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‘New’ Top Line Driving Offense for the Florida Panthers
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- ‘New’ Top Line Driving Offense for the Florida Panthers
IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
SUNRISE— With Sasha Barkovout, the Florida Panthers have moved things around within their top 9, mixing up line assignments based on the opponent or how the game is going.
Wednesday against Chicago, the Panthers had one line that was good all night.
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Led by a pair of goals from Sandis Vilmanis , Florida's second line of Vilmanis, Sam Reinhart , and Carter Verhaeghe was the team's best in a 5-3 win against the Blackhawks.
The trio combined for four goals and nine points.
Not bad.
"They were our first line tonight," Paul Mauricesaid. "That's how good they were. They were good at both ends, so, they didn't cheat to get that. They were responsible and I really liked the way all three played.''
With Barkov out for at least another few weeks , the Panthers certainly like what they have seen from Reinhart playing center — a position he grew up playing but had not done so consistently since his final season in Buffalo five years ago.
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Reinhart stepped into a center role soon after Barkov got hurt with Vilmanis added to the mix a few games ago.
Not only has playing with Verhaeghe and Reinhart gotten Vilmanis rolling , but he has helped the two veteran Panthers going as well.
Reinhart has a four-game goal streak going into Saturday's game at Washington, and Verhaeghe is off to his best start since 2023 when he scored 10 goals in the first two months of the season.
Verhaeghe currently has nine through the first 16 games.
Vilmanis has three goals and six points in his past five games. He had a career night on Wednesday , scoring twice with two assists.
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"Just incredible consistency,'' Maurice said of Verhaeghe. "I think the game he played tonight, he's played almost all year, he's been as consistent as he's ever been for us. Just battling on the puck for Sandis' second goal, he's not just a shooter by any means."
Said Reinhart: "He's always kind of had that playoff game where he skates so fast, his shot is so heavy and his release is good. When games get tired, that's kind of when he gets better. He breaks through that pressure."
ON DECK: GAME No. 17
FLORIDA PANTHERS at WASHINGTON CAPITALS
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When: Saturday, 12:30 p.m.
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Where: Capital One Arena; Washington, DC
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Streaming: Panthers+ ; ESPN+
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Radio: WQAM; WBZT 1230-AM (Palm Beach); WCTH 100.3-FM (Florida Keys); SiriusXM. Panthers Radio Streaming: SiriusXM, NHL App
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This Season — At Washington: Saturday; Nov. 27. At Florida:Feb. 3
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Last Season: Panthers won 3-0
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All-time Regular Season Series: Washington leads 70-49-14, 9 ties
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Up Next for the Panthers: Sunday vs. Boston Bruins, 1 p.m.
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