Reinhart has scored 6 goals in Florida’s past four games

During his first two seasons with the Florida Panthers, forward Sam Reinhart struggled to get going when it comes to scoring goals.

The former second overall pick has always rounded into form, racking up 70 goals and 157 points during those two years, but knowing what a high-end scorer he can be, it shouldn’t be surprising to see what he’s doing so far this season.

First, some background.

Last year Reinhart didn’t score his first goal until his 13th game of the season. He then scored seven times in 11 games and finished with 31.

The year before, his first season with the Panthers, Reinhart had just three goals over his first 19 games. He scored six goals in the following nine games and finished with 33.

It appears this season, he’s found a way to hit the ground running.

Following Florida getting shutout on Opening Night in Minnesota, Reinhart has six goals in the four games since.

“It’s just nice its early in the season this time,” Reinhart said following Florida’s 5-3 loss to Vancouver on Saturday.

Perhaps that’s a result of the offseason work put in by Reinhart.

Florida’s run to the Stanley Cup Final had a profound impact on many of its players, and it appears Reinhart may be one of them.

“He's continued to improve himself every year, and he worked incredibly hard this summer to be one of our fittest athletes,” said Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice. “And you can tell. He's got the legs. He's driving.”

While Reinhart probably isn’t going to reach the 98 goals he’s currently on pace for, it’s still an amazing way for the 27-year-old to start off his UFA season.

“I’m just trying to find open ice around the net,” Reinhart said. “It’s kind of falling for me.”

Two of those goals are the only power play tallies the Panthers have mustered this season.

Perhaps the difference is new Florida forward Evan Rodrigues. He’s dished out the primary assist on four of Reinhart’s goals, and the two have looked like a good match flanking Sasha Barkov on the top line during the past two games.

The advanced metrics back that up.

At 5-on-5, the trio has been on the ice for four Florida goals and none against while holding a 17-4 advantage in shots on goal and a 7-3 edge in high-danger chances, according to Natural Stat Trick.

All things considered, it seems likely that they'll continue to skate together for the foreseeable future and see how much chemistry they can build. 

“There’s something there,” Maurice said. 

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