Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov wins two major NHL honors
Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov wins two major NHL honors
Connor McDavid and Aleksander Barkov each made incredible assists during the NHL playoffs.Barkov’s assist set up Carter Verhaeghe’s game-winning goal in Game 5 against Carolina, securing Florida’s place in the Stanley Cup Final.McDavid’s assist, described as “magical,” set up Leon Draisaitl’s power-play goal in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final against Florida.Both assists are considered highlight-reel worthy and have drawn widespread praise.
FORT LAUDERDALE — Edmonton’s Connor McDavid and Florida’s Aleksander Barkov are two of the best players in the NHL.
While McDavid is roundly praised as the best player in the world, Barkov is not far behind.
So it should not be a surprise McDavid and Barkov have two of the more astonishing assists of the postseason, both drawing disbelief from not just the hockey world but even teammates.
While both will be on highlight reels for a very long time, we want to know which one you think was better.
Aleksander Barkov sets up Carter Verhaeghe game winner in Game 5 at Carolina
The Panthers were one win away from their third consecutive Stanley Cup Final. Facing Carolina in the road in Game 5, the score was tied with less than eight minutes remaining.
Barkov was fighting for the puck with Dmitry Orlov behind and to the right of Carolina goaltender Frederik Andersen. Barkov gained control of the puck and held off Orlov with one arm before turning as if he were going to pass the puck to Verhaeghe, who was behind the net on the opposite side.
But Barkov then made a move on Hurricanes forward Eric Robinson at the side of the net and instead slid the puck across the crease to Verhaeghe, who had a wide open net to give the Panthers the lead. Verhaeghe was still mostly behind goal line when Barkov made the pass.
“Barky is so strong on the puck and (Sam Reinhart) made a good play at the blue line to get the puck to Barky there, and I kind of let him do his thing,” Verhaeghe said. “He took on one guy and then two guys and then gave the puck to me with a pretty open net. An unbelievable play by Barky at a critical time.”
The goal gave the Panthers a 4-3 lead and they went on to a 5-3 win and a third straight Prince of Wales Trophy.
Connor McDavid a magician setting up Leon Draisaitl goal in Game 2 of Stanley Cup Final
McDavid was being compared to an illustionist when replays of his assist on Leon Draisaitl’s power play goal in the first period of Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Panthers.
The play, though, is what everyone has become used to from the man who has led the NHL in assists four times in his career.
First, McDavid faked out Barkov, the best defensive forward in the game and three time winner of the Selke Trophy, with a move akin to a crossover dribble in basketball. Then, with Aaron Eckblad attempting to poke check the puck, McDavid drew the puck back behind his body and Eckblad’s stick before sending it to Draisaitl, who had a wide open net to the left of Panther’s goalie Sergei Bobrovsky.
The Oilers’ Evan Bouchard was so amazed with the play he put his left hand on top of his helmet as to say “I do not believe what I just saw” as he skated toward McDavid and Draisaitl.
The goal ended the scoring in a wild first period, giving gave the Oilers a 3-2 lead. Florida went on to win, 5-4, on a Brad Marchand goal in the second overtime, tying the series at one game each.