EDMONTON, Alberta -- Oilers star Leon Draisaitl said that while his hit to the head of Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov was "unfortunate," he's not a player seeking to injure opponents.
"I looked at it. I think we all know that I'm not a player that plays with an intent to injure anybody, by any means," Draisaitl said Thursday ahead of Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final. "I have no track record of that."
With the Panthers leading 2-1 in the third period of Game 2, Barkov played the puck in his defensive zone. Draisaitl came in on the forecheck and left his skates, and his elbow contacted Barkov's jaw. The Florida captain fell to the ice and was tended to by medical staff before leaving for the trainers' room and not returning to the game.
The NHL Department of Player Safety ruled Tuesday that Draisaitl would neither be fined nor suspended for the hit, for which he received a two-minute minor for roughing.
Barkov appears ready to play in Game 3 on Thursday night after being a full participant in Panthers practice Wednesday, ahead of their flight to Edmonton.
Barkov is tied with Matthew Tkachuk for the team lead with 19 points in 19 postseason games. The winner of the Selke Trophy as the NHL's top defensive forward, Barkov has been essential to the Panthers shutting down Oilers star Connor McDavid, who has one assist in two games.
Draisaitl, who has never been fined or suspended for a hit to an opponent, denied any intent on his part to injure Barkov.
"I'm not a player that enjoys that part of the game, injuring other players or anything like that," he said. "I caught him in an unfortunate spot.
"Can't stress it enough: I'm not someone that wants to play the game of hockey wanting to injure anybody."
The Oilers trail the Stanley Cup Final 2-0. While coach Kris Knoblauch wouldn't indicate any lineup changes for Game 3, there was speculation after their morning skate that the Oilers could ice a team of 11 forwards and 7 defensemen due to the injury status of forward Evander Kane and defenseman Darnell Nurse.