Jameson Olive just posted a Reino moment from the Panthers' morning in Washington, hours before the matinee against the Capitals.
Every team has that one guy, and every beat writer knows exactly when to reach for the phone. This one landed this morning, with Florida on the road and the puck drop coming this afternoon.
Olive's post says Reino was doing "Reino things," and that is all the detail he gave.
We can't tell you what Reino actually did, and we won't guess. The shorthand tells you plenty on its own, though: the people who cover this team daily don't need to explain it, and the fans who follow closely don't need it explained either.
That's the stuff that matters on a game day like this one. Nobody posts a light moment from a team that's tight.
Panthers stay loose before back-to-back matinees
The mood fits the numbers. The Panthers are 9-5-2 and 7-3-0 over their last 10, and they come in off a 5-3 win over the Blackhawks on Wednesday.
The road has been kind too, with a 5-3-2 record away from home. Washington is a different test, sitting 21st in the NHL and coming off a 6-5 loss to Dallas.
Friday was all about the schedule. Paul Maurice's take on the back-to-back matinees was the headline, and he said he'd "take back-to-back on the road in the afternoon all day long." Sam Bennett and Niko Mikkola also spoke about it.
Mikkola was in the news for another reason, too. Olive reported Friday that Mikkola is fine after practice, and that Aleksander Barkov and Brad Marchand are traveling, though Maurice doesn't expect either to play.
So the Panthers will go into Washington short a couple of big names and long on good vibes. Puck drop is today, and the second matinee of the weekend follows right behind it.
Quick hits
MINNESOTA WILDMichael McCarron is questionable for tonight against the Lightning after he didn't finish the win over the Sharks, according to Michael Russo. Worth watching at warmups.
BOSTON BRUINSConor Ryan reports the Bruins have put James Hagens on injured reserve and recalled Mikey Eyssimont from Providence.
CHICAGO BLACKHAWKSProspect Xavier Villeneuve is making noise in the NCAA, and he told Marco Damico he doesn't want to be anyone else's comp. Good for him.
TORONTO MAPLE LEAFSJim Hiller had plenty to say this morning about Gavin McKenna's game without the puck. For an 18-year-old, that's the part of the game coaches usually watch closest.
ANAHEIM DUCKSSeven straight five-goal games, and the Penguins arrive Sunday. Home ice is still the problem for this group.
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