Blackhawks top Panthers to end 3-game losing streak

Field Level Media|published: Thu 21st November, 23:42 2024

Nov 21, 2024; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Florida Panthers center Aleksander Barkov (16) plays the puck as Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Petr Mrazek (34) defends his goal during the first period at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Bartel-Imagn Images

Petr Mrazek made 32 saves and Nick Foligno had a goal and an assist as the Chicago Blackhawks recorded a 3-1 win over the visiting Florida Panthers on Tuesday.

Teuvo Teravainen and Craig Smith also scored for the Blackhawks, who ended a three-game losing streak with the upset win over the reigning Stanley Cup champions.

Mrazek stopped 32 of 33 shots for his sixth win in 14 games this season. The veteran goalie was particularly sharp in the third period, twice stopping Sam Reinhart on prime scoring chances.

Since completing a seven-game winning streak, the Panthers are 1-4-0 in their last five games.

Reinhart's 15th goal of the season was Florida's only tally of the game, despite a 33-20 shots advantage. It was the third time in Chicago's last four games that the Blackhawks had recorded 20 or fewer shots on net.

Florida goaltender Spencer Knight stopped 17 of 19 shots.

The Blackhawks had been 0-for-6 on power plays in their previous four games, but Teravainen ended the slump 2:46 into the first period. An interference penalty on Niko Mikkola gave Chicago an early chance with the extra attacker, and Teravainen buried a rebound for his fifth goal of the season.

Smith also tallied his fifth goal to extend Chicago's lead at 10:07 of the second period. Patrick Maroon's canny pass found Smith alone heading toward the Florida net, and Smith deposited a backhanded shot.

Just 34 seconds after Smith's goal, Reinhart answered with a shot from the circle that beat a screened Mrazek. Reinhart has 18 points (10 goals, eight assists) over a 12-game points streak, tied for the fifth-longest streak in Panthers franchise history.

Besides the efforts of Mrazek and the Blackhawks' defense, the Panthers' offense had some self-inflicted issues in the form of turnovers and missed passes. The problems peaked with a minute left in regulation, as Carter Verhaeghe made an ill-advised drop pass attempt in his own end that Foligno intercepted for a gift of an empty-net goal.

--Field Level Media

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