Edmonton Oilers Star Leon Draisaitl Defends Himself Over Controversial Hit On Aleksander Barkov

One of the most talked about moments in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final was the hit that Edmonton Oilers star Leon Draisaitl delivered on Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov.

Any time two of the biggest players for each team come together is certainly going to get people talking. However, this hit was extremely consequential in that it took Barkov out of the game about halfway through the third period and put Draisaitl in the sin bin for roughing.

The Panthers then scored on the ensuing powerplay, snapping the Oilers' streak of 34 straight successful penalty kills.

If that play doesn't ring a bell (bro, where have you been?) here it is. 

A bit on the high side? Yes?

Suspension worthy? Not in the Stanley Cup Final.

And the league agreed. Draisaitl will be in the lineup for Thursday's Game 3 and Barkov will suit up as well.

Before Game 3, Draisaitl offered his defense for the hit.

"First of all, I think we all know that I'm not a player that plays with intent to injure anybody, by any means," Draisaitl said. "I'm not a player that enjoys that part of the game, injuring other players or anything like that. I caught him in an unfortunate spot, and I'll leave it at that.

"I can't stress enough that I'm not someone who plays the game of hockey wanting to injure."

I think that's fair, and Draisaitl is right, that's not his reputation. It wasn't the cleanest hit in the world and the outcome was unfortunate, but I think the league got that one right.

Draisaitl wasn't the only Oiler who avoided supplemental discipline for a hit he threw in Game 2. Warren Foegle caught Florida's Eetu Luostarinen with a knee-on-knee hit.

That earned Foegele a five-minute major and a game misconduct, however it looks as though he avoided suspension.

The Oilers also managed to get through his five-minute major, thanks in part to Oliver Ekman-Larsson who took a penalty to negate the man advantage after just a couple of minutes.

That was the first of two times he ruined Florida powerplays by taking a penalty of his own in Game 2.