NOTEBOOK: Barkov the Beast; Nutivaara's 'Feeling Good'

In today's Baptist Health Practice Notebook, Aleksander Barkov continues to impress, Markus Nutivaara is feeling good on the blue line, and a look at the Panthers' latest lines and pairings.
SUNRISE, Fla. - While there will be plenty of time to pen numerous articles about Aleksander Barkov's greatness in the coming weeks and months - especially around awards season - it's never a bad time to simply check in on the current state of the Panthers captain's dominance.
On fire heading into a Saturday's matchup against the rival Lightning, the 25-year-old center has racked up 18 goals over his last 23 games to increase his team-leading total to 26. During that torrid stretch, he's scored at least one goal in 14 games, including four multi-goal performances.

Already one of the top players in the NHL, clearly Barkov somehow keeps getting better.
"He's always impressed me, but this year he's just stepped it up and is on another level right now," said Panthers winger Jonathan Huberdeau, a teammate of Barkov's for the past eight seasons. "One-on-one, he wins his battle every time. I wouldn't want to play against him."
As someone that has played against him, Noel Acciari, who faced the Panthers on numerous occasions during his first four NHL seasons while playing for the Bruins, knows shutting down Barkov is not only be a tall order, but, when he's on top of his game, almost an impossibility.
"I played against him [in Boston]," Acciari said. "I was one of the lines that tried to shut him down. It's very, very hard to do. Not many people can do it, if any. Joining him and seeing his work ethic and what does to get ready for games, he's an unbelievable player."
Also ranking second on the Panthers in scoring with 56 points, part of Barkov's success can be found by digging a bit deeper into his possession metrics. Looking more like a defenseman than a forward with his extended stick, he excels at both tracking down the puck and holding onto it.
According to the numbers at NaturalStatTrick.com, when Barkov's been on the ice 5-on-5 this season, the Panthers have controlled 59.47% of shot attempts, 60.26% of shots on goal and 60.47% of scoring chances. In that same time, they've also outscored the opposition 36-25.
In contention and possibly even a front-runner for the Selke Trophy (like I said, we'll have a lot to talk about around awards seasons), Barkov's exceptional two-way play is also highlighted by his expected goals for and against rates. At 5-on-5, the Panthers are expected to score three goals per 60 minutes when he's deployed the ice, while also allowing just 1.89 goals against.
Taking both of those numbers into account, Barkov ranks sixth in the NHL among forwards that have skated at least 500 minutes this season with an expected goals for percentage of 61.34%.
And with the Cats having already punched their ticket to the playoffs and potentially on track for a battle with the Bolts in the opening round, it's exciting to know the spotlight will soon be shined upon Barkov as he continues to transition from the NHL's best kept secret to a bonafide superstar.
"No matter who he's playing with, he's making everybody else better," Panthers defenseman Keith Yandle said. "I think that shows how elite he is. He doesn't need to play with the same guys every night. I think you can put anyone on his line and he'll make them a better player. To have a superstar like that, a guy that can drive the bus for our team, it's really amazing."

NUTIVAARA'S FEELING GOOD

Markus Nutivaara feels like he's found his footing with the Panthers.
After being forced to sit out almost all of training camp back in January while going through the NHL's COVID-19 safety protocols, the 26-year-old defenseman believes he's finally gotten back up to speed after suiting up in just 13 games throughout the first three months of the campaign.
"I feel good now," Nutivaara said. "I can't wait to do more and get even better."
Appearing in only three games in January, four in February and six in March, Nutivaara settled into a groove this past month. Although he'd notched just three points in 13 games through the first three months of the season, he broke out to the tune of seven points in 13 contests in April.
"He looks like a different guy than we saw earlier in the season," Quenneville said. "He has the ability to play both sides. Him and Monty [Brandon Montour] have been a real nice pair as far as reading off one another, adding some offense from the back end and joining the attack."
Like Quenneville said, Nutivaara has also benefited from the arrival of Montour, who he's been paired with on the blue line ever since the Cats acquired him at the trade deadline last month.
In 11 games with Montour, Nutivaara has produced six assists and a +8 rating while averaging 18:20 of ice time per game. In that same span, he also ranks first among Florida's defensemen with an impressive 62.06 CF% while helping the team outscore the opposition 12-5 at 5-on-5.
"He skates well and he's always there to support you," Nutivaara said of Montour, who he's found great chemistry with over a short amount of time. "I think we support each other a lot, so I can play tight and make plays. It's fun to play with him and I'm excited for what's next."
With all 10 of his points this season coming in the form of assists this season, Quenneville said one of the things he likes most about Nutivaara's game is his ability to locate others on the ice.
"He passes the puck extremely well," Quenneville said. "He's got the puck and he's able to break out, alleviate some pressure and join the attack. It's a real nice addition to our back end with him being able to play both sides, absorb some minutes and really control his own end."
Heating up at the perfect time, Nutivaara, who the Panthers picked up from the Blue Jackets in a trade during the offseason, has a goal and an assist in 12 playoff games in his young career.
"Every play's going to count more right now," Nutivaara said. "Just got to focus on next game."

FRIDAY'S PRACTICE LINES

Forwards
Carter Verhaeghe - Aleksander Barkov - Anthony Duclair
Jonathan Huberdeau - Sam Bennett - Owen Tippett
Frank Vatrano - Alex Wennberg - Patric Hornqvist
Ryan Lomberg - Noel Acciari - Mason Marchment
Grigori Denisenko - Aleksi Heponiemi - Nikita Gusev
Defensemen
Gustav Forsling - MacKenzie Weegar
Keith Yandle - Radko Gudas
Markus Nutivaara - Brandon Montour
Kevin Connauton - Anton Stralman
Goalies
Sergei Bobrovsky
Chris Driedger
Spencer Knight