Barkov shows support during father’s run to the MHL’s Kharlamov Cup

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Making his morning drive to Baptist Well being Ice Plex on Saturday, Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov was admittedly a bit extra nervous than traditional.

No, it wasn’t as a result of the defending Stanley Cup champions have been going for a 3-0 sequence over the Carolina Hurricanes in Sport 4 of the Japanese Convention Closing later that day.

It was truly due to one other recreation going down greater than 5,700 miles away.

His father, Alexander Barkov Sr., was teaching in Sport 7 of the MHL Championship.

“I couldn’t watch it, but I was following,” Barkov stated of maintaining tabs on the sport.

Changing into the second Barkov to win a Cup within the final 12 months, Barkov Sr. and MHK Spartak Moskva went on to beat SKA-1946 St. Petersburg in Sport 7 by a rating of 6-2 to win the MHL’s Kharlamov Cup.

In Russia, the MHL is the highest junior hockey league.

“It was great,” Barkov stated of watching his dad hoist the Cup. “I’ve followed a lot the whole year, but especially playoffs. They had a really good team. They had a really good regular season. They won almost every game, so in playoffs I know they had a really good chance.”

But it surely’s not simply the 2 Cups that tie Barkov and his father collectively.

It’s how they have been gained.

Identical to the Panthers, Spartak took the lengthy highway to a championship.

“It ended up being the same way we did it last year,” Barkov smiled. “They were up 3-0 [in the series] and then the other team tied 3-3, and then in Game 7 they took it home.”

Following the win, Barkov Sr. gave his son and the Panthers a particular shoutout.

After a 4-3 loss for Spartak in Sport 4, Barkov despatched his dad’s group an encouraging video.

The video additionally featured different Panthers, together with Matthew Tkachuk and Sergei Bobrovsky.

Interviewed after Sport 7, Barkov Sr. stated the video was his group’s “secret” to profitable.

“That’s the exact same thing for us,’” Barkov stated when requested about what he informed the gamers of Spartak. “He asked if a couple of our players would love to send a little video. It was a quick video, nothing special. A bunch of guys did it, so I really appreciated it.”

When the sequence ultimately obtained to 3-3, Barkov stated his dad additionally sought his recommendation.

“Whole playoffs, we talked a lot about it,” Barkov stated. “I know how hard it feels. You’re up 3-0, and then you lose one game, and the other team has that momentum and playing better than you. I know that feeling. From my experience I can say what to do and how we approached things. He said they used a lot of those things to calm themselves for Game 7.”

Already sharing a reputation, Barkov and his dad now additionally share success.

And once they speak, each have tales to inform.

“We talk about myself, and then we talk about him,” Barkov stated. “It’s pretty 50-50.”

If issues preserve going effectively, they’ll have much more to speak about quickly.

Main the Carolina Hurricanes 3-1 within the Japanese Convention Closing, Barkov and the Panthers are only one win away from punching their third straight ticket to the Stanley Cup Closing.

Relying on how the schedule shakes out, Barkov hopes his dad will quickly make it to South Florida.

“I know he’s probably celebrating right now, but I hope so,” he smiled.