Panthers roll past Flyers as Sam Reinhart hits 50 goals

Field Level Media|published: Sun 24th March, 20:52 2024

Mar 24, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Felix Sandstrom (32) defends as Florida Panthers center Sam Reinhart (13) reaches for the puck during the second period at Wells Fargo Center. credits: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

Sam Reinhart reached 50 goals this season, scoring twice and adding an assist, as the Florida Panthers rolled past the host Philadelphia Flyers 4-1 on Sunday night.

Vladimir Tarasenko and Carter Verhaeghe also scored for the Panthers (46-20-5, 97 points), while Brandon Montour chipped in three helpers. Anton Lundell, Eetu Luostarinen and Sam Bennett each had assists. Anthony Stolarz made 32 stops for Florida.

Bobby Brink got the goal for Philadelphia, which was assisted by Egor Zamula and Ryan Poehling. Felix Sandstrom made 11 saves for the Flyers (36-27-9, 81 points).

Both clubs were playing the second half of a weekend back-to-back. The Panthers entered the game winless in their last four falling to the Rangers 4-3 in a shootout on Saturday, while the Flyers were coming off a thrilling late win over the Bruins, 3-2.

Florida got on the board first 10:34 into the opening frame. Nifty passing between Montour and Lundell ended up on Reinhart's stick, who wristed the shot into the back of the net for his 49th of the year.

The Panthers got into penalty trouble in the first period, but their penalty kill unit came up big. Philadelphia couldn't score on all three of their opportunities on the man advantage, with Florida holding them to only two shots on goal.

The Panthers made Philadelphia pay for those missed chances, cashing in on their power play when a beautiful break-up by Montour led to Tarasenko's goal 55 seconds in the middle period to put Florida up 2-0.

Verhaeghe grew the Panthers' lead to 3-0 with a third-period goal 4:43 into the stanza. He gloved down a puck and drove towards the net, popping a shot toward goal that went off Sandstrom's glove and past the goal line.

The Flyers would break the shutout on the power play in a gutsy 6-on-4 opportunity with Philadelphia's net empty. Brink finished off a play from the side of the net with 7:06 left in the game.

Reinhart sealed the 4-1 win with 1:12 remaining by scoring No. 50 into the empty net. His previous career high in a single season was 33 goals in 2021-22.

—Field Level Media

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