FORT LAUDERDALE – Niko Mikkola is in good shape after a tense moment during Florida’s 6-2 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Final. He scored twice, but then crashed awkwardly into the boards in the third period. Fortunately, he skated off under his own power, holding his shoulder.
After practice on Sunday, head coach Paul Maurice shared some positive news. “I think he’s good, but we’re going to give it another day to be sure,” he said. Mikkola has been a key player, contributing on both ends of the ice. The Panthers are just one win away from their third consecutive trip to the Stanley Cup Final. During the regular season, Mikkola set personal bests with six goals and 22 points.
In the playoffs, he has been even more impactful, notching five points (three goals, two assists) in 15 games. His physical play is notable, with 40 hits and 13 blocked shots so far. Teammate Anton Lundell praised him, stating, “He’s been great the whole season. He steps up.”
Another player to watch is A.J. Greer, who also left Game 3 due to injury. Greer has shone this postseason, scoring two goals and delivering punishing hits, ranking second on the team with 29.67 hits per 60 minutes. Maurice mentioned, “I think we’ll know by the morning skate” about Greer’s status.
Sam Reinhart is another player whose return is uncertain. He missed Game 3 due to a lower-body injury from a hit by Sebastian Aho in Game 2. Reinhart, the Panthers’ top scorer during the regular season with 39 goals, has 11 points in these playoffs. Maurice said, “We’ll just decide in the morning skate if he’s playing.”
In Game 3, Matthew Tkachuk showed his toughness when he got physical with Aho. He received a misconduct penalty but viewed it as a necessary act of support for his teammates. “We’re a family in there,” Tkachuk said, emphasizing the team bond.
As the Panthers lead the series 3-0 and aim to defeat the Hurricanes in Game 4 at Amerant Bank Arena, fans are eager for updates on Mikkola, Greer, and Reinhart. The excitement continues to build—stay tuned!
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