Aleksander Barkov is four assists from 500 as the Panthers close out the back-to-back in Boston today, but he has no points this season.
His career total stands at 496 assists. This year it reads 2 games played, 0 goals, 0 assists, and Florida (9-6-2) is coming off a 4-3 loss at Washington on Saturday.
The Panthers' own post only said they are closing out the back-to-back in Boston.
That leaves Barkov's role today unanswered. He is listed on injured reserve with a knee injury, and according to the latest injury report he is expected to be out until at least Nov. 27. That date is an estimate, and nothing in the Panthers' post says whether he will be anywhere near the lineup.
On Friday, Jameson Olive reported that Barkov was traveling with the team, though Paul Maurice didn't expect him to play in Washington. We covered Paul Maurice's update on Barkov and Marchand at the time.
The season line is thin, but the career line is not.
Over his NHL career, Barkov has 806 games, 286 goals and 782 points. That puts him 18 points shy of 800, a number the second overall pick in 2013 will reach whenever he gets healthy and back on the ice.
How much have the Panthers missed Barkov?
The record says Florida has survived. The Panthers are 6-4-0 over their last 10 and sit 5th in the Atlantic with a +4 goal differential, but Boston is 1st in the division at 12-4-1 and Florida is chasing.
Saturday showed both sides of it. Brady Tkachuk scored twice on seven shots in Washington and Matthew Tkachuk added three assists, yet Akira Schmid still took the loss. Brady Tkachuk's eight goals without Barkov carried this team early, and it can't keep leaning on one line forever.
A team that finished a game with 3 goals and still lost needs its first-line center back, and the Panthers need him more than the milestones do.
The Bruins' post lists the matinee as a 1 p.m. ET start at TD Garden.
Boston has won three straight and is 7-1-0 at home, so the Panthers will have to find their points without any help from Barkov's chase today.
Quick hits
CHICAGO BLACKHAWKSSpittin' Chiclets reports the Blackhawks held a players-only meeting after last night's 9-2 loss in Carolina. When the score gets that ugly, the locker room usually has plenty to say.
TORONTO MAPLE LEAFSGavin McKenna knew he was probably going to sit after his mistake against Montreal. The Maple Leafs weren't going to let him stew, and he's now revealed what Jim Hiller told him.
PITTSBURGH PENGUINSSidney Crosby moved past Marcel Dionne into sixth on the NHL's all-time points list as the Penguins beat the Kings 5-2 last night. Another night, another name passed.
PHILADELPHIA FLYERSMatvei Michkov and the Flyers try to snap a two-game losing streak tonight in Calgary. The road has been the problem all season.
NEW YORK ISLANDERSRMNB reports that Matthew Schaefer and Luke Hughes threw punches in the Islanders-Devils scrum, with the line "Hockey is an emotional sport" attached. This feud isn't cooling off.
Latest Stories
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Brady Tkachuk starts a wild night at TD Garden