Paul Maurice says the Panthers don't always look like themselves without Aleksander Barkov in the lineup.
The Florida head coach spoke after Tuesday's practice, a day after the Panthers lost 3-5 to Detroit and saw a three-game winning streak end. Maurice also said he "wasn't in love" with the team's effort in that game.
Jameson Olive reported that Maurice described Barkov as "the rising tide that lifts all boats," but added that the group also has to be responsible for its own play.
The captain has played only 2 games this season and has no goals and no assists. He is listed on injured reserve with a knee injury.
That context matters, because Maurice isn't using the injury as an excuse. He is telling the room that Barkov's absence explains some of the drop, not all of it. We had the latest on Barkov's recovery from Maurice over the weekend, and the message on his progress hasn't changed.
The Panthers sit at 8-5-2, good for 12th in the NHL and fifth in the Atlantic Division. The goal differential is a modest +3, which is not the profile of a team that can coast through nights like Monday's.
Why Wednesday against Chicago is a test of Florida's identity
The Blackhawks come to town at 4-10-1, 31st in the league, and they've lost three straight. They are 0-5-1 on the road.
If any opponent is supposed to bring out the best version of a Barkov-less Panthers team, this is it. A flat performance against the second-worst team in the league would be a much bigger problem than the loss to Detroit, and Maurice clearly knows it.
There is also a personal marker waiting on Barkov. He has 496 career assists, so he is four away from 500.
He can't chase that number right now. According to the latest injury report, he is expected to be out until at least Nov. 27, and that is only an estimate. Earlier, Maurice had set timelines for Barkov and Marchand as both got back on the ice.
Until he returns, the work belongs to everyone else. Florida hosts Chicago on Wednesday, Nov. 4, and Maurice will be watching to see whether his message got through at the first puck drop.
Can the Panthers be a real contender if they keep struggling without Aleksander Barkov?
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