George Richards, FHN Publisher
It may have taken a minute, but it looks like Blackhawks goalie Kevin Lankinen has figured out the Florida Panthers.
After losing his first three meetings against the Panthers, Chicago’s rookie goalie won his second in three nights Thursday as he stopped 41 shots as the Blackhawks sent Florida to its first losing streak of the season with a 3-0 win at United Center.
Florida has now lost three consecutive games and may have lost Patric Hornqvist to injury as well.
The Panthers had been 4-0 against the Blackhawks before Tuesday’s 3-2 loss.
For Lankinen, his two wins against the Panthers has, perhaps not mysteriously, coincided with star center Sasha Barkov being out of the Florida lineup.
Barkov, who says he has followed the Finnish goalie’s career progression, had three goals and eight points in his three games against Lankinen this season but did not play in either of the games in Chicago.
Florida obviously missed Barkov, but it had plenty of scoring chances — even missing out on a 3-on-0 rush when Lankinen got a piece of two shots from Jonathan Huberdeau in the second period.
”Obviously I have to put that in,’’ Huberdeau said. “It was a bad effort by me and I haven’t been playing well the past few games. I have to help the team out a little more. That should be easy, a cookie goal and help our team get back in the game.”
The Panthers looked off in the opener of the series with Barkov being a late scratch but that was not the case Thursday.
Not saying the Panthers looked like their normal selves Thursday, but they certainly did not look like the hot mess they did early on Tuesday.
”We got opportunities, we didn’t score and that’s where it is,’’ Joel Quenneville said. “We had some great chances: had a breakaway, hit the post; had a 3-on-0 and don’t really even get a scoring chance off of it and that hurts.
“Some of the plays there, empty nets we don’t get it up; everyone is different but we definitely had chances to get on the board and that would have really helped us get back in the game but that didn’t materialize.”
Florida dominated the first period but were not able to put anything past Lankinen and the two teams were scoreless at the first break.
Mason Marchment got a late penalty leading to Chicago’s first power play to open the second and the Blackhawks converted as Patrick Kane cashed in with Sergei Bobrovsky (18 saves) not only down on the ice but with Carl Soderberg on top of him.
Moments later, the Panthers were caught on a defensive misplay and Pius Suter scored on a rebound with no Florida player within yards of him.
In the third period, Hornqvist had to be helped off the ice and into the locker room after a big hit from Nikita Zadorov — the Chicago defenseman who cross-checked Noel Acciari in the back Tuesday.
Zadorov had been called for slashing Frank Vatrano just before crushing Hornqvist (there was no penalty on what appeared to be a clean hit) and the Panthers again failed to score as Acciari took Hornqvist’s spot up front.
Quenneville said, at least initially, Hornqvist seemed to be OK although he did not return to the game.
“We’ll see how he is tomorrow, we’ll say day-to-day right now,” Quenneville said postgame. “We think he’s alright.”
The Panthers went 0-for-6 on the power play on Thursday.
Chicago, save for the two goals early in the second, did not do much of anything offensively against the Panthers as Florida controlled the puck and kept the pressure on Lankinen.
But, with Lankinen playing the way he was, those two goals were plenty enough as he recorded his second shutout of the season — and his NHL career.
Chicago ended things with an empty net goal with 1:20 remaining.
The Panthers now head to Dallas riding their first losing streak of the season. It’s also the first time this team has had their backs up against the wall.
”It’s never the worst thing to facing (adversity) and seeing how you get out of it,” Quenneville said.
“We will have to stick together, obviously we’ll see if Barky plays this weekend or not. The guys that are playing, this is a great opportunity. They are getting quality time and have a chance to make a real contribution.”
BARKOV BACK IN DALLAS?
Before Thursday’s game, Quenneville said Barkov was “feeling much better” and said that it was possible that the Panthers’ captain could return this weekend.
Florida will stay in Chicago and fly to Dallas on Friday; if Barkov skates later that day — the team has a practice session scheduled but that could be canceled — he may be able to go Saturday.
The Panthers play on consecutive days in Dallas on Saturday and Sunday. Florida is back home Tuesday against Detroit on Tuesday.
“We’ll see how he does when we get to Dallas,’’ Quenneville said referring to Barkov.
“We’ll see if there’s a chance he could get in before the weekend’s over.”
With Barkov on the shelf, the Panthers moved Carter Verhaeghe into his spot centering Marchment and Anthony Duclair.
Florida also dressed seven defenseman on Thursday with Markus Nutivaara getting in and starting on the fourth line with Acciari and Vinnie Hinostroza although he did slide back to the back side throughout the game.
FIRST PERIOD HIGHLIGHTS
The Panthers looked a lot more comfortable playing without Barkov in this first period than they did Tuesday.
Florida outshot the Blackhawks 13-7 in the period with a 26-12 shot attempt advantage as well.
The Panthers went 0-2 on the power play but generated a number of good scoring chances.
On the other end of the ice, Bobrovsky did not see a whole lot of action as Florida kept the puck in the Chicago zone for much of the period.
Frank Vatrano had a nice scoring chance six minutes into the game as he poked and prodded but couldn’t get the puck across the line.
Owen Tippett played a strong period, blocking one shot and then turning up the ice with a scoring chance. He ended the first with three shots on goal.
Per NaturalStatTrick.com, the Panthers had a dozen scoring chances against just five for the Blackhawks.
SECOND PERIOD HIGHLIGHTS
Marchment was called for tripping at the end of the first giving Chicago a power play to start the second on fresh ice.
The Blackhawks were able to cash in, making it 1-0 when Kane fired in a rebound as Bobrovsky was down on the ice with Carl Soderberg draped all over him.
Florida did not challenge for goalie interference.
Just over two minutes later, Chicago made it 2-0 when Florida’s defensive breakdown led to a 2-on-1 with Suter following up Alex DeBrincat’s shot.
From then on, it was all Florida — although the Panthers failed on repeated attempts to beat Lankinen.
Florida went 0-2 on the power play for the second consecutive period as it outshot the Hawks 17-9 in the period.
The Panthers even had a 3-on-0 rush with two shot offerings from Huberdeau getting stopped.
It was that kind of period for a Florida team which still did not look all together there.
THIRD PERIOD HIGHLIGHTS
It was more of the same for the Panthers as they continued to pepper Lankinen only to come up empty.
The lowlight came at 4:15 of the period when Zadonov leveled Hornqvist sending him sprawling to the ice.
Florida’s medical trainer came out to check on him and ended up helping him off the ice and into the training room.
Hornqvist’s 12 goals are tied with Verhaeghe for second on the team, one back of Barkov.
Kane got a nice scoring chance later in the period but Bobrovsky made the save.
GEORGE’S THREE STARS OF THE GAME
1. G Kevin Lankinen, Chicago
2. Patrick Kane, Chicago
3. Owen Tippett, Florida
ON DECK: PANTHERS AT STARS
When: Saturday, 8 p.m.
Where: AmericanAirlines Center, Dallas
Season series: Florida leads 2-1
TV/Radio: FSF/560-AM