Florida Panthers forward Sam Reinhart will sit out Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday night in Sunrise, Fla.
“Sam won’t play tonight,” Panthers head coach Paul Maurice said Saturday morning. “We’ll list him as day-to-day.”
The Hurricanes also made a change, with head coach Rod Brind’Amour announcing that goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov will get the start on Saturday.
Frederik Andersen, 35, has allowed nine goals on 36 shots for Carolina, which trails 2-0 in the best-of-seven series.
Kochetkov, 25, is 1-0-0 with a 2.57 goals-against average and .891 save percentage in three appearances in the playoffs. He posted a 27-16-3 record in 47 games in the regular season (all starts) with a 2.60 GAA and .898 save percentage.
Jesper Boqvist will take the place of Reinhart, who sustained a lower-body injury following an open-ice hit from Carolina forward Sebastian Aho during the first period of the Panthers’ 5-0 win in Game 2 on Thursday. Aho hit Reinhart near the left knee, resulting in the latter’s leg bending awkwardly.
Reinhart returned for one more shift before the first period concluded but did not return for the start of the second.
Reinhart, 29, recorded 81 points (39 goals, 42 assists) in 79 games this season. He has 11 points (four goals, seven assists) in 14 games in the playoffs.
Boqvist, 26, totaled 23 points (12 goals, 11 assists) in 78 games this season. He has two points (one goal, one assist) in nine games in the playoffs.
–Field Level Media
