Top player in the NHL on Saturday
Aleksander Barkov, Florida Panthers
There is not a team in the league with a better offense this season the Florida Panthers, and when they are on their game there is not anybody even close to them. They also are never out of a game because of that offense. We saw all of that on Saturday afternoon as they erased a four-goal third period deficit to rally for a 7-6 overtime win against the New Jersey Devils. Aleksander Barkov scored the Panthers’ fifth and sixth goals in the final five minutes to send the game to overtime, continuing his sensational season. Jonathan Huberdeau gets all of the MVP talk here, but Barkov is the guy that really makes this team run. The Panthers are averaging well over four goals per game this season, the highest single season mark by any team since the 1995-96 season, and have now scored at least seven goals in a game seven times this season. They have scored at least six goals 14 different times and at least five goals 27 different times. Just an unbelievable offensive hockey team here.
Highlights from around the NHL on Saturday
Nathan Walker‘s goal puts the the St. Louis Blues ahead of the Calgary Flames for the game-winning goal in their 6-4 win.
Jason Robertson beats the buzzer to continue his magnificent season to help the Dallas Stars built a 4-1 lead through the first period against the San Jose Sharks.
Nick Suzuki helps the Montreal Canadiens beat the Tampa Bay Lightning in the shootout.
Three takeaways from the NHL on Saturday
Penguins-Avalanche was incredible
If by some chance we can see this matchup as a seven-game series in the Stanley Cup Final the hockey world should be very, very, very happy. The Pittsburgh Penguins and Colorado Avalanche played a thrilling game on Saturday afternoon that saw the Avalanche get a 3-2 win thanks to a late Devon Toews goal that came just 26 seconds after the Penguins tied the game. This game was played at an incredible pace with outstanding goaltending, great…