Panthers 5, Blackhawks 3: Vilmanis posts two goals, two assists
Florida's top line combined for nine points as the Panthers held off Chicago's late push.
Sandis Vilmanis had two goals and two assists and the Florida Panthers beat the Chicago Blackhawks 5-3 on Wednesday night in Sunrise, Florida, NHL.com reported.
How it unfolded
Florida built a 3-0 lead through two periods' worth of scoring. Vilmanis opened it at 4:43 of the first period, assisted by Sam Reinhart. Carter Verhaeghe made it 2-0 on the power play at 12:29, and Seth Jones scored at 13:20 of the second period to put Florida up three.
Chicago answered late in the second when Roman Kantserov scored at 16:48. In the third period, Frank Nazar scored short-handed at 9:31 to make it 3-2. Vilmanis restored a two-goal cushion at 11:01, Nazar scored again at 16:09 to cut it to 4-3, and Reinhart sealed the win with an empty-net goal at 18:33.
Jacob Markstrom made 17 saves for Florida. Spencer Knight stopped 25 for Chicago.
The milestones
It was the first multipoint game of Vilmanis's NHL career, in his 34th game. "It means everything," he said. Reinhart finished with a goal and two assists; his goal was his 198th with Florida, tying Jonathan Huberdeau for second in franchise history behind Aleksander Barkov's 286, NHL.com noted. Reinhart and Verhaeghe each have five-game point streaks.
The line of Verhaeghe, Reinhart and Vilmanis combined for nine points. Florida coach Paul Maurice said, "They were our first line tonight."
For Chicago, Connor Bedard and Ethan Del Mastro each had two assists. Kantserov extended his point streak to six games, which NHL.com said makes him the eighth Blackhawks rookie in the past 40 years with a streak that long.
What it means
Florida is 9-5-2 and has won four of its past five games. Its home winning streak against Chicago is now 10 games, its longest active streak against any single opponent.
Chicago is 4-11-1, has lost four straight and seven of its past eight. Coach Jeff Blashill pointed to turnovers: "It's too hard of a League to give away free goals."
One injury note: defenseman Niko Mikkola left in the third period after a Bedard shot hit his right leg. Maurice said Mikkola is "a little sore" and that he expects him to be fine.