Florida Panthers forward Sam Reinhart left Game 2 against the Carolina Hurricanes after what appeared to be a significant lower-body injury. The play happened midway through the first period while Florida was on the power play.
Reinhart collided with Carolina’s Sebastian Aho just inside the blue line, and his left leg twisted awkwardly. He tried to skate it off but only managed a few strides before heading down the tunnel for good.
Sam Reinhart Injury Casts Shadow Over Panthers’ Dominant Win
The Panthers cruised to a 5-0 win over the Hurricanes, taking a 2-0 series lead in the Eastern Conference final. But what could’ve been a full-on celebration was tempered by concern for Reinhart’s health.
Head coach Paul Maurice offered little detail postgame, saying Reinhart would undergo more tests Friday, May 23, with an update expected the next day.
HC Paul Maurice on Sam Reinhart (lower body)- “We’ll get him looked at tomorrow.” Says they don’t have an update yet, will get one Saturday.
— Katie Engleson (@KatieEngleson)
Reinhart played just under six minutes over eight shifts before exiting. He didn’t record a point in Game 2, but his postseason impact has been clear — four goals, seven assists, and a steady spot on Florida’s top line.
That’s on top of his regular season. He led the team in scoring with 81 points over 79 games, en route to a 47-31-4 record, which was good for a third-place finish in the Atlantic Division.
Reinhart’s Status Remains Unclear Ahead of Game 3
Referees did not call a penalty on the play that resulted in Reinhart’s injury, but talk around it picked up quickly.
Dr. Harjas Grewal, a sports injury analyst, suggested Reinhart’s movement after the hit pointed to a possible MCL issue.
Best case? A mild sprain that heals in a few days. Worst case? A ligament tear, which could mean weeks or even months out. For now, the team waits.
Concern is an MCL injury for Reinhart. Time off depends on grade
Grade 1: day-to-day
Grade 2: 4-6 weeks
Grade 3: months out and rarely even surgicalLess likely but also possible is a torn ACL (5+ months out) https://t.co/KPCSZAEzx9
— Dr. Harjas Grewal (@Harjas_Grewal)
Even without Reinhart, the Panthers didn’t slow down. Gustav Forsling opened the scoring, Sam Bennett netted two goals, and Matthew Tkachuk and Aleksander Barkov added one each. Florida has outscored opponents 22-4 over its last four road games — a dominant stretch by any measure.
Reinhart’s chemistry with Barkov has powered Florida’s playoff run, but just as key has been the team’s depth. The second line of Tkachuk, Bennett, and Carter Verhaeghe hasn’t just filled in — they have taken over.
As the series shifts to South Florida for Game 3, the big question is whether Reinhart will play. If not, the Panthers will once again look to their depth to get the job done and move one step closer to the Stanley Cup Final.
