George Richards, FHN Publisher
FORT LAUDERDALE — The calendar flipped on Sunday, but the Panthers hope Sasha Barkov keeps up his November exploits.
It certainly was a memorable month for the Florida captain.
In 14 games last month, Barkov scored five goals with 21 points — the second-highest scoring month of his career.
Perhaps, not coincidentally, it is a month which started in his hometown of Tampere, Finland.
He kicked November off with a four-point night in a 6-4 win over Dallas.
“Bringing my teammates here to play in some NHL games, it is really hard to describe how great it feels right now to be here,” Barkov said before that game at his home rink.
“This is so nice, I don’t know if I realize how special this is. I am going to try and enjoy it as much as possible.”
During March of Barkov’s career-setting 2018-19 season, he scored 24 points off seven goals. He ended that season with highs in goals (35 at the time) and points (96).
Barkov, who scored 39 goals in 2021-22, is on pace to score 26 goals and 104 points this season after missing eight games because of a suspected ankle injury which cost him most of October.
He certainly has looked great since returning.
Even with missing eight games, Barkov’s 24 points is second on the team in scoring to Sam Reinhart’s 34.
He is fifth on the team with six goals and leads with 18 assists.
It has been done, in typical Barkov style, relatively quietly.
Hard to do, considering he has scored at least a point in 14 of the 15 games since he returned on Oct. 28 in Buffalo.
Barkov scored a goal with an assist in the Panthers win over the Sabres — which obviously does not count toward his November totals.
“He’s got some sort of spy thing, some CIA thing going on right? As good as he is, he leaves a room and nobody talks about him,” coach Paul Maurice said Monday. “Was he here? Did anyone see Barkov play tonight? He has 700 points.”
Barkov has had hot streaks like this in the past.
Since 2019, Barkov has had five individual months of at least 20 points.
Scoring, however, has never been the best part of his game.
It is a really nice bonus, though.
“He broke some pucks out under heavy pressure with two or three guys on him and drove it up the ice,” Maurice said. “Then his hands came out to protect it and he got the puck deep. I know that doesn’t excite anyone in the crowd, but it excites the coaches. It is just so hard to do. But that’s his personality. He’s not going to draw attention.
“But then you watch him play, and you get a master class in being a really good offensive player without ever sacrificing the defensive game.”