TAMPA, Fla. — In the closing minutes of a tense playoff duel on Thursday evening, Florida Panthers’ captain Aleksander Barkov had to leave the contest due to an intense hit delivered by Brandon Hagel of the Tampa Bay Lightning during the Eastern Conference first-round series.
Barkov struggled to regain his balance following the hit, eventually managing to leave the ice before making his way to the locker room. Unfortunately, he did not continue the game afterwards. When Panthers’ coach Paul Maurice was asked for an injury update post-game, he had nothing to share.
The incident resulted in Hagel receiving a penalty for a 5-minute major interference. At that pivotal moment, Florida had the edge with a 1-0 lead, which was eventually cemented by Sam Bennett’s empty-net goal mere moments before the match ended, securing a 2-0 victory and bolstering their series lead to 2-0.
Tampa Bay’s coach, Jon Cooper, expressed his disbelief over the severity of the penalty, particularly during such a critical point in the match. “The refs made the call,” he stated, signifying the weight of a 5-minute major in a tight 1-0 game strategy with just under ten minutes remaining.
Within the series, Barkov emerged as a significant contributor with three assists, particularly highlighted by his effort in setting up the game’s first goal, netted by defenseman Nate Schmidt. Schmidt has proven to be instrumental, also clinching decisive goals during the previous game, which ended in a triumphant 6-2 result.
The pressing concern revolves around whether Barkov will be available for subsequent games as they approach Game 3, scheduled for Saturday afternoon in Sunrise. This showdown marks a momentous occasion for the Panthers as it will be their first home playoff game since their victorious Series-deciding match on June 24, 2024.
Teammates and fans alike underscore Barkov’s pivotal role. “He’s irreplaceable,” praised Seth Jones, a Panthers defenseman. “His contributions span across face-offs, special team situations, and 5-on-5 plays. Competing against opposing top lines, he stands out as one of the league’s premier centermen, central to our success.”