Aleksander Barkov grabbed a face full of ice, and it wasn’t at all voluntary.
Barkov – the Florida Panthers’ captain and one of the best two-way centers in the NHL -- apparently escaped serious injury when he was essentially mugged by Boston Bruins 6-foot-9, 250-pound giant/defenseman Zdeno Chara.
The fact that the bloodied Barkov was able to get up after a couple of minutes and skate off the ice was about the only good news for the Panthers, who got routed 7-3 by the Bruins on Saturday night.
Here are five takeaways on the Panthers following:
Sign Up and Save
Get six months of free digital access to the Miami Herald
#ReadLocal
1: Angry coach: Panthers coach Bob Boughner was livid following the loss.