Aleksander Barkov's status for game 3 officially confirmed for the Panthers

Barkov received a dangerous hit from Leon Draisaitl in Game 2, forcing him to miss the final half of the third period. If you missed it, you can watch the hit here:

There were concerns about a possible broken jaw or concussion, but Panthers head coach Paul Maurice shared great news this afternoon. In his daily press conference, Maurice confirmed that Barkov will be in uniform tonight as the Panthers try to secure their third win of the series.

Chris Johnston reported:

With Barkov in the lineup, the Panthers will have a better chance to contain Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid. Even if he's not at 100%, Barkov has proven throughout the playoffs that he's essential to the team's success.

If the Panthers win the Stanley Cup, Barkov will likely be a top candidate, alongside Sergei Bobrovsky, for the Conn Smythe Trophy, awarded to the most valuable player of the playoffs.

Are you surprised by the decision to play Barkov in Game 3 after the massive hit from Draisaitl?

Source: hockeypatrol
The verdict is in for Aleksander Barkov game 3 status