With Sasha Barkov sidelined, the Florida Panthers have been shuffling their top nine and trying different combinations depending on the opponent and the flow of the game. On Wednesday night against Chicago, one unit separated itself from the rest.
Florida’s second line of Sandis Vilmanis, Sam Reinhart and Carter Verhaeghe drove a 5-3 win over the Blackhawks, and they did it in a big way. Vilmanis scored twice, Reinhart and Verhaeghe kept the pressure on, and the trio finished with four goals and nine points combined.
“They were our first line tonight,” Paul Maurice said. “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.’’
That kind of production has been especially valuable with Barkov expected to miss at least a few more weeks. Reinhart has settled into center, a spot he grew up playing but hadn’t handled regularly since his final season in Buffalo five years ago. He moved there soon after Barkov’s injury, and Vilmanis joined the mix a few games ago.
The fit has worked in both directions. Vilmanis has caught fire alongside Reinhart and Verhaeghe, while the two veterans have also benefited from his pace and finish.
Reinhart carries a four-game goal streak into Saturday’s game at Washington. Verhaeghe, meanwhile, is off to his best start since 2023, when he scored 10 goals in the first two months of the season. He has nine goals through Florida’s first 16 games.
Vilmanis has three goals and six points over his last five games, and Wednesday was his best night yet: two goals and two assists.
“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.”
Reinhart echoed that view of Verhaeghe’s game, pointing to how dangerous he becomes when the pace picks up late.
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.”
The Panthers head to Washington on Saturday for a 12:30 p.m. matchup at Capital One Arena. The game will be available on Panthers+ and ESPN+, with radio coverage on WQAM, WBZT 1230-AM in Palm Beach, WCTH 100.3-FM in the Florida Keys and SiriusXM, plus Panthers Radio Streaming on SiriusXM and the NHL App.
This season’s first meeting in Washington comes Saturday, with the teams set to meet again in Florida on Feb. 3.
Last season, the Panthers beat the Capitals 3-0. Washington leads the all-time regular-season series 70-49-14, with nine ties.
Florida returns home Sunday to face the Boston Bruins at 1 p.m.
In Other News...
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Panthers Suddenly Have A Tom Wilson Problem To Worry About
Sandis Vilmanis night ended early against Washington after he was injured on a hit from Tom Wilson, a sequence that immediately shifted attention from the scoreboard to the Panthers health. Wilson was assessed a five-minute penalty and a game misconduct for boarding, and Florida was left to sort through the fallout from a play that once again put one of the leagues most scrutinized hitters at the center of the conversation.
Paul Maurice said Vilmanis will be evaluated further, and the early expectation is that he will not be available for the next game. For Florida, the concern is not just one injured player, but the broader reality of facing a Capitals team with Wilson on the ice, given his long history of discipline issues with the Department of Player Safety. [Read more 🡒]
Panthers Have A Bigger Worry Than The Loss After Vilmanis Exit
Sandis Vilmanis night ended early after a hard hit from Tom Wilson in the game against Washington, leaving the Panthers to deal with more than just the result on the scoreboard. Wilson was assessed a five-minute major for boarding and a game misconduct before being ejected, while Vilmanis left with an undisclosed injury and did not return.
For Florida, the immediate concern now is less about the loss itself and more about how long it might be without Vilmanis. Head coach Paul Maurice said the forward will be further evaluated before the team has a clear read on his status, and that kind of uncertainty is never welcome this time of year when every lineup spot matters. [Read more 🡒]