Panthers’ Sam Reinhart racking up assists. And more on Sergei Bobrovsky’s hot streak
.JPG "Florida Panthers players celebrate a goal on Edmonton Oilers goalie Mikko Koskinen (19), left, during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022, in Edmonton, Alberta. Panthers forward Sam Reinhart had the primary assist on both of the Panthers’ second-period goals.")
He didn’t score the goals that put the Florida Panthers ahead for good in the second period against the Edmonton Oilers, but Sam Reinhart did everything he could to set up the shots.
First, it was a pass across the crease to Aleksander Barkov on the power play, with Barkov slapping the puck past Mikko Koskinen to open scoring about five-and-a-half minutes into the period.
About two-and-a-half minutes later, Reinhart sent a pass from behind the net to Carter Verhaeghe in the left circle. Verhaeghe quickly sent a slap shot toward the net that went through.
Two goals for the Panthers. Two primary assists for Reinhart, who ended the night with three assists overall in the 6-0 win on Thursday.
“He’s a really good player,” Verhaeghe said. “He makes those little passes, like 5 and 10 foot passes. He’s really smart. He knows the right areas to be in. You can see it on both [second-period] calls. He made a really slick pass to me and I had a lot of time to kind of shoot it where I wanted it. He’s a great player, and I’m lucky to play with him.”
Reinhart, like so many other Panthers skaters, has been in a groove lately. Heading into Friday’s game against the Vancouver Canucks, he has 10 points (two goals, eight assists) over his last six games, including four multi-point outings. He ranks third on the team with 34 points (11 goals, 23 assists) in 37 games.
Bobrovsky since the break
Sergei Bobrovsky’s 40-save shutout on Thursday was a highlight performance to this point in his tenure with the Panthers.
But it was just one of several big outings from the goaltender since the Panthers’ season resumed from a two-week hiatus that started with the team’s COVID-19 outbreak and extended through the league’s holiday break.
Bobrovsky has started nine of the Panthers’ 11 games since they returned to the ice on Dec. 29. He is 8-0-1 in those nine games, the lone defeat coming in a 6-5 shootout loss to the Dallas Stars on Jan. 5.
While Bobrovsky said he “of course” was happy about the shutout, his focus is more on his production and effort than the outcome.
“Do the right things,” Bobrovsky said, “and the results are going to come.”
The results have been coming.
He is the third goaltender in Panthers history with a point streak of at least nine games, joining Roberto Luongo (9-0-1 from Dec. 15, 2015 to Jan. 11, 2016) and John Vanbiesbrouck (6-0-3 from Oct. 5-29, 1996). He recorded at least 40 saves in three of those nine outings.
Bobrovsky’s eight wins since Dec. 29 are the most in the NHL and his .938 save percentage in that span is the third-best in the NHL among goaltenders with at least five starts, trailing just the Anaheim Ducks’ John Gibson (.942 in five starts) and the New York Rangers’ Igor Shesterkin (.490 in six starts).
“It’s been good,” Bobrovsky said. “I think we have a great team. We have a tight group. I love the guys. I believe in the guys. I think we’re building a great atmosphere in the locker room. I’ve said it so many times. I’m just happy.”
This and that
▪ With two assists on Thursday, Anton Lundell now has 24 points on the season (nine goals, 15 assists), which is tied for the fifth most in the NHL among rookies.
▪ Barkov, Sam Bennett and Anthony Duclair are tied for the team lead and in a 10-way tie for 22nd in the NHL with 17 goals this season. Entering Friday, the Panthers are the only team that has three players with at least 17 goals.
.JPG)