While the play of the Florida Panthers’ Sam Bennett and Brad Marchand, and the overall physicality of Game 3 drove the narrative, there was another developing storyline: Aleksander Barkov slowed down Connor McDavid.

Barkov has been the Panthers captain for seven years, helping usher in the most successful stretch in franchise history. Now back in the Stanley Cup Final, he’s getting praise as one of the

Florida captain Aleksander Barkov is an unassuming star. He dislikes praise. He avoids attention. But it's unavoidable now after leading the Panthers back to the Stanley Cup Final for a third consecutive season.