The defending champion Florida Panthers have a 2-0 lead in their first-round series, but it comes with a cost.
Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov was knocked out of Thursday’s game when he was hit hard by Tampa Bay Lightning forward Brandon Hagel midway through the third period. He went to the dressing room and didn’t return.
Coach Paul Maurice said Friday that Barkov hasn’t been ruled out for Game 3 but also hasn’t been cleared.
Barkov wasn’t near the puck so Hagel was called for interference, receiving a five minute major. The NHL Player Safety department suspended Hagel for one game on Friday.
Barkov, who had two assists in the series opener, is one of the Panthers’ top scorers. He also has won the Selke Trophy twice as the NHL’s top defensive forward. Hagel had 90 points in the regular season.
The Panthers won 2-0 on a Nate Schmidt first-period goal and a Sam Bennett empty netter. Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky made 19 saves. Florida has won both games on the road.
The Panthers next play Saturday at home in Game 3. They’ll get back defenseman Aaron Ekblad, who has finished serving a 20-game PED suspension.
Either the Panthers or the Lightning has reached the Stanley Cup Final in each of the last five playoffs.
Simon Benoit scored at 1:19 of overtime to give the Maple Leafs a commanding 3-0 lead in their best-of-seven series against the Senators.
Benoit, who assisted on Max Domi’s Game 2 overtime goal, scored on a shot from the point after an Auston Matthews faceoff win.
If the Maple Leafs win Saturday in Ottawa, it would be their second playoff series win since 2004 and their first sweep since 2001 (vs. the Senators).
Kirill Kaprizov had his second consecutive two-goal game as the Wild took a 2-1 lead in their series against the Golden Knights.
Pavel Buchnevich had a hat trick and Robert Thomas had four assists as the Blues cut their series deficit to 2-1. On his first goal, Buchnevich kicked the puck toward the net but batted it out the air with his stick before it crossed the goal line. Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck was pulled after giving up six goals on 25 shots.
(This story has been updated with new information and a new photo.)
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