Florida used a 32-21 shot advantage and Matthew Tkachuk’s power-play goal to edge Chicago 3-2.
Florida edged Chicago 3-2 at the United Center, outshooting the Blackhawks 32-21. Sandis Vilmanis scored for the Panthers, finishing with 1 goal, 4 shots, a +1 rating and 2 hits. Matthew Tkachuk also scored, converting Florida’s lone power-play goal; he had 3 shots, 2 hits and a -1 rating. Lars Eller supplied Florida’s other goal, with 2 shots and a +1 rating. Ryan Greene and Roman Kantserov scored for Chicago, while Patrick Kane recorded an assist; Greene had 3 shots and 2 hits, and Kantserov had 2 shots and 1 hit. Seth Jones and Sam Reinhart each had an assist for Florida, with Jones adding 4 shots and 2 hits and Reinhart posting 2 shots and 2 hits. Akira Schmid made 19 saves on 21 shots for a .905 save percentage, while Spencer Knight stopped 29 of 32 for a .906 mark.
Key Performers
Matthew Tkachuk, Florida: 1 G, 0 A, 1 P, 3 shots, -1, 1 PPG, 2 hits. Sandis Vilmanis, Florida: 1 G, 0 A, 1 P, 4 shots, +1, 0 PPG, 2 hits. Ryan Greene, Chicago: 1 G, 0 A, 1 P, 3 shots, even, 0 PPG, 2 hits.
Standings Impact
Florida moves to 6-4-2 with 14 points and snaps its two-game losing streak. Chicago falls to 3-8-0 with 6 points and extends its skid to three games.
DYMA Insight
The result matched the pregame power-index gap: Florida ranked 18th at 62.4, while Chicago was 32nd at 20.0. Florida’s 32-21 shot advantage also fits its stronger season shot differential, +3.7 per game against Chicago’s -8.9.