Florida Panthers Found Winning Combos in Barkov’s Absence
The Florida Panthers pieced together some lines on the fly in Aleksander Barkov’s absence and found a combination that works.
Aleksander Barkov’s status for the team’s nationally-televised clash with the Minnesota Wild may still be up in the air, but the Florida Panthers have found a combination of lines that work when he’s out.
The Panthers won a Stanley Cup Final rematch over the Edmonton Oilers on Monday night featuring a Top 6 they have grown very comfortable with in the 10 games Barkov has missed and a third line they haven’t quite rolled out before.
Evan Rodrigues, Jesper Boqvist and Mackie Samoskevich joined forces for the first time when Barkov missed the first of two games with an illness in Calgary — and after a team-wide dud there — really put together a strong performance in Edmonton.
That line allowed just one scoring chance in roughly 10 minutes on the ice together while consistently generating pressure in the offensive zone.
It helped the Panthers keep themselves afloat as they defeated the Oilers 6-5.
“We had unique-looking lines,” coach Paul Maurice said. “All four were completely different. There was a lot of speed, there was a lot of puck control, they looked dangerous. That line plays well in a style of game like this one.”
Boqvist has proven to be a very versatile piece for the Panthers.
Over the course of the season, he has gotten consistent looks as a fourth-line center and a third-line winger, and with Barkov out, the Panthers slotted him right in on the top penalty kill unit and at center on that new-look line.
No matter which line he’s on, he always brings a dose of speed and defensive awareness to it. And he rewarded the Panthers with a shorthanded goal right off the rip in the Edmonton game to get them started.
Barkov’s return would be a welcome one, but the Panthers have found something that works for the time being.
“Hopefully Barky gets healthy, but I’m going to have a really tough decision,” Maurice said. “And if he does, it’s that whether I play him or not.”