Sam Reinhart left the Buffalo Sabres for the Florida Panthers in a trade back in July 2021, and now he’s returning to face his former team. But instead of reflecting on his departure, the focus is on the present as Reinhart, now a star player, leads the playoff-bound Panthers against the struggling Sabres this Saturday.
The Panthers, with an impressive record of 50-24-6 and 106 points, have secured their playoff berth and are vying for the top spot in the Atlantic Division, trailing only the Boston Bruins by a single point.
On the other hand, the Sabres, with a record of 38-37-5 and 81 points, are set to miss the playoffs for the 13th consecutive season. Despite surpassing their previous season’s point tally, they’ve fallen short of postseason contention.
Reinhart, drafted by the Sabres second overall in 2014, has had a stellar season with a career-high 54 goals and 91 points, a significant improvement over his previous best in the 2021-2022 season.
As for the players Buffalo received in exchange for Reinhart, goalie Devon Levi and center Jiri Kulich are currently honing their skills with the Rochester Americans in the AHL. While their potential is promising, for now, the trade is undeniably a win for the Panthers as they gear up for another playoff push.
Coach Paul Maurice is confident in his team’s readiness for the playoffs, with players eagerly anticipating the postseason after a year of hard work.
Beyond Reinhart’s contributions, the Panthers boast a strong defensive record, leading the NHL with a stingy 2.43 goals-against average. Recent shutouts by goaltenders Sergei Bobrovsky and Anthony Stolarz further demonstrate their defensive prowess.
Despite injuries to key players like Carter Verhaeghe and Aaron Ekblad, the Panthers remain favorites against the Sabres, who have struggled in recent games despite notable performances from players like Tage Thompson and Rasmus Dahlin.
Sabres’ goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen remains a bright spot with 27 wins, and the team is focused on ending their season on a high note, even if it means playing spoiler for playoff-bound teams like the Panthers.
While the spotlight may be on Reinhart’s return, both teams have their own motivations as they face off in this late-season matchup.
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