The Florida Panthers were uncharacteristically stuck in the opening moments of the second period against the San Jose Sharks on Saturday. They were down by two goals, and struggling to crack James Reimer and the Sharks’ defense. They were controlling possession and putting together some scoring chances, but it wasn’t turning into goals in the way it usually does when they face a lesser opponent in Sunrise.
It wasn’t quite desperation time, which called for a not-quite-desperation measure. It was time for Andrew Brunette to break out his secret weapon: It was time to put Aleksander Barkov and Jonathan Huberdeau back together on his top line.
“I just felt we were close,” the interim coach said Saturday, “but we were kind of far away, at the same time.”
The move paid off, as it so often does. The Panthers had a 26-9 edge in scoring chances in the second period, then stormed back with three goals in the third to force overtime and eventually beat San Jose, 5-4, in the extra session.
Florida’s revamped first line — featuring Barkov, Huberdeau and fellow forward Carter Verhaghe — created two of those third-period goals, and the Panthers had a 24-5 edge in shot attempts and an 18-4 edge in scoring chances when it was on the ice.
Florida (31-9-5) already has the best offense in the Eastern Conference, and Brunette insists the Panthers are at their best when Barkov and Huberdeau are split up, but, as he put, “It’s a great luxury to have.”
“They’re going to create all the time together,” the coach said.
Considering Florida’s slow start Saturday was an aberration among its recent games, Brunette will almost certainly keep his two star forwards separate Monday when the Panthers face the Columbus Blue Jackets (19-21-1) at 7 p.m. at Nationwide Arena in Columbus. At the same time, the electrifying finish Saturday was a reminder of this different identity the Panthers can break out at any moment when things get tough.
Huberdeau finished Saturday with 62 points to lead the league in scoring and he’s doing it despite playing on Florida’s second line, separate from one of the league’s best centers. Barkov finished Saturday averaging 0.62 goals per game, the seven most in the NHL, and he’s doing it despite playing on the Panthers’ first line, separate from the league’s assists leader.
For nearly two years, they’ve done this — sacrificing their own individual production and the clear joy they get out of playing next to each other for the good of the team — with the knowledge it’s always a break-in-case-of-emergency option when the offense stalls.
“That’s our team,” Huberdeau said Saturday. “We have a lot of character.”
So far this season, Huberdeau and Barkov have played 69:46 together in 5-on-5 action, and the Panthers have had a 85-59 advantage in shot attempts, a 51-33 advantage in scoring chances and a 5-3 advantage in goals.
All three ratios are better for Barkov and Huberdeau when they’re together, rather than apart. They’re also better than the Edmonton Oilers’ numbers when they have Hart Memorial Trophy-contending forwards Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl playing together.
One of Brunette’s most impressive characteristics since he abruptly took over in the first month of the season after former coach Joel Quenneville resigned in disgrace has been the first-time coach’s lack of panic. Even though he had no assurances he’d be Florida’s coach for the rest of the year and has been saddled with Stanley Cup expectations, Brunette has avoided going to the Barkov-Huberdeau combo too frequently. He sticks to the plan and trusts Florida, even when it goes through losing streaks, will return to its elite level.
How does he know when to supercharge his top line, then?
“It’s kind of feel,” he said. “We’re a much deeper team when they’re on different lines and we’re all going. I was just looking for a spark.”
Panthers recall Knight from AHL
After making one start in the American Hockey League, Spencer Knight returned to the Panthers on Sunday, joining the taxi squad ahead of their two-game road trip.
Florida also reassigned defenseman Chase Priskie to its taxi squad, opening a spot on the active roster.
The Panthers have two games left until the All-Star break, then will have more than two weeks off.
