Spencer Knight terrific in net as Panthers beat Blackhawks in OT

Spencer Knight was definitely put to the test in his second NHL start for the Panthers on Thursday night in Chicago, and the 20-year-old rookie came up in a big way.

The two saves he made on Chicago in the second period while the Panthers were on a power play were perhaps the biggest ones of his short NHL career. Then came a one-on-one against Patrick Kane in overtime.

In his debut last week against Columbus, Knight didn’t have to be spectacular. On Thursday he had to be on numerous occasions.

And he answered the call.

Knight made 24 saves and Sam Bennett won it by scoring with 51.1 seconds left in OT as the Panthers beat the Blackhawks 4-3. 

“Man, the kid’s got some composure,” Joel Quenneville said of Knight. “We like what we’re seeing.”

No doubt.

”It was definitely a lot of fun,” Knight said afterward. “Obviously a good battle of back-and-forth, going to OT. It was a lot of fun.”