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Watch: Barkov scores backhand winner from near-impossible angle as Cats stay red hot

Jared Silber / National Hockey League / Getty

Stay hot, Aleksander Barkov. And the Florida Panthers.

Playing in his sixth game since returning from injury, Barkov fought off a valiant backcheck by Jeff Carter - who, it should be noted, was going to be called for a penalty - to score a beautiful goal Saturday, threading the needle to somehow backhand the puck past Peter Budaj. It ended up the winner, Florida taking a 3-2 decision over the Los Angeles Kings.

The Panthers are rolling since the return of Jonathan Huberdeau - who also scored Saturday - and Barkov. The latter had a goal and assist in Hollywood, giving him five goals and three assists since his return to the lineup on Feb. 2.

The Panthers have won four in a row and seven of eight, and are four-for-four on a their current five-game road trip, beating the Predators in Nashville before running the table through California - no easy feat.

Oh, one more thing: The Panthers are now officially in third place in the Atlantic Division, and in playoff position.

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