Scroll down to observe my video breaking down the matchup between Florida’s Aleksander Barkov and Edmonton’s Connor McDavid within the Stanley Cup Ultimate.
Whereas the play of the Florida Panthers’ Sam Bennett and Brad Marchand, and the general physicality of Recreation 3 drove the narrative, there was one other creating storyline: Aleksander Barkov slowed down Connor McDavid.
The Panthers deploy Barkov in opposition to prime competitors on a nightly foundation, which suggests going up the most effective on this planet within the Stanley Cup Ultimate: McDavid. Defending McDavid is hard sufficient, so additionally making an attempt to generate offense in these minutes is one other problem completely — simply ask Jack Eichel.
In video games 1 and a couple of, the Oilers went for that power-versus-power matchup of McDavid-Barkov. In 22 mixed five-on-five minutes between the 2 video games in Edmonton, the Oilers had been the higher staff.
However this matchup is greater than five-on-five play — it extends even power, six-on-five conditions, and particular groups on each ends of the ice.
Though Edmonton had the sting on residence ice, the Panthers didn’t stray from this matchup when the sequence moved to Florida. And this time, they restricted McDavid and scored in his minutes.
Barkov’s underlying metrics might endure because of him enjoying in opposition to McDavid, but when he can include McDavid on the scoresheet, that shall be an issue for the Oilers — particularly if the Panthers can maintain off Leon Draisaitl, as they did in Recreation 3.
With Barkov and Sam Reinhart on the scoresheet, the Panthers have three scoring strains. Whether or not McDavid can increase his recreation to Conn Smythe Trophy heights, and push by this matchup, shall be a deciding issue on this sequence.
(Photograph of Connor McDavid and Aleksander Barkov: Brian Babineau / NHLI through Getty Pictures)
