Panthers’ Sam Reinhart ejected for kneeing Ducks’ Isac Lundestrom

During a game on Saturday between the Florida Panthers and Anaheim Ducks, Panthers forward Sam Reinhart was given a five-minute major penalty and a game misconduct for kneeing Ducks forward Isac Lundestrom.

The incident occurred late in the first period. Lundestrom was skating the puck out from behind his own goal when Reinhart pursued him on the forecheck. Reinhart caught Lundestrom’s right leg with his right knee, sending the 24-year-old down to the ice in obvious pain.

Anaheim failed to capitalize on the major power play. Lundestrom had to leave the game after the hit. He has played 4:25 across five shifts up to that point.

For the Swedish center, another injury would only add to the list of bad luck he’s endured this season. He suffered a lower-body injury in the opening weeks of the campaign after colliding with teammate Leo Carlsson during practice. Just over a week later, an upper-body injury kept him out of the lineup for a few days.

In 44 of the of the Ducks’ 46 games, Lundestrom has scored four goals and three assists for seven points. He has spent his entire career with Anaheim, the team that drafted him in the first round, 23rd overall, in the 2018 NHL Draft. Lundestrom has scored 35 goals and 76 points in 301 career appearances.

While it’s too early to say whether or not Reinhart will face any supplemental discipline, it’s worth noting that the 29-year-old has never been fined nor suspended in his NHL career.

Through 46 games this season, Reinhart has scored 27 goals and 24 assists for 51 points, leading the Panthers in scoring and sitting tied for 13th among skaters in the NHL in points.