Panthers triumph in shootout as Reinhart hits 40-goal milestone with 2 scores, beating Canadiens 4-3
Sam Reinhart’s two-goal performance propelled the Florida Panthers to a 4-3 shootout victory over the Montreal Canadiens, marking his milestone of 40 goals in franchise history. Despite an eight-game goal drought, Reinhart found his scoring touch, leveling the game at 3-3 in the third period. In the shootout, Reinhart couldn’t find the net for Florida, but goals from Aleksander Barkov and Anton Lundell secured the win. Barkov, who also scored in regulation, contributed to the Panthers becoming the second NHL team to reach 40 wins in the season. Anthony Stolarz’s 28 saves anchored Florida’s defense, matching the Boston Bruins for the league-leading 84 points.
Reinhart acknowledged the relief of ending his goal drought, emphasizing the team’s collective effort and success on the power play. Montreal’s Nick Suzuki, Juraj Slafkovsky, and Alex Newhook found the net in regulation, while Cole Caufield scored in the shootout. Despite Samuel Montembeault’s 32 saves, the Canadiens fell short against the Panthers, who had not conceded more than two goals since January 19.
Montreal coach Martin St. Louis commended the Panthers’ performance, recognizing their status as one of the league’s top teams. He highlighted the learning opportunities from facing formidable opponents like Florida. The Panthers’ defensive prowess was evident in their 14-game streak of limiting opponents to two goals or fewer, during which they went undefeated in regulation.
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Stolarz praised the defensive contributions of teammates like Matthew Tkachuk, Barkov, and Reinhart, emphasizing their ability to excel at both ends of the ice. Juraj Slafkovsky ended a four-game point drought with his goal, contributing to Florida’s offensive depth. Stolarz and Montreal’s Kaiden Guhle both celebrated their 100th career NHL game.
Looking ahead, the Canadiens will face the Tampa Bay Lightning, while the Panthers will take on the Detroit Red Wings in their next matchups.
