George Richards, FHN Publisher
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.”
Brandon Montour and Alex Wennberg each ended with a goal and assist.
It was the second consecutive win for a Florida team which has already clinched a playoff spot.
The win allowed the Panthers to stick close in the Central Division race. Florida remains two points back of Carolina for first and is a point ahead of Tampa Bay in third.
The Panthers made things a lot tougher on Knight that they did against Columbus — and even against Nashville in the third period Tuesday — as they gave up four breakaways while on the power play Thursday.
One shot actually made it into the net, only Alex DeBrincat obviously used a high-stick to bat in a puck and that play was immediately waved off.
He made up for that later, scoring the tying goal with 17.6 seconds left off a sweet pass from Kane to force overtime.
In the OT session, Florida found itself trapped in its own zone for a good 90 seconds. Knight ended up making three saves in the extra session — including the big one on Kane — before Frank Vatrano got the puck to safety.
”He stood on his head, made some unbelievable saves,” Bennett said. “He kept us in it. To come away with the two points is huge for our team, gives us a chance at first place. I said it before, I am shocked he has only played a couple games in the NHL. He is so composed back there and is so confident in the net. He gives our team confidence and energy. It’s rare to see with such a young goalie. I have been very impressed.”
Knight’s play allowed the Panthers to work the possession with two shifts coming.
In the end, it was Bennett getting the winner — his fifth since joining the Panthers earlier this month.
“I got a nice pass from Weegs there and skated up on the left side, saw a little spot and aimed for it and it went in,” Bennett said.
“It feels really good. We know how important it is to play the right way for the rest of the season. We can’t let off and change our game. We have to go into the playoffs playing the right way every night.”
Knight found himself down 1-0 when Alex Gaudette scored off a backhanded shot after the Panthers failed to clear the puck out of danger at 13:49 of the first period.
Florida came back from a one-goal deficit not once but twice.
In the second with Duncan Keith in the penalty box, MacKenzie Weegar let one rip and Alex Wennberg was in the right place at the right time as he knocked in the puck.
Four minutes later, Vinnie Hinostroza — remember him? — drove in on Knight to make it 2-1.
Hinostroza, it should be noted, is getting top-6 minutes in Chicago after he rarely played in Florida before being traded earlier this month.
In nine games with Florida, Hinostroza failed to log a point. In nine with Chicago, he has three goals and 10 points. He also broke up what could have been a point-blank shot by Sasha Barkov in overtime.
Not bad.
By the way, weird seeing Riley Stillman and Brett Connolly playing against the Panthers, right?
Anyway, Florida was able to tie it a second time at 13:09 when Anthony Duclair followed up a Brandon Montour shot that rolled off of Kevin Lankinen’s pad to make it 2-2.
Montour was able to find the scoresheet again and it came at a great time. With 10:51 remaining, he gave the Panthers their first lead of the night by one-timing a nice pass from Wennberg past Lankinen.
”My approach is to try and give my team the best chance to win,” Knight said. “Obviously I had to come up with some big saves, but my teammates bailed me out a couple of times as well. It was a good team effort.”
Both Montour and Wennberg ended with a goal and an assist.
Lankinen, meanwhile, was terrific himself and kept Chicago in this one. Lankinen made 35 saves and will probably be back in net Saturday when the Panthers visit United Center for the final time this season.
”They had some big shifts in our end and he did what he had to do,” Quenneville said of Knight. “It was nice to see him get the win out of it. I didn’t like the way we played the last minute or so. Our first period was ordinary, our last two periods were way better.”
GEORGE’S THREE STARS OF THE NIGHT
1. Spencer Knight, Florida
2. Brandon Montour, Florida
3. Alex Wennberg, Florida
ON DECK: PANTHERS AT BLACKHAWKS
When: Saturday, 8
Where: United Center, Chicago
Season series: Florida leads 5-2
TV: BS-FLA
Radio: WQAM 560-AM