NOTEBOOK: Reinhart on a roll; Ekblad making progress

In today's Baptist Health Practice Notebook, Sam Reinhart is racking up points, an update on Aaron Ekblad's recovery, and a look at how the Panthers lined up during Thursday's practice.
SUNRISE, Fla. - I don't think it's fair to say Sam Reinhart is heating up.
But that's only because he's really never cooled down.

Reaching new heights during his first season in South Florida, the 26-year-old forward has been a beacon of consistency for the Panthers. Setting career-highs in goals (26) and points (68) with 12 games still left on the schedule, he's registered at least one point in 34 of his last 48 games.
"He's a really good luxury for a coaching staff to have," interim head coach Andrew Brunette said when asked about Reinhart's strong season after Thursday's practice at FLA Live Arena.
"He's just been unselfish and [posted] numbers that should probably get him more attention than he does get. He just slides in and does his job every day and goes about his business."
And business is booming.
By notching three points - including burying a pair of goals on the power play - to help the Panthers erase a 5-1 deficit during an exhilarating 7-6 overtime win over the Maple Leafs on Tuesday in Sunrise, Reinhart recorded his sixth game with at least three points this season.
Also putting up great possession numbers against Toronto, Florida led 15-6 in shot attempts and 9-2 in scoring chances when he was on the ice at 5-on-5, according to Natural Stat Trick.
"He doesn't really have bad games," linemate Anton Lundell said. "He's good every night. He plays when the team needs him most. He's on the ice when we need to score and when we're a goal ahead. He's a great passer and also a great shooter. He's really good at everything."
Forming arguably the top third line in the NHL, the combination of Reinhart, Lundell and Mason Marchment has been a lethal trio for the Panthers this season. Dominating the opposition at 5-on-5, Florida has led 76-40 in scoring chances and 19-5 in goals when they've been together.
Beyond his work on that line, Reinhart, who has received extended looks in several different spots up and down the lineup, has brought success to everyone he's played with - a statement evidenced by the fact he's assisted 18 different players on at least one goal so far this season.
"He's so good around the net," Brunette said of Reinhart. "He's good everywhere."

With 25 of his 68 points (the third-highest point total on the Panthers, by the way) coming on the power play, Reinhart has really been able to showcase his prowess around the blue paint on the man advantage where he serves as the gritty net-front presence on the team's stacked top unit.
From deft re-directions to timely tips, he's tallied a team-high 12 goals with the extra attacker.
"It's pretty fun," said Reinhart, who spent parts of seven seasons with the Sabres before being traded to the Panthers this past summer. "I think no matter who it is coming into a power pay, you have to learn tendencies, you have to read off each other. It hasn't been all pretty over the last 10 games or how many it's been, but I think we're all learning each other's strong suits."
Not focusing too much on his own personal success, Reinhart is instead far more "excited for the opportunity" to finally make his debut in the playoffs during his eighth season in the NHL.
Leading the Atlantic Division at 49-15-6, all of the Panthers are itching to start their push.
"We've put ourselves in a good spot with a couple weeks remaining," Reinhart said. "This is what you aim for at the start of the year, to have these opportunities. We're not going to take that for granted. We're going to embrace the challenge."
With two more points, Reinhart will achieve the 18th 70-point season in franchise history.

EKBLAD UPDATE

Aaron Ekblad is making good progress.
Working his way back from a lower-body injury suffered back on March 18, Brunette said that Ekblad has yet to hit any bumps in the road in terms of his rehab.
"He looks good," said Brunette, who reiterated Ekblad's week-to-week recovery timeline. "I think he's on schedule. There isn't any hiccups, so he looks like he's trending in the right direction."
In contention for the Norris Trophy prior to being knocked out of the lineup, Ekblad, who plays in all situations on the ice for the Cats, set a new career-high with 57 points (15 goals, 42 assists) while averaging a team-leading 24:55 of ice time over the course of 61 contests this campaign.
As of right now, the playoffs are expected to begin the first week of May.

THURSDAY'S PRACTICE LINES

Forwards
Carter Verhaeghe - Aleksander Barkov - Anthony Duclair
Jonathan Huberdeau - Sam Bennett - Claude Giroux
Mason Marchment - Anton Lundell - Sam Reinhart
Ryan Lomberg - Eetu Luostarinen - Patric Hornqvist
Maxim Mamin - Joe Thornton
Defensemen
Gustav Forsling - MacKenzie Weegar
Ben Chiarot - Radko Gudas
Robert Hagg - Brandon Montour
Lucas Carlsson - Petteri Lindbohm
Goaltenders
Sergei Bobrovsky
Spencer Knight