Just one win away from a third straight trip to the Stanley Cup Final, the Florida Panthers look like they’ll get some major reinforcements in Game 5.
Sam Reinhart, Niko Mikkola and A.J. Greer are all expected to play Wednesday as the Panthers look to close out the Eastern Conference Final against the Carolina Hurricanes, head coach Paul Maurice told reporters after the team’s morning skate.
All three players missed Game 4 on Monday when the Hurricanes secured their first win of the series with a 3-0 victory and avoided a sweep.
Reinhart missed both Games 3 and 4 with a lower-body injury he suffered in Game 2 when Hurricanes forward Sebastian Aho skated into his left leg.
The 29-year-old forward led the team in scoring during the regular season with 81 points (39 goals and 42 assists) in 79 games. He has added 11 points (four goals and seven assists) in 14 games during the playoffs.
Greer (undisclosed) left late in the third period of the Panthers’ 6-2 win in Game 3 Saturday. He has two goals and one assist in 11 games through the post-season.
Mikkola also exited during Game 3 due to an upper-body injury after taking a hard fall into the boards on his right shoulder. He has three goals and two assists along with 40 hits in 15 games in the playoffs.
Watch the Hurricanes host the Panthers in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Final live on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+ starting at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT.
