The Hockey News calls Sam Reinhart one of the NHL's most under-appreciated stars, and the Panthers center keeps backing it up.
He is coming off another big night, and Paul Maurice's praise of Reinhart's hot streak came just two days ago, after he scored for a third straight game.
Last night against Chicago, Reinhart finished with a goal and two assists in the 5-3 win. He was a +3 and put six shots on goal in 18:04 of ice time.
Sandis Vilmanis grabbed the headlines with his four-point night against the Blackhawks. Reinhart's three points barely got mentioned, which fits the pattern.
Afterward, Reinhart kept the focus on the standings. According to Jameson Olive, he said the road schedule has kept Florida from finding a rhythm at home:
"Points are hard to come by," he said, adding that "This was an important one." The Panthers sit 5th in the Atlantic Division at 9-5-2, so he has a point.
Adam Proteau wrote for The Hockey News that Florida is filled with high-end talent, but Reinhart has proven year-over-year to be one of the league's most under-appreciated stars.
The season line backs that up: 9 goals and 7 assists for 16 points in 16 games, with a +3 rating. Six of those goals have come on the power play.
Reinhart's power-play goals are driving Florida's recent run
The Panthers are 7-3-0 over their last 10, and Reinhart has been in the middle of most of it. The last five games show how steadily he has produced.
He was the second overall pick in 2014, so the talent was never a secret. What gets lost in a lineup with the Tkachuk brothers is how much of the scoring runs through him, especially with the man advantage. Giving him second-tier billing is a mistake.
The next chance to add to the numbers comes Saturday at Washington, against a Capitals team that has lost two straight. Reinhart has 696 career points in 855 games, along with 332 career goals, so he is four points from 700. One big night in D.C. would do it.
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