Sam Reinhart did not practice but is expected to play Tuesday against Buffalo
Sam Reinhart did not practice but is expected to play Tuesday against Buffalo
The Florida Panthers took the ice on Monday morning at their new practice facility in Fort Lauderdale looking rested and rejuvenated.
Florida picked up a comeback 3-2 overtime victory against the Washington Capitals on Saturday night and took the day off on Sunday to recharge the ol' batteries.
A welcomed sign on the ice came in the form Matthew Tkachuk and Kevin Stenlund after both sat out the win over Washington due to apparent, undisclosed injuries.
Tkachuk took his usual spot on the right side of Sam Bennett, with Nick Cousins on the left, while Stenlund went back to centering the fourth line, flanked by Jonah Gadjovich and Ryan Lomberg.
After practice, Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice was asked about the status of Tkahcuk and Stenlund in regard to Tuesday's upcoming game against the Buffalo Sabres.
"Both should be good," Maurice said.
Maurice was also asked about Sam Reinhart, who was the only player on Florida's active roster that wasn't on the ice Monday.
"I wouldn't let him go out," Maurice said. "Truly. He played 24 minutes (against Washington), he went through the All-Star Game and didn't get the same break, and I've run his minutes up, so I asked him not to skate today. He agreed."
An extra day of rest may not be the worst thing for Reinhart.
The 28-year-old pending unrestricted free agent has been enjoying an incredible season, with 39 goals and 67 points through his first 58 games.
Lately, though, Reinhart has hit a bit of a wall, if you even want to call it that.
He's gone six games without scoring a goal, by far his longest stretch of the season (he went four games between goals twice, once in November and once in December), and he's gone pointless in consecutive games for the first time since Dec. 12 and Dec. 14, which was part of that December four-game goal 'drought.'
There are zero reasons for concern. Reinhart's level of play and the way he positively impacts the game for Florida has not changed, and the Panthers have gone 5-1-0 in the six games he's gone without a goal.
For his part, Maurice said he would take the blame if Reinhart was a little rusty when the Panthers host Buffalo after holding him out on Monday.
"I think we do have to manage certain players' minutes," Maurice said. "That's what I'm doing."
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