"It feels like it was yesterday, time flies so fast," said Huberdeau, who selected by the Panthers with the third-overall pick in the 2011 NHL Draft. "I care about this organization, I'm happy to be here and, like I've said before, I want to play here as long as I can. Seeing yourself on the stage being drafted, still being here with all the guys, we've had the same core for a while. Now we want to win, we want to get into the playoffs and that's where it will be a lot more fun."
In dominating the Maple Leafs, he and his teammates inched a little bit closer to that goal.
Entering this week with wins in nine of their last 13 games, the upstart Panthers (24-16-5) currently occupy the second wild card spot in the Eastern Conference, while also trailing Toronto by just one point for third place in the Atlantic Division with one game in hand.
Heading to the first All-Star Game of his career later this month, Huberdeau, who leads the team and ranks seventh in the league with 61 points (18 goals, 43 assists), said the team's primary goal now is to finish strong heading into their final elongated break of the season.
After wrapping up a four-game homestand against the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday, the Panthers will play three games on the road before the schedule grinds to a halt for All-Star Weekend. That crucial trek will begin with a tilt against the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday.
And even after 420 points, Huberdeau remains focused solely on the points in the standings.
"We've lost some points against other teams, but that's in the past we need to look ahead," said Huberdeau, who's recorded 24 points (seven goals, 17 assists) over his last 13 games. "We've got to get some points before the All-Star break… I tried to take [the record] in tonight with my family, now I'm focused on getting into the playoffs."
Here's everything you need to know for the week ahead…
