The Florida Panthers are well accustomed to drama, but the disarray surrounding Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals has reached an entirely different level. While fans streamed into Amerant Bank Arena, everyone’s focus remained fixed squarely on the team’s leading scorer, Sam Reinhart, who has been the driving force behind Florida’s postseason charge. What no one anticipated was that the evening would conclude with Reinhart observing from the press box, benched due to an injury that left fans aghast and social media aflutter.
With Reinhart having been officially ruled out for Game 3 and coach Paul Maurice declaring him “day-to-day,” talk about the depth of the Panthers—and those chances for the Hurricanes—hit a fever pitch. But in all the commotion, there’s a silver lining: Jesper Boqvist has been called back up into the lineup, a small ray of hope for those wanting to watch Florida punch their ticket for the Stanley Cup Final.
Just when the Florida Panthers were firing on all cylinders in the Eastern Conference Final, a major twist rocked their momentum. Sam Reinhart, the Panthers’ top scorer this season with 81 points, left Game 2 early after taking a hard hit from Carolina’s Sebastian Aho. The collision at the blue line left Reinhart wincing, as his left leg twisted awkwardly. Though he tried to tough it out and briefly returned to the bench, Reinhart couldn’t shake off the pain. Minutes later, he disappeared down the tunnel, leaving the Panthers—and their NHL fans—holding their breath.
FLA coach Paul Maurice says Sam Reinhart is day-to-day, won’t go tonight
Jesper Boqvist returns
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) May 24, 2025
Coach Paul Maurice didn’t sugarcoat it. After the game, he told reporters, “We’ll get him looked at (Friday)… We’ll get an update Saturday.” The team later clarified that Reinhart is dealing with a lower-body injury and is officially day-to-day. While the full details remain under wraps, the situation sent shockwaves through the fanbase. Reinhart had been a force in the playoffs, putting up 11 points in 14 games.
Yet, Florida kept its foot on the gas. Even without Sam Reinhart on the ice, the Panthers hammered Carolina 5-0 in Game 2. Gustav Forsling set the tone with an early goal, while Matthew Tkachuk, Aleksander Barkov, and Sam Bennett piled on. The Panthers have now outscored opponents 22-4 in their last four road playoff games, flexing the kind of depth and chemistry that’s made them a powerhouse. Still, all eyes are on Game 3 in Sunrise—because even a stacked lineup can’t ignore the hole Reinhart’s absence might leave.
Florida Panthers fans weigh in on the loss of Sam Reinhart
The minute that news was released, there was a chorus from fans on social media with an outpouring of conflicted feelings. Some, such as in one fan’s trending post, injected a little bit of humor and genuine concern: “I do not play about Sam Reinhart—I seriously might take my ass to church and pray for him.” That kind of commitment illustrates just how much Reinhart has in his fan base
While Reinhart’s absence captured all the headlines, fans weren’t shy about commenting on other players—particularly the Hurricanes’ Sebastian Aho. “And nothing for Aho, hope he gets what’s coming to him tonight,” one fan vented, upset about what he perceived as a lack of punishment for opposing hits. That anger makes sense—after all, Florida fans have seen their team work their way through hard times, just for a marquee player to get injured.
Despite all that, there were others who called out Reinhart’s contribution on the play. “Not that it wasn’t dirty, but Reino can’t love that pass there,” one commenter said, indicating that though Aho’s hit was bad, it wasn’t a great pass for Reinhart to receive in that position either.
There is optimism here in spite of the hit that has been taken. “He can rest till the Final Carolina is cooked like some good Southern BBQ” posted one fan, sure that the Panthers will manage even without Reinhart. And then there’s Boqvist? A fan couldn’t keep their enthusiasm hidden: “If I were a betting man, I’d bet on Boqvist any time point tonight.”
One thing is for sure: if the Panthers are to close out Carolina, every player will need to step up. Sam Reinhart’s health will continue to be a dominant storyline as we head into the final games, but for now, the fate rests in their hands—and those of their fans, who are holding their breath.
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