Photo credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Image
Sam Reinhart and penalty kill excellence came together Monday as another understated milestone landed during a critical divisional push.
Some goals change games. Others quietly reshape legacies. Sam Reinhart's latest shorthanded strike managed to do both for the Florida Panthers.
Reinhart scored his 13th career shorthanded goal with the Panthers, tying Aleksander Barkov for second most in franchise history. Only Radek Dvorak, with 16, now sits ahead of him.
The goal was not accidental or lucky. It was built on anticipation, stick detail, and confidence, hallmarks of Reinhart's game since arriving in Sunrise.
At 29, the former second overall pick has become one of Florida's most dependable two-way forwards. Coaches trust him in every situation because his reads rarely create risk.
This milestone also fits the bigger picture. Florida's penalty kill has been dominant throughout December, turning disadvantage into momentum instead of survival.
The Panthers have leaned on pressure rather than passive lanes, and Reinhart has thrived within that approach by picking spots aggressively.
Sam Reinhart shorthanded impact shapes Panthers identity
Tying Barkov on this list carries weight. Barkov has long been the franchise benchmark for defensive excellence and hockey intelligence, making the comparison meaningful.
Radek Dvorak's record still stands, but Reinhart's usage and consistency give him a realistic chance to climb higher. That possibility felt distant when he first arrived from Buffalo.
Shorthanded goals are emotional daggers. They flip benches, silence crowds, and reward teams willing to pressure instead of retreat.
Florida's recent road trip highlighted that edge clearly. The Panthers killed penalties cleanly, scored shorthanded, and refused to let special teams tilt games against them.
Reinhart's awareness has been central to that success. He reads passing lanes early and commits without hesitation once possession turns.
As Florida pushes deeper into the Atlantic Division race, details like this separate good teams from dangerous ones.
Reinhart keeps stacking them quietly, and the Panthers keep cashing in.