The Florida Panthers faced a significant challenge in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Final against the Carolina Hurricanes when star forward Sam Reinhart was forced to leave the contest early due to injury.
The team confirmed that Reinhart would not return for the remainder of the game after suffering a lower-body injury.
The incident occurred late in the first period. Reinhart was hit by Hurricanes forward Sebastian Aho while entering the offensive zone on the power play.
Following the collision, Reinhart briefly returned to the ice for a short duration but quickly skated back to the locker room and did not participate in the second period or beyond.
Before his departure, the 29-year-old forward had skated for approximately five minutes and 37 seconds, recording one hit. At the time he left the game, the Panthers held a 2-0 lead.
In the previous game, Florida`s 5-2 victory in Game 1, Reinhart led all Panthers forwards in ice time with 21 minutes and 48 seconds, although he did not register any points.
Reinhart had a strong performance during the regular season, scoring 39 goals and adding 42 assists in 79 games. He had also been productive in the postseason, contributing four goals and seven assists in 13 playoff appearances prior to Game 2.
Tristan Blackwood