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Sam Reinhart scores twice to lead Panthers over Lightning 5-2

Sam Reinhart scores twice to lead Panthers over Lightning 5-2 | iNFOnews.ca
Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) makes a save as defenseman Niko Mikkola (77) keeps Tampa Bay Lightning center Yanni Gourde (37) from a rebound during the second period of an NHL hockey game Monday, Dec. 15, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Sam Reinhart scored a shorthanded goal and a power play goal to lead the Florida Panthers to a 5-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Monday night.

Reinhart recorded his fourth career game with a shorthanded and power play goal in the same game, most in franchise history. Anton Lundell, Brad Marchand and Carter Verhaeghe also scored for Florida, which improved to 5-1-1 in the past seven games.

Sergei Bobrovsky finished with 26 saves.

J.J. Moser and Max Crozier scored for Tampa Bay. Brayden Point finished with a pair of assists. Jonas Johansson, making his seventh consecutive start in place of Andrei Vasilevskiy, made 19 saves.

Reinhart scored shorthanded 2:16 into the first period for Florida’s fourth shorthanded goal of the season. Reinhart passed Scott Mellanby on the play for sixth most points in franchise history.

The Panthers made it 2-0 at 3:48 moments after Yanni Gourde hit the crossbar on an open chance above the crease before Lundell finished off a 3-on-1 rush.

Marchand made it 3-0 at 11:48 of the second period before Reinhart notched a power play goal with 1:52 remaining.

Crozier scored his first career goal with 33 seconds left in the second. Moser cut it to 4-2 deficit 2:11 into the third period. But Verhaeghe scored his eighth goal in his past 10 games at 6:37 to regain a three-goal lead.

The Panthers played most of the third period without defenseman Gustav Forsling, who blocked a shot from Nikita Kucherov off his arm at 3:03 of the third. Forsling went down the tunnel to the locker room and did not return.

Lightning leading goal scorer Brandon Hagel did not play the final 15-plus minutes of the third period after a hit by Florida defenseman Seth Jones.

Up next

Panthers: Host Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday.

Lightning: Host Los Angeles Kings on Thursday.

___

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Sam Reinhart scores twice to lead Panthers over Lightning 5-2 | iNFOnews.ca
Florida Panthers left wing Brad Marchand (63) celebrates his goal against the Tampa Bay Lightning with defenseman Aaron Ekblad (5), center Carter Verhaeghe (23) and center Sam Bennett (9) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Monday, Dec. 15, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)
Sam Reinhart scores twice to lead Panthers over Lightning 5-2 | iNFOnews.ca
Florida Panthers defenseman Niko Mikkola (77) pins Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Scott Sabourin (46) to the dasher as he chases the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game Monday, Dec. 15, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)
Sam Reinhart scores twice to lead Panthers over Lightning 5-2 | iNFOnews.ca
Florida Panthers left wing A.J. Greer (10) shoots on Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Jonas Johansson (31) from his knees as Tampa Bay Lightning’s Declan Carlile (67) defends during the first period of an NHL hockey game Monday, Dec. 15, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)
Sam Reinhart scores twice to lead Panthers over Lightning 5-2 | iNFOnews.ca
Florida Panthers center Anton Lundell celebrates his goal against the Tampa Bay Lightning during the first period of an NHL hockey game Monday, Dec. 15, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)

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Erik Erlendsson

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