Sam Reinhart Returns as Panthers Face Injured Hurricanes in Eastern Conference Final Game 5

The Florida Panthers are set to bolster their lineup for Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Final against the Carolina Hurricanes with the return of key players Sam Reinhart, Niko Mikkola, and A.J. Greer, all of whom have been sidelined due to injuries. Reinhart, the Panthers' leading scorer in the regular season with 39 goals and 81 points, missed the last two games due to a lower-body injury but is now expected to play, which should strengthen Florida's struggling power play that went 0-for-8 during his absence. Mikkola, who scored two goals including the game-winner in Game 3, and Greer, who scored the winning goal in Game 1, will also return, providing experience and grit to the team. Meanwhile, the Hurricanes face challenges with defensemen Jalen Chatfield and Sean Walker out due to injuries, forcing reliance on young players like rookie Alexander Nikishin, who has already made a significant impact. Panthers coach Paul Maurice emphasized that returning players are healthy and must outperform their replacements to secure their spots. This game is critical as the Panthers aim to close out the series at home, while the Hurricanes must cope with their depleted defense.