Barkov’s return to skating could give Panthers a huge boost

The two-time reigning Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers have been going through this season at an immense degree of difficulty, as they’ve been without captain Aleksander Barkov and star Matthew Tkachuk for most of the season.

With Tkachuk back in the fold, the Panthers are just four points out of a playoff spot with two games in hand.

Things got even scarier for Florida’s Eastern Conference foes Tuesday, as Aleksander Barkov skated, a big step in his return from the lower-body injury he suffered in training camp that has kept him out of action all season.

On Tuesday’s episode of Daily Faceoff LIVE, host Tyler Yaremchuk and co-host and former NHL goaltender Carter Hutton discussed how something as simple as his return to the ice could provide a mental advantage for Florida moving forward.

Tyler Yaremchuk: We haven’t heard anything out of Florida, just a video of him on the ice, but the fact that he’s already skating, Hutts, if you’re a Panthers fan right now, and you’re sitting there out of a playoff spot, but you just got Tkachuk back. Seeing Barkov on the ice, that’s obviously got to make you feel good.

Carter Hutton: I think it’s concerning, right, when you’re in the Atlantic or you’re in the Eastern Conference, and the fact that not a lot of teams have gained a ton of space from the Florida Panthers. You loo at the Boston Bruins, Montreal Canadiens, we’ve talked about them at ends about how well they’ve played and where they’re at, but with 51 games played, if Florida was to win those two games in hand, they’re tied with the Boston Bruins. You have to think as they get these pieces back, as it starts to go, I think it is worrisome for a lot of teams. For the Florida Panthers, this could be the benefit they need.

You can watch the full segment and the rest of the episode here…