Reinhart named NHL’s Third Star of the Week 

SUNRISE, Fla. – A goal-scoring machine out of the gate, Sam Reinhart has been named the NHL’s Third Star of the Week for the week ending Oct. 22, the NHL announced on Monday.

Filling up the back of the net this past week, the 27-year-old forward lit the lamp in three games for the Panthers -- including two multi-goal games -- while helping the team go 2-1-0.

After scoring twice in a 4-3 win at New Jersey on Monday, Reinhart tallied a goal and an assist in a 3-1 win against the Maple Leafs in the Home Opener at Amerant Bank Arena on Thursday.

On Saturday, he added two more goals in a 5-3 loss to Vancouver.

“He’s continued to improve himself every year,” head coach Paul Maurice said when asked about Reinhart’s red-hot hot scoring streak following the loss to the Canucks. “He worked incredibly hard this summer to be one of our fittest athletes. You can tell he’s got the legs, he’s driving.”

Never far from the net, Reinhart has been doing most of his damage in the early goings this season in the high-danger areas of the ice. Per NHL Edge, eight of his 19 shots on goal this season have come right outside the blue paint, usually in the form of tips and re-directions.

Playing in all situations, Reinhart also currently ranks first among Panthers forwards in average ice time per game (21:19), with 4:37 of those average minutes coming on the man advantage.

“He’s one of the smartest players in the league,” captain Aleksander Barkov said of Reinhart, who ranks tied for fourth in the NHL in power-play goals (34) since he joined Florida in 2021-22. “He has that stick that suits him well in front of the net. He can do whatever he wants with that.”

Off to an historic start, Reinhart’s six goals through the first five games are the second-most ever by a player to start a season in franchise history, trailing only Pavel Bure (7 GP in 1998-99).

“Just trying to find open ice around the net,” said Reinhart, whose six goals currently place him tied for second in the NHL. “It’s kind of falling for me. It’s just nice it’s early in the season.”

The other stars this week went to Detroit's Alex DeBrincat (First Star) and Colorado's Alexandar Georgiev (Second Star).