Aleksander Barkov, the Panthers' reluctant star, leads without having to say much
Aleksander Barkov had two game-winning goals in Florida's series against Boston
SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — Here’s the list of Aleksander Barkov’s top highlights from the Florida-Boston series: the go-ahead goal that sparked a Game 2 victory, scoring a spectacular game-winning goal to cap a comeback in Game 4, then blocking a shot late in Game 6 to keep things tied about 90 seconds before the Panthers won the game and clinched the series.
He did it all. And Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk heaped praise his way afterward.
“I don’t really even have words for what he’s doing for our team right now,” Tkachuk said. “He’s playing the best hockey in the world right now. He’s the best player in the world right now on both ends of the ice. He’s been unbelievable.”
The Panthers have plenty of standouts — among them, goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky has been stellar, Tkachuk is always dangerous, Sam Reinhart has scored more than 60 goals combined in the regular season and playoffs and Gustav Forsling is clearly one of the NHL’s best defensemen. But the unquestioned leader in the room is Barkov, who hoisted the Prince of Wales Trophy last season after Florida won the Eastern Conference for a berth in the Stanley Cup Final.
