Knight Time in Chicago? Panthers face Blackhawks after clinching playoff spot

The Florida Panthers can breathe a sigh of relief after officially clinching a playoff spot Tuesday night. Yet, the games continue. On Thursday, Florida visits the Chicago Blackhawks. Will Spencer Knight be in net?

NARRATOR: He will be.

Although it did not look like Knight would get more than one game after he made his NHL debut last week, the 20-year-old rookie was pressed into service Tuesday when Joel Quenneville went to the bullpen and brought in Knight to replace Sergei Bobrovsky in Nashville.

It was a big moment for Knight as he was asked to come in and help the Panthers stop the bleeding knowing what was on the line.

Florida was outshooting the Predators 42-21 through the first two periods yet were down 4-3 at the intermission.

Quenneville pulled Bobrovsky and handed the net to the kid who is still wearing his Boston College-themed mask as well as his Team USA pads (which, kind of work with the Panthers’ color scheme).

Knight did not have to do a lot of heavy lifting Thursday but he answered the call regardless.

After stopping all nine shots thrown his way Tuesday night and the Panthers scoring four goals in the third, Florida clinched its playoff spot with a 7-4 victory. Knight got the win, the second of his young NHL career.