|
 The Panthers tried to downplay it a bit, but the two events are not
a total coincidence.
Ekblad, last season's Rookie of the Year, scored a goal and helped
Florida break a four-game losing streak, defeating the Chicago
Blackhawks 4-0 on Friday night at the BB&T Center.
The Panthers were 0-3-1 while Ekblad was out with a concussion.
"Sitting out is one thing, but when the team is losing -- that's
another," Ekblad said. "It was very frustrating. You try to take
care of yourself and get back as quick as you can."
Ekblad's return was good news for Panthers goalie Roberto Luongo,
who had 27 saves to earn the win, beating Chicago backup Scott
Darling. It was Luongo's 72nd career shutout, moving him into a tie
for 10th place in NHL history.
Florida, which had been outscored 16-5 in the previous four games,
got goals from right winger Reilly Smith, defenseman Brian Campbell,
center Quinton Howden and Ekblad.
Campbell, though, cautioned against putting too much on the
shoulders of 19-year-old Ekblad.
"Obviously, he is an elite, elite player, and he makes us a better
team," Campbell said. "But we can't just look at that because
there's going to be different situations when other guys are not in
the lineup. But it's definitely nice having him back."
This was Florida's first win over Chicago since March 8, 2011,
snapping a 0-5-3 streak.
The game was also a battle between division leaders. The Panthers
lead the Atlantic (27-15-5). Chicago (32-15-5), which lost two games
in a row, is on top in the Central.
Florida, with Smith getting his 50th career goal, opened the scoring
with 9:41 left in the first period. Smith, skating on the left side,
took a short pass from left winger Jussi Jokinen and beat Darling to
the short side despite a tough angle.
With 2:42 left in the first period, Florida made it 2-0. Center
Jonathan Huberdeau earned his 100th career assist when his pass went
off the skate of Chicago right winger Marian Hossa, bouncing
straight to Panthers center Aleksander Barkov. From there, Barkov
fed Campbell in the slot for the goal.
"The middle of the ice just kind of opened up there," Campbell said.
"It worked out."
Florida made it 3-0 on an unassisted goal with just 2.1 seconds left
in the opening period. Howden scored very similarly to Smith -- from
an angle on the left, getting the puck under Darling's right armpit.
Ekblad also scored unassisted. With 17:09 left in the second period,
he took a turnover and blasted a shot past Darling for the final
goal of the game.
[to top of second column] |
The only negative for Florida was that its power play went 0-for-3.
The Panthers have not scored win a man advantage since center
Brandon Pirri got a goal Jan. 2 against the New York Rangers. They
are 0-26 during that span.
"We didn't score, but we didn't need it," Panthers right winger
Jaromir Jagr said of the power play. "Let's hope that when we need
it, we score."
As for Chicago, even with the NHL's points (71) and goals (30)
leader in action -- right winger Patrick Kane -- the Blackhawks were
shut down again. They have scored just one goal in their past two
games.
"Tonight was garbage," Hossa said. "We have to be better."
Chicago was so desperate for goals that it pulled Darling for an
extra attacker with 8:44 left in the game. They put him back in when
there was a faceoff in the offensive zone and tried it again shortly
thereafter before relenting.
"You never know -- you get one goal and all of a sudden you get
excited," Chicago coach Joel Quenneville said of pulling his goalie
so early. "It's not usually my go-to move. But it could happen one
day where it works."
NOTES: LW Jiri Sekac, acquired from the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday,
made his Chicago debut. ... RW Richard Panik, benched for Thursday's
game after he overslept and missed the morning skate, returned to
Chicago's lineup. ... Chicago and Florida had franchise-record
12-game win streaks end this month. Chicago's streak ended more
recently -- on Thursday. ... Chicago G Corey Crawford had his
personal nine-game win streak snapped on Thursday, and he rested on
Friday. ... ... Florida placed D Willie Mitchell (lower body) on
injured reserve and recalled D Dylan Olsen, 25, from the AHL's
Portland Pirates. The earliest Mitchell can return is Tuesday. ...
Panthers C Dave Bolland, whose last-minute goal won the 2013 Stanley
Cup for the Blackhawks, hasn't played in over a month due to an
ankle injury. ... Florida scratched Olsen and C Brandon Pirri, who
has been the subject of trade talks. ... Chicago scratched D Michal
Rozsival and LW Brandon Mashinter.
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