Panthers captain Sasha Barkov speaks after Florida's 5-2 win in Buffalo on Oct. 28 A quick update on Carter Verhaeghe, who is quietly having a very strong start to his season. After failing to procure a point during the Florida Panthers first four games, Verhaeghe has picked up at least one point in every game since. He also went his first eight games without finding the back of the net despite logging 28 shots on goal. Not to worry. Monday’s goal in Buffalo was Verhaeghe’s second over his past three games. “He’s at a point in his career where he doesn’t need the stats to feel good about his game,” Maurice said the night Verhaeghe scored his first of the season. “His last two or three games were very, very strong, but he didn’t have anything to show for it.” Fast forward a few days and boy does that change. Florida’s win in Buffalo was also Verhaeghe’s first multi-point outing of the season. He’s now up to eight points during his seven-game run. Additionally, Verhaeghe has been putting the puck on net at a pretty ridiculous rate. Over his past five games, Verhaeghe has logged 28 shots on 49 attempts. He’s finding his groove, and combined with Florida’s roster getting healthier and finding more overall consistency, we could be seeing the start of big run for the man they call Swaggy. “I think he’s found his game and his rhythm, more in terms of his physicality and his speed and all the other things that he does,” Maurice said. “And then he just scores goals when he plays like that.” Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjAwNjE3OTM2NjIzMjQ4NDky/img_6014.jpg] LATEST STORIES FROM THE HOCKEY NEWS - FLORIDA Three takeaways: Impact of Sasha Barkov on lineup, unreal Sergei Bobrovsky save shifts game [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/latest-news/three-takeaways-impact-of-sasha-barkov-on-lineup-unreal-sergei-bobrovsky-save-shifts-game] Panthers down Sabres 5-2 for fifth straight road win [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/game-day/panthers-down-sabres-5-2-for-fifth-straight-road-win] Sasha Barkov returning to Panthers lineup Monday night in Buffalo [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/game-day/sasha-barkov-returning-to-panthers-lineup-monday-night-in-buffalo] Florida back in Buffalo aiming for fifth straight road win [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/game-day/florida-back-in-buffalo-aiming-for-fifth-straight-road-win] 'You felt like something was coming': Rookie Mackie Samoskevich finally rewarded with first NHL goal [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/players/you-felt-like-something-was-coming-rookie-mackie-samoskevich-finally-rewarded-with-first-nhl-goal] Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjAxNjQxMjA5NjI4NzMxMDIz/unnamed.jpg]
