Aleksander Barkov is good to go for Game 3 of the Stanley Cup final.
The Panthers captain was a question mark ahead of Thursday after taking a forearm to the jaw from Edmonton Oilers centre Leon Draisaitl midway through the third period of Monday91裸聊视频檚 4-1 victory that put Florida up 2-0 in the title series.
Head coach Paul Maurice added winger Vladimir Tarasenko (undisclosed) would also play.
The winner of this year91裸聊视频檚 Selke Trophy as the NHL91裸聊视频檚 top defensive forward, Barkov practised Wednesday before the team flew to the Alberta capital after not returning to action in Game 2.
The Oilers, meanwhile, have a couple of injury question marks heading into the crucial tilt at Rogers Place, including defenceman Darnell Nurse (suspected hip injury) and winger Evander Kane (sports hernia).
Veteran forward Corey Perry is also expected to dress. He sat out Game 2 of the best-of-seven series as a healthy scratch.
Edmonton had to play most of Monday with five blueliners after Nurse took a hit from Florida winger Evan Rodrigues in the first period. The 29-year-old got back out for a couple more shifts, but was largely a spectator from the bench.
91裸聊视频淟osing Darnell obviously wasn91裸聊视频檛 ideal early,91裸聊视频� Oilers defenceman Evan Bouchard said after the game. 91裸聊视频淗e91裸聊视频檚 a big part of the back end.91裸聊视频�
Draisaitl, meanwhile, was assessed a two-minute roughing penalty on the play that injured Barkov, but avoided supplementary discipline from the league91裸聊视频檚 department of player safety.
The 28-year-old German has never been suspended by the NHL.
91裸聊视频淚 looked at it,91裸聊视频� Draisaitl said Thursday of the incident. 91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檓 not a player who plays with an intent to injure anybody by any means. I have no track record of that. I91裸聊视频檓 not a player who enjoys that part of the game 91裸聊视频� injuring other players or anything like that. I caught him in an unfortunate spot.
91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檒l leave it at that.91裸聊视频�
Barkov91裸聊视频檚 inclusion in the lineup is a big boost for the Panthers, who took the first two games of the series on home ice by limiting Edmonton91裸聊视频檚 firepower led by Draisaitl and Connor McDavid.
Panthers forward Kyle Okposo was impressed with 28-year-old91裸聊视频檚 ability to protect the puck and have a strong stick as an opponent.
The trade deadline acquisition has now seen the whole picture.
91裸聊视频淗e just does so many things exceptionally well,91裸聊视频� the 36-year-old said of Barkov. 91裸聊视频淗is awareness on the defensive side of the puck and how hard he works off the ice 91裸聊视频� just everything.
91裸聊视频淧henomenal all-around player. 91裸聊视频�
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