Aleksander Barkov Exorcizes Demons, Punctuates First Round Clinch

Aleksander Barkov knew the dragon was slayed.

After the Florida Panthers captain tapped in a goal halfway through the third period Monday to put Florida up 3-1 against the Tampa Bay Lightning, Barkov dropped to one knee and pumped his fist before hugging his linemates.

“I don’t know what to say there,” Barkov said. “Doesn’t happen too often. But yeah, it definitely felt great. And how the game was going – it just felt great. That’s all I can say about that moment.”

It was a flash of emotion rarely seen from the Finnish center. Barkov’s whole MO is that he leads by example rather than words, and is largely reserved even in the most exciting of moments.

Sasha Barkov with the insurance marker to make it 3-1 Florida in the third 🙌

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But Monday was different. The longest-tenured Panther, Barkov had lost twice before to the Tampa Bay Lightning in the playoffs. The Panthers lost the first iteration of the Battle of Florida, four games to two, in 2020-21. The following year, Florida was swept by Tampa Bay in the second round after winning the Presidents’ Trophy in the regular season.

Last year, Barkov and the Panthers made an improbable run to the Stanley Cup Final for the second time in franchise history.

But they didn’t have to go through Tampa.

This year, in order for the Panthers to get where they want to go, they had to face their demons in round one. And that’s exactly what they did, clinching the series, four games to one, in a 6-1 victory Tuesday night.

Barkov was held without a goal in Florida’s last playoff matchup against the Lightning. He gained a reputation – perhaps unfairly – that he was not a playoff performer. In this year’s series, he notched three assists in five games. But the Lightning kept him out of the back of the net until game five.

Before his third-period goal that firmly put the Panthers in control, Barkov scored a shorthanded goal to put his team up, 2-0, with 7:22 left in the second period.

“I think Sasha prepared for this from the summer last year,” Panthers head coach Paul Maurice said. “He came back to training camp stronger, faster, he’s hitting more than he ever has. He’s kind of built himself now for the playoff game. And he doesn’t really play a puck game, but he can. But he’s going to the net on the short handed goal, he’s driving. So now he’s able to lead other players.”

Barkov notched 23 goals and 57 assists during the regular season, the latter of which is the most he’s had since the 2018-19 season in which he had 61 helpers.

Carter Verhaeghe and Sasha Barkov address the media and break down Monday's series-clinching win. 🎙 pic.twitter.com/YWAtZMERoh

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But the 28-year-old’s production isn’t always reflected in score sheets. He plays exceptional defense despite racking up very few penalty minutes – he only had 24 this year – and is an important piece of the Panthers’ penalty kill unit that shut down the Lightning’s power play all series. His 57.3 percent clip on faceoff wins was the best on the team and was near the top of the league.

“Barky’s our leader,” Verhaeghe said. “He leads the way out there and we all follow him. He’s been unbelievable all year, and no different here in the playoffs. comes up big, big times, big goals and he does everything right every game. I think a lot of guys on our team try and emulate and try and be like him.”