The Oilers logged a whopping 45 penalty minutes in their 4-1 loss to the Panthers in Game 2 of the 2024 Stanley Cup Final.
Much of that total was courtesy of Warren Foegele’s knee to the midsection of Eetu Luostarinen. The 28-year-old winger was called for a major penalty for that hit and was ejected from the contest, drawing 15 penalty minutes on just that one play.
However, the penalty generating the most buzz after Game 2 was a two-minute roughing penalty called on star forward Leon Draisaitl. NHL fans are wondering whether he will face discipline after going in high on Panthers star Aleksander Barkov in the third period of Monday’s contest.
Here’s what to know about Draisaitl’s hit on Barkov and whether the NHL will deem the play worthy of a suspension.
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Leon Draisaitl hit on Aleksander Barkov
Draisaitl was called for roughing at the 9:28 mark of the third period after delivering a hit to Barkov in the Panthers’ defensive zone.
Draisaitl came at Barkov directly down the wall and hit the Panthers star high. Barkov immediately grabbed his face after the hit before falling to the ice. The whistle blew seconds later as Draisaitl touched the puck, and a mini scrum broke out between the Edmonton and Florida players.
Leon Draisaitl was assessed a minor penalty for roughing for this hit on Aleksander Barkov. pic.twitter.com/fBP73jsk7S
— ESPN (@espn) June 11, 2024
A closer look at the hit revealed Draisaitl’s elbow made contact with Barkov’s face. The Oilers forward also appeared to leave his skates while delivering the blow.
Aleksander Barkov took an elbow to the jaw from Leon Draisaitl#TimeToHunt | #LetsGoOilers pic.twitter.com/Y5i1d4PTz9
— Hockey Daily 365 l NHL Highlights & News (@HockeyDaily365) June 11, 2024
Barkov didn’t return to the game after the hit. Panthers coach Paul Maurice admitted it wasn’t because the team was exercising caution with its star.
“There was 9:28 on the clock, I believe, and it was a 2-1 game,” Maurice said. “I wasn’t holding him back.”
That’s why many NHL fans are wondering whether Draisaitl will face additional punishment for his actions after drawing only a minor penalty in the game.
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Will Leon Draisaitl be suspended?
It isn’t yet clear whether the NHL Department of Player Safety will dole out any discipline to Draisaitl.
Considering the attention Draisaitl’s hit has received, one would presume the NHL would at least subject the Oilers star to a hearing. After all, Barkov was injured during the play while Draisaitl was only assessed a two-minute minor.
After a hearing, the NHL could decide whether to suspend Draisaitl for his actions or simply to fine him and continue with the series.
Draisaitl has never been suspended before in the NHL. He was suspended one game for a hit from behind on Andrew Copp while playing for Germany at the 2013 IIHF World Junior Championships.
The NHL has only suspended one player during the 2024 postseason for his on-the-ice actions. That was Canucks defenseman Carson Soucy, who sat out Game 3 of the Western Conference Semifinals after cross-checking Connor McDavid.
Avalanche forward Valeri Nichushkin also was suspended by the NHL, but his stemmed from violating the terms of the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program. He will miss six months because of that.