron Ekblad both missed chunks of Game 2 with respective lower-body injuries, but they’ll be good to go moving forward, Maurice confirmed this morning (via the team’s Jameson Olive). Luostarinen wasn’t able to put any weight on his left leg while being helped off the ice after his collision with Foegele but managed to return before the end of the period. Ekblad, meanwhile, twisted his ankle awkwardly after getting tangled up with Oilers star Connor McDavid but still logged nearly 23 minutes of action in last night’s win.
looked like Draisaitl did leave his feet too, idk about these decisions Edmonton might as well be on the ropes these next 2 games, they need to win them both
Cousins can’t wait to leave his feet for a hit! Or maybe roll out the Lomberghini lol.
Had no favorite in this series until now. Go Panthers.
Screw the Panthers. The refs have helped & at times downright saved or given the game to them because of horrid calls from goaltending interference to hits that shouldn’t have been called & so forth. Yet, refs don’t call the countless cheap shots the Panthers do.
Also, like I said in another post there is one ref who’s been involved with almost every Panthers playoff game which is highly peculiar especially since the refs have been favoring Panthers suspiciously throughout the playoffs.
Oh jeezus this is pathetic
It’s amazing how no one else in the world of hockey has caught on to this biased officiating but you.
Laughable, do you actually watch the games?
Ah, conspiracy theories, the last refuge of the truly pathetic.
ThundtheFeeler
What a ridiculous post.
I want this to go seven, too, because there’s no more hockey until the fall. But if that would have been against McDavid, regardless of who delivered it, it would have been a five minute major, game misconduct, a trip to the league office, and likely an arrest with handcuffs for felonious assault. Penalizing Draisaitl for 5 in a 2-1 game or possibly suspending him a game afterwards, would not have helped the Oilers chances.
BS!!!!! Panthers in 4 now!!!!!! Oilers deserve to be humiliated!
Nice the ice officials are eyeballing the Oilers yet not watching the Panthers using stick whack guys in the groin area.
Use both eyes!
Absolutely insane that Draisaitl isn’t getting suspended. He very obviously left his feet, and clearly aimed for the head. If handing out #1 picks to the Oilers isn’t enough to hand them a Cup, I guess the department of “player safety” has to chip in too…
you’re still crying about #1 picks? they blew most of those (except LD and CM).
also, I’m more surprised Foegles didn’t get st least a game. it was a clear knee out to trip a guy going past him.
LDs wasn’t great but I didn’t expect a suspension. the leaving his feet was as the hot was made, as most players do when completing a hit.
as someone who doesn’t care who wins this series, there is too much fan crying on both sides.
Dude, the Panthers have been given help by the refs throughout the entire playoffs & have gotten away with a ton of dirty hits but they’re a dirty team in general. Anytime the Panthers throughout the playoffs have been in a jam, the refs find a way to call ridiculous goaltending interferences, hits that blatantly shouldn’t be called & the list goes on. I’ve seen it done in every series with the Panthers in the playoffs this year.
Also, there is one ref who’s been involved with almost every Panthers playoff game which is highly peculiar especially since the refs have been favoring Panthers suspiciously throughout the playoffs.
Based on the lack of suspensions from this game I’d say the NHL was favoring the Oilers.
But yeah overlook these plays and float out there a self proclaimed ref bias throughout the playoffs for the panthers. Brilliant
LMFAO!!
@moneyball
Draisaitl wasnt a #1 pick. He was taken 3rd overall.
RNH is the other good #1 pick they have.
ThundtheFeeler
Draisaitl was a #3 overall not a #1
Precedent is set, McDavid should eat an elbow.
It’s insane that EDM has dominated the postseason carrying a -15 Dman who gets paid top pair money. Just… how? Do they only ever score on the powerplay?
Lost any respect I had for Edmonton after that late showing. Cheap-shotting guys late? Scummy.
Panthers have been doing it throughout the playoffs. Oilers are just playing to the Panthers dirt playing.
Found the Bruins fan.
The best player in the world is shutting down your supposed best player in the world, so you elbow him in the head to knock him out. Hopefully Barkov won’t miss time. I suspect the Panthers will not seek retaliation as long as the score is close, as they are more focused on winning the cup. Next season, someone is going to pay, and I don’t care if it’s McDavid.
Its quite simple you knock out other teams best player with dirty hit you miss a game.period end of story that’s fair.
Booooooo. I can understand lightening suspensions in the finals, but that should still be 1 for drai, 2 for foegle. It’s an embarrassment, 1. How the league plays favorites and 2. How those beneficiaries still can’t win. Just give it up and hold everyone to the same standards.
Watch the other replays on the Foegele hit. His knees are tucked in to his body. Luosterainen’s are extended. It should not have been a penalty vs EDM. The Draisaitl on Barkov is another story. Yes he left his skates off the ice, but he isn’t launching into the hit and yes his elbow appears to be main contact but it looks like hands make first contact to the shoulder… he probably should have received supplemental punishment, but it’s not as bad as Panthers fans are calling for, and not as innocent as Oilers fans claim.
I disagree entirely with your take on the foegele thing. Looked to me like his leg was stuck out there as far as he possibly could get it.
But I do agree with you on the draisaitl point. It was an unfortunate hit more than anything. The penalty was enough on that one I think.
Finals or not, Foegele should have gotten suspended. That’s one of the most dangerous plays in the sport and it’s not forgivable. If it’s mcdavid or draisaitl getting hit like that it’s a guaranteed suspension.