Barkov sets career points mark with 60
Panthers push for postseason with 4th straight
SUNRISE — Aleksander Barkov’s movements are so muted, so effortless that sometimes he gets lost in the chaos of a hockey game. Other times, his subtleties can dominate a game. His strides are long, his passes are crisp, his hands are soft, and his celebrations tame.
But until the Florida Panthers’ 3-2 win over the New Jersey Devils on Thursday night, he’d never reached the 60-point plateau. With two goals, Barkov reached, then passed the benchmark. With Maxim Mamin’s third-period go-ahead goal, the Panthers won their fourth-straight game and 11th of the last 14.
The win again helped the Panthers stay relevant in the Eastern Conference playoff picture. They entered Thursday night five points behind Columbus for the second wild card spot with three games in hand.
Barkov’s goal in the first period almost wasn’t his at all. After Alexander Petrovic’s stretch pass found Evgenii Dadonov and Dadonov spun a pass to a rushing Barkov, he glided toward the corner. Nick Bjugstad slid toward the net and Barkov centered a feed his way.
Devils forward Nico Hischier tracked Bjugstad towards the crease, but couldn’t maintain his balance. He took down Bjugstad and then kicked a rebound past New Jersey goaltender Cory Schneider. Devils
coach John Hynes challenged the play for goaltender interference. He was unsuccessful. Barkov was credited with the goal.
The point set a new career high for Barkov, surpassing the 59 he amassed in 2015-16. Since Barkov entered the league, only two other Florida players have totaled 60 points: Jaromir Jagr and Jussi Jokinen two seasons ago. The goal put Barkov on pace to be a point-per-game player, one that the Panthers haven’t had since Olli Jokinen.
Plus, he’s only 22 years old.
Barkov has long been a building block for the Panthers, the former No. 2 pick typically heralded as the next great all-around player, a difference maker on offense and a disruptor on defense. The potential was there. His future was bright. This year, he’s met the future, earning his first All-Star invitation and setting a career-high in points with a quarter of the season still remaining.
He’s been a big part of the Panthers’ turnaround in the last month, with Thursday his fifth multipoint
game since the AllStar break. Barkov’s presence on the top line allows coach Bob Boughner to experiment with his lines, knowing the steadiness of the 6-foot-3, 213-pound player will be there.
Barkov controls play, despite starting the majority of his shifts in the defensive zone and strips pucks in the neutral zone with ease. His shootout skills and his improved faceoff abilities ensure Barkov has an embarrassment of hockey riches.
He showed off his hands late in the third period with a slick backhander that beat Schneider. The goal sealed the game for Florida, and finished a rugged stretch of games against current playoff teams. The Panthers went 4-2-0 against Winnipeg, Toronto (twice), Washington, Pittsburgh and New Jersey.
Mamin’s goal was the second of his career. He has played regularly in his second recall to the NHL, playing 10 games since the All-Star break. Thursday was maybe his best one. His goal trickled past Schneider as Mamin shoveled the puck on net from a tough angle.
Taylor Hall and Jesper Bratt scored for the Devils.