The Panthers are feeling Barkov’s absence as he’s set to miss third consecutive game
So much of the talk around the Florida Panthers this season, rightfully so, has been on the breakout of Sam Reinhart, the team’s defensive-minded nature and goaltending success.
But make no mistake about it: This team’s success in large part still centers on Aleksander Barkov.
His absence as of late provides yet another reminder of that.
Barkov will miss his third consecutive game with an unspecified lower-body injury when the Panthers play the Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena on Monday. Florida (27-14-4) has dropped its past two games without Barkov — a 3-2 overtime loss to the New Jersey Devils and a 6-4 loss to the Minnesota Wild — and overall is mired in a season-long four-game losing streak.
“We all wish he would be here,” said center Anton Lundell, who has taken on top-line duties in Barkov’s absence, “but we need to find a way to win even without him. ... Whenever he’s feeling better, we’re happy to take him back.”
The Panthers certainly hope that’s sooner than later, considering just how much Barkov does for this team.
He’s second among forwards on the team in average ice time (19:21), third in total time playing on the power play (134:20) and fourth in total time playing on the penalty kill (71:54) despite missing five games so far this season.
His 35 assists lead the team, as does his plus-minus rating of plus-20 (meaning the Panthers have outscored opponents by 20 goals when Barkov is on the ice either at even strength or in shorthanded situations).
“He’s the best player in the world in my opinion both ways,” defenseman Gustav Forsling said, “so of course so with a guy like that you’re gonna you’re gonna miss him, but we got we got a lot of good centermen, so it shouldn’t be the biggest change.”
Added defenseman Aaron Ekblad: Every game, the whole season, is a game you wish you had Aleksander Barkov. Every situation.”
But Panthers coach Paul Maurice has been taking a cautious approach with Barkov’s injury, which first became apparent in Florida’s overtime loss to the Anaheim Ducks on Monday.
Maurice said Barkov has not experienced a setback with the injury. The new goal is for Barkov to return on Wednesday for the Panthers’ final home game ahead of the All-Star Break against the Arizona Coyotes. Florida then finishes the week with a back-to-back at the Pittsburgh Penguins on Friday and New York Islanders on Saturday.
“Like I’ve said, he’s not coming in at 93 percent or whatever with this injury,” Maurice said. “If he comes back into the Arizona game he’s 100 percent right and ready.”
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