Panthers' Reinhart exits with lower-body injury, Hurricanes' Jarvis also hurt

The Florida Panthers might have to play without a key player

Star forward Sam Reinhart was ruled out of Game 2 against the Carolina Hurricanes after suffering a lower-body injury, the team announced in the first intermission Thursday.

After the Panthers' 5-0 win, coach Paul Maurice said there was no update and Reinhard will be re-evaluated Friday.

The incident occurred with just under five minutes left in the first period. Reinhart took a hip check from Hurricanes forward Sebastian Aho as he was crossing into Carolina's zone while on the power play.

Though he returned to the ice for a 12-second shift, he quickly retreated back to the Panthers' dressing room and did not return for the second period.

Up to that point in the game, the 29-year-old had played 5:37 and had one hit. The Panthers were up 2-0 when he exited.

In the Panthers' 5-2 win in Game 1, Reinhart played 21:48 — the most among Florida forwards — but was held without a point.

The Vancouver native had a solid season for the Panthers, picking up 39 goals and 42 assists over 79 regular-season games, along with four goals and seven assists in 13 post-season games.

Meanwhile, Hurricanes centre Seth Jarvis saw limited playing time after he was hit hard by Niko Mikkola early in the third period.

Jarvis went to the locker room after the hit, but did return before the one-sided game ended.

Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour did not have an update afterward.

Jarvis leads the Hurricanes with 12 points (four goals, eight assists) in 12 playoff games. He was second on the team with 67 points (32 goals, 35 assists) in the regular season.

The Hurricanes also did not have an update on defenceman Sean Walker, who also returned after absorbing a hard hit from A.J. Greer.