WATCH: Here's how Aleksander Barkov is slowing down Connor McDavid in the Stanley Cup Final
Scroll down to watch my video breaking down the matchup between Florida's Aleksander Barkov and Edmonton's Connor McDavid in the Stanley Cup Final.
While the play of the Florida Panthers' Sam Bennett and Brad Marchand, and the overall physicality of Game 3 drove the narrative, there was another developing storyline: Aleksander Barkov slowed down Connor McDavid.
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The Panthers deploy Barkov against top competition on a nightly basis, which means going up the best in the world in the Stanley Cup Final: McDavid. Defending McDavid is tough enough, so also trying to generate offense in those minutes is another challenge entirely — just ask Jack Eichel.
In games 1 and 2, the Oilers went for that power-versus-power matchup of McDavid-Barkov. In 22 combined five-on-five minutes between the two games in Edmonton, the Oilers were the better team.
But this matchup is bigger than five-on-five play — it extends even strength, six-on-five situations, and special teams on both ends of the ice.
Even though Edmonton had the edge on home ice, the Panthers didn't stray from this matchup when the series moved to Florida. And this time, they limited McDavid and scored in his minutes.
Barkov's underlying metrics may suffer as a result of him playing against McDavid, but if he can contain McDavid on the scoresheet, that will be a problem for the Oilers — especially if the Panthers can hold off Leon Draisaitl, as they did in Game 3.
With Barkov and Sam Reinhart on the scoresheet, the Panthers have three scoring lines. Whether McDavid can boost his game to Conn Smythe Trophy heights,and push through this matchup, will be a deciding factor in this series.
(Photo of Connor McDavid and Aleksander Barkov: Brian Babineau / NHLI via Getty Images)
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New York Times
32 minutes ago
- New York Times
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New York Post
38 minutes ago
- New York Post
Oilers WAGs let loose after thrilling OT win in Game 4 of Stanley Cup Final
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41 minutes ago
Stanley Cup Final is becoming a showcase for the Oilers' Leon Draisaitl
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