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Sam Reinhart etched his name in the record books on Saturday night, notching his 700th career point with an assist before capping the evening with a stunning individual effort that sealed the Florida Panthers' 4-1 win over the St. Louis Blues in Sunrise, Florida.
Reinhart's highlight-reel goal came late in the third period when he weaved through three Blues defenders and slipped the puck past sprawling goaltender Joel Hofer. The unassisted tally was his team-leading 12th of the season and his third in three games, giving him 21 points in 21 contests—a point-per-game pace for the Panthers.
The milestone point came earlier when Reinhart set up Brady Tkachuk's opening goal, reaching the 700-point plateau for his career. Head coach Paul Maurice was quick to praise Reinhart's skill, particularly his hands, but emphasized the forward's intangible contributions on the bench.
"He's a great leader for us," Maurice said. "He's been more and more and more vocal, especially with Barkov being out on the bench. Other players rely on him, and coaches do too. We ask him a lot of questions."
With captain Aleksander Barkov sidelined since the second game of the season and Brad Marchand also out, Reinhart has shouldered additional responsibility. He shifted to center and has centered the second line with Carter Verhaeghe and Lars Eller, amassing 12 goals and nine assists while averaging a team-high 19:14 of ice time among forwards.
Barkov could return as soon as Tuesday's home game against the Edmonton Oilers, potentially setting up a marquee matchup with Connor McDavid, who is on a record-breaking pace. Marchand is also aiming for a return before the end of November.
In Saturday's win, Radko Gudas skated in his 900th NHL game, while Matthew Tkachuk extended his point streak to seven games with an assist on his brother Brady's goal—his ninth point in 10 games.
Reinhart has enjoyed success against Sunday's opponent, the Dallas Stars, with 9 goals, 8 assists, and a plus-4 rating in 19 career regular-season meetings. Puck drop is scheduled for 8 p.m.
Key Analysis
Reinhart's milestone and standout performance underscore his value as a cornerstone for the Panthers, especially with key leaders absent. His ability to produce offensively while taking on a larger leadership role has been crucial for Florida's stability. As Barkov and Marchand near returns, Reinhart's continued excellence will be vital for the team's playoff aspirations.
Originally reported by headtopics.