Edmonton –Sometimes the use of superlatives seems excessive, adoring, and overly sweet—not in line with reality. Then there are the terms that characterize Aleksander Barkov: the type of player he is, the diligence with which he plays, and the leader he has developed into.
They don’t seem to be quite enough.
Not after the Florida Panthers defeated the Edmonton Oilers 4-3 at Rogers Place on Thursday to take a 3-0 lead in the Stanley Cup Final best-of-7 series. The Panthers have a chance to win the Cup and finish the series on Saturday (8 p.m. ET; CBC, TVAS, SN, ESPN+, ABC).
As forward Sam Bennett was ready to speak about Barkov, who was sitting next to him on the postgame stage and had turned crimson, he shouted, “Close your ears.”
“He leads us,” Bennett remarked. “He is our captain and he executes the game well. As talented as he is offensively, it’s rare to see someone so dedicated to playing defense, shutting opponents down, and blocking shots.
The impact of an all-star captain performing at that level is felt by every player in the locker room. To put it mildly, he is very important to this team.
For this reason, it was potentially devastating when Barkov departed the game early in the last 9:28 of Game 2 due to obvious agony following a big hit from Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl. It lessened the excitement following the Panthers’ second consecutive victory over the Oilers and raised the apprehension before the team left for Edmonton to resume the series.
By Thursday am, the situation was evident. He was going to play.
By Thursday evening, everything became evident. He was going to play.
Barkov dismissed the hit when asked about it. He said, “That was the last game.” Tonight is the date of this.
“I felt nice,” Barkov remarked. It brings me joy to return. I just don’t know what else to say.
The rest was said for him by his teammates.
Forward Evan Rodrigues remarked, “You never want to be without your captain.” “Obviously, having him is really nice.”
That was a mild exaggeration.
In the third game of the playoffs, Barkov broke the tie with forward Matthew Tkachuk as the team leader in scoring, with a goal and an assist, including the game-winning goal. He is one point ahead of Tkachuk with 21 points (seven goals, 14 assists), and in 20 postseason games, he has four game-winners.
Defenseman Brandon Montour described him as “so dominant on both sides of the puck.” Makes it difficult—despite his offensive prowess, he still plays strong defense and produces those huge, huge blocks. It’s quite difficult to avoid him because of how long his stick is.
“He plays a huge, huge, huge role in everything we do here. Glad that the entire hockey community can see that.
In the opening frame, Barkov leaned his stick in the way of Oilers defenceman Evan Bouchard’s pass, causing the ball to be knocked loose. As he waited for his teammates to catch up, he outdueled Bouchard and caught up to it along the boards.
Defenseman Gustav Forsling received a pass from Barkov after crossing the blue line, and at 18:58, Forsling deflected a beautiful shot pass that forward Sam Reinhart was able to score past goalkeeper Stuart Skinner.
It was a classic Barkov.
“Begins in his own zone, prevails in his own zone puck battle… simply takes it up the wall, fends him off, spins around, finds a late man, and ends up in the back of the net without attempting to execute a skillful play, according to Rodrigues. “Simple hockey in the playoffs.”
Simple. Sure.
However, the center wasn’t finished. After a give-and-go with Rodrigues, he would increase the lead with the goal that made it 4-1, the eventual game-winner, which became a critical score as the Oilers fought back with two goals in the third.
“There are so many positive things to say about the guy,” Rodrigues exclaimed. Simply puts, he plays the game correctly. Everything about him. He is really grounded. The ideal person. He is the leader of our group.
He’s the guy who everyone looks up to, that the coaches use as an example for both rookies and seasoned players, and whose work ethic and lack of fear of failure are admired. He is the one whose dependability makes it possible for others to know where to go and what to do; he is the one who can take a broken play and make it sound good, or he is the one who breaks a play and finds the back of the net.
Coach Paul Maurice stated, “Some of the games he’s played this year where he’s had the most impact, he doesn’t show up on the scoresheet.” His talent is that he elevates the game of everyone else. This is how I will play the game, Aleksander Barkov. This is what I am going to do.
Thus, if you imagine yourself as a rookie reporting to training camp, remember this statement: “I’ve just got to play my game.” It’s my favorite quote from all rookies. You’re missing a game. There isn’t one for you. However, that man has a game. Would you mind just playing like him?
That is always the hope. That center Anton Lundell has been dubbed “Baby Barkov,” that some of Barkov can trickle down to other players, and that his absence would have been the biggest blow this Panthers club could have suffered.
With a spectacular run that has propelled his club to within one victory of the Stanley Cup they were unable to win the previous season, the center is the clear favorite to win the Conn Smythe Trophy as the greatest player in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
For this team, he is everywhere. He is active and responsible. He is strength and safety. He is insulting. He is the shield. He is the Panthers in a lot of ways.
“I try my best to execute a defensive play when it’s called for, and I just do what I can,” Barkov remarked. “Almost every player on our team plays defense, and they play it with all of their might. When you can play offense, you’re gonna play offense
“Of course, there were many excellent plays made before my goal. ‘Roddy’ passes to me on the breakaway, and ‘Reino’ makes a fantastic defensive play. Hence, positive things happen when you act morally and have faith in your colleagues and linemates.