The Barkov Line Is Doing Well

The Divisible By Three Line™ might be missing its regular center, but that doesn’t mean the Panthers are fresh out of hot lines. Like clockwork, the Huberdeau-Barkov-Jagr line is back at it.

Each of Aleksander Barkov, Jonathan Huberdeau, and Jaromir Jagr enter tonight’s game with a four-game point streak, with Huberdeau’s streak doubling as a four game goal scoring streak. It is the longest goal scoring streak Huberdeau has had in his career. Its not as though this line has suddenly started playing well in the last four games, however. They started kicking it into gear several games ago, when the Divisible By Three Line™ was getting all the accolades.

In the last 12 games, both Jaromir Jagr and Jonathan Huberdeau are scoring at a point per game pace. Jagr checks in with 13 points (4 goals, 9 assists), and Huberdeau has 14 points (7 goals and assists), while Aleksander Barkov has 9 points in his last 10 games. These totals are made all the more impressive by the fact that in three games in the middle of this streak, from March 17 to March 21, this line combined for a single point. That came by way of Jagr’s flukey empty net goal against the Toronto Maple Leafs on St. Patrick’s Day.

So, basically, this line scores in bunches when it gets on the board. Of course, that is not anything new or unusual to those of us who watch these guys on a regular basis.

The line is doing fairly well on the season. The underlying numbers are not quite as strong as they were last season. As a unit, they posted a 55.8 CF% in 2014-15, where they are at 51.4 this season. They’re giving up both more shots (+2.13 CA60), and taking fewer shots (-7.95 CF60) compared to last season. However, these numbers are still very much good and respectable.

They are doing other things very well too. For example, they as a unit are tied for first in the league in penalty differential among lines with 300+ minutes played at a +12. Just who are they tied with? Why, the unit of Max Pacioretty, Tomas Plekanec, and Brendan Gallagher, players they will happen to play against tonight.

So even if you are missing Vincent Trocheck, know that the Huberdeau-Barkov-Jagr line has got you covered while he recovers.