Florida Panthers coach Paul Maurice told reporters that captain Aleksander Barkov will be a game-time decision as the defending champions take on the Edmonton Oilers in a Stanley Cup Final rematch Monday night.
Barkov missed Saturday's 3-0 loss to the Calgary Flames due to an illness and was also absent for Monday's morning skate.
“I’m hopeful, but I can’t guarantee it,” Maurice said, according to NHL.com. "I think we left Anton Lundell in a hotel in Seattle for a week last year, I think (Barkov) had pneumonia for a month. So, we’re going to be careful with these.
“Guys will play through anything, but sometimes it’s just not the smartest thing to do. So, we’ll get a good feel for him. If he says he can play, then I’m not going to monitor his minutes. We’ll get him out on the ice against one of their two big centremen as much as I possibly can.”
Barkov is third on the team in scoring with 29 points (nine goals and 20 assists) in 22 games.
It's the first meeting between the two teams since Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final. Barkov had two goals and three assists during the series.
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