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 MondayB次元官网网址檚 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 yearB次元官网网址檚 Selke Trophy as the NHLB次元官网网址檚 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.

B次元官网网址淟osing Darnell obviously wasnB次元官网网址檛 ideal early,B次元官网网址� Oilers defenceman Evan Bouchard said after the game. B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 a big part of the back end.B次元官网网址�

Draisaitl, meanwhile, was assessed a two-minute roughing penalty on the play that injured Barkov, but avoided supplementary discipline from the leagueB次元官网网址檚 department of player safety.

The 28-year-old German has never been suspended by the NHL.

B次元官网网址淚 looked at it,B次元官网网址� Draisaitl said Thursday of the incident. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 not a player who plays with an intent to injure anybody by any means. I have no track record of that. IB次元官网网址檓 not a player who enjoys that part of the game B次元官网网址� injuring other players or anything like that. I caught him in an unfortunate spot.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檒l leave it at that.B次元官网网址�

BarkovB次元官网网址檚 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 EdmontonB次元官网网址檚 firepower led by Draisaitl and Connor McDavid.

Panthers forward Kyle Okposo was impressed with 28-year-oldB次元官网网址檚 ability to protect the puck and have a strong stick as an opponent.

The trade deadline acquisition has now seen the whole picture.

B次元官网网址淗e just does so many things exceptionally well,B次元官网网址� the 36-year-old said of Barkov. B次元官网网址淗is awareness on the defensive side of the puck and how hard he works off the ice B次元官网网址� just everything.

B次元官网网址淧henomenal all-around player. B次元官网网址�

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