FEBRUARY 11ā¢MIAMIHERALD.COM
Aleksander Barkov went nearly two months without a goal. The Panthers weren't worriedBarkov went 18 games without a goal before finding the back of the net Saturday against the Colorado Avalanche.
Aleksander Barkov - Produces three points in winBarkov picked up one goal and two assists in a 4-0 shutout win over Colorado on Saturday.
ImpactAfter being held scoreless in his last three games, Barkov came alive, getting his first multi-point night since Jan. 6. With the Panthers on the power play in the first period, Barkov shot it at Alexandar Georgiev and Carter Verhaeghe pounced on the rebound and backhanded it into the net. Barkov followed that up with a secondary assist on Sam Reinhart's power-play goal. Halfway through the third period with the Avalanche frantically trying to mount a comeback, Barkov ended all hope when he stole the puck from an Avalanche defender, waited Georgiev out and fired the puck into the back of the net. He added three shots on net and a plus-1 rating in 16:41 TOI.
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Matthew Tkachuk - Logs two helpersTkachuk provided two assists -- both on the power play -- in Saturday's 4-0 win over the Avalanche.
ImpactCarter Verhaeghe scored on a rebound 10:19 into the first period on the power plays off a secondary assist from Tkachuk. Late in the same frame, on the power play once again, Tkachuk took a pass from Aleksander Barkov and fed a cross-ice pass to Sam Reinhart who snapped it over the glove of Alexandar Georgiev from the slot. He also added one hit, three shots on net and an even rating in 16:15 TOI. Tkachuk has been on a heater as of late, scoring five goals, 9 helpers, a plus-6 rating, eight hits and 22 shots on goal. The Panthers face the Penguins on Wednesday.
FEBRUARY 11ā¢ROTOWIRE
Carter Verhaeghe - Opens scoringVerhaeghe found the back of the net in Saturday's 4-0 shutout win over the Avalanche.
ImpactWith the game scoreless and the Panthers on the power play, Aleksander Barkov shot it at Alexandar Georgiev and Verhaeghe pounced on the rebound and backhanded it into the net. Verhaeghe continued to pepper Georgiev all game, firing a whopping seven shots on net. He finished with a plus-1 rating in 18:24 TOI. Verhaeghe is on a four-game point streak, scoring two goals, adding two assists and getting 15 shots on net during that span. The Panthers face the Penguins on Wednesday.
FEBRUARY 11ā¢ROTOWIRE
Sergei Bobrovsky - Earns third shutout of seasonBobrovsky posted a 35-save shutout in Saturday's 4-0 win over the Avalanche.
ImpactBobrovsky played with a lead for a majority of the contest, as the Panthers scored two power-play goals in the first period, but he still had to be sharp as the Avalanche fired double digit shots at him in every period. This was the fourth straight win for the 35-year-old netminder, who has allowed only six goals on 128 shots during that span. The shutout was the 41st of Bobrovsky's career. The Panthers have three days off and will face the Penguins on the road Wednesday.
FEBRUARY 11ā¢ROTOWIRE
Alexandar Georgiev - On wrong side of shutoutGeorgiev stopped 39 of 43 shots in Saturday's 4-0 loss to the Panthers.
ImpactGeorgiev had a solid night, posting a .907 save percentage, but his teammates were unable to solve opposing netminder Sergei Bobrovsky all game as he posted a shutout for the Panthers. Carter Verhaeghe and Sam Reinhart each scored power-play goals in the first period to take an early lead. The Panthers followed the first period up with even-strength goals by Aleksander Barkov and Eetu Luostarinen to put the game away. This was the third straight loss for Georgiev and the fourth straight loss for the Avalanche.
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Sam Malinski - Sent back downMalinski was reassigned to AHL Colorado on Saturday.
ImpactMalinski was scratched for Saturday's 4-0 loss to the Panthers. It was his third scratch in four games since the All-Star break, so it's no surprise he's going down to the Eagles to get some playing time. Malinski has emerged as the top call-up option when the Avalanche need reinforcements.
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