In Monday's Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final, the Florida Panthers faced a scare when star captain Aleksander Barkov was on the receiving end of a high hit by Edmonton Oilers' forward Leon Draisaitl. However, the Panthers are now feeling optimistic about Barkov's recovery as they take a day-by-day approach to his condition.

Head coach Paul Maurice provided an update on Barkov's status following a recovery day at the Baptist Health IcePlex on Tuesday. Maurice stated that Barkov's condition had not worsened, which was a positive sign. The team will assess his progress further on Wednesday to determine the next steps in his recovery.

Barkov, who recently won the Selke Trophy for his outstanding play, had to exit Game 2 after the hit and did not return. Despite the severity of the hit, Draisaitl was only given a two-minute minor penalty for roughing. The Panthers chose not to comment on the incident after the game, leaving any possible disciplinary action to the NHL's Department of Player Safety.

While the Panthers await a decision from the league regarding potential supplemental discipline for Draisaitl, Maurice expressed the team's readiness to move on. "The refs called a penalty on the ice," said Maurice. "The league looks at every single hit. They'll make their decision, and then we're not dealing with that anymore today."

In terms of other injuries, defenseman Aaron Ekblad and forward Eetu Luostarinen briefly left Game 2 after separate collisions. However, Maurice assured that both players are considered fine moving forward.

As for Barkov, the Panthers are hoping for positive news on Wednesday before they travel to Edmonton for Game 3. Barkov has been instrumental in the Panthers' playoff run, with 19 points and a team-high 26 takeaways. The team is cautiously optimistic and wants to ensure that Barkov feels strong before making any definitive decisions regarding his participation in the upcoming game.

The Panthers, with the opportunity to take a commanding 3-0 lead in the Stanley Cup Final, will face the Oilers at Rogers Place for Game 3 on Thursday at 8 p.m. ET. The Panthers and their fans anxiously await more updates on Barkov's condition as they strive to secure victory in the championship series.