Panthers’ Vilmanis exits game against Bruins after hit on McAvoy
Florida Panthers forward Sandis Vilmanis exited the team’s game against the Boston Bruins on Wednesday night with an upper-body injury, the team announced.
Vilmanis’ departure came after a hit he laid on Bruins star defenseman Charlie McAvoy that was assessed a two-minute minor for an illegal check to the head. Despite being on the receiving end of the hit, McAvoy did not leave the game.
Thought this should have been a five on Vilmanis for hitting McAvoy
Florida’s fifth-round pick in the 2022 NHL Draft at No. 157 overall, Vilmanis is getting his first taste of the NHL this season. Through his first 13 games, he has four career points on two goals and two assists apiece.
Thrust into action as the Panthers navigate a litany of injuries to their forwards, Vilmanis has 19 points in 31 appearances this season with the team’s AHL affiliate Charlotte Checkers.
Vilmanis was named to Team Latvia’s roster for the upcoming Winter Olympics in Milano-Cortina back in January. In a preview of the top NHL prospects set to participate in the tournament, Daily Faceoff Associate Editor and Prospect Analyst Steven Ellis included the emerging Panther.
“On a team like this, Vilmanis can be a jack-of-all-trades – someone who can be a trigger man or who could kill penalties,” Ellis wrote. “His work ethic will definitely be useful, and he has some decent speed to boot.”
Vilmanis has also represented Latvia at the U20 and U18 World Junior Championships.
Wednesday’s game between the two Atlantic Division rivals was a crucial one in the Eastern Conference playoff race. The two-time reigning Stanley Cup champion Panthers entered play nine points behind the Bruins for the second wild card spot in the East.
Boston erased a two-goal deficit in the third period to force overtime and secure a point, but Florida earned the win in a shootout thanks to a conversion from former Bruin Brad Marchand in the fourth round.
Wednesday’s game marked the Bruins’ last before the Olympic break, while the Panthers are facing a tall task with the second half of a back-to-back on tap against the Tampa Bay Lightning in another iteration of the Battle of Florida.