Lars Eller scores late goal as Panthers top Blackhawks 3-2
[October 26, 2026]
By MATT CARLSON
CHICAGO (AP) — Lars Eller's first goal of the season,
with 2:23 left in the third period, lifted the Florida Panthers to a 3-2
win over the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday.
Eller beat Spencer Knight with a high shot just inside the left post as
he raced down right wing and took advantage of Chicago line change.
Matthew Tkachuk and Sandis Vilmanis also scored for Florida, which ended
two-game losing streak. |
Florida Panthers center Sam Reinhart (13) controls the puck during the
first period of an NHL hockey game against the Chicago Blackhawks,
Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Harry Figiel) |
|
Roman Kantserov and Ryan Greene connected for Chicago, which has
dropped three straight.
Akira Schmid made 19 saves, while Knight stopped 29 shots.
The Blackhawks failed to score on seven power-play chances,
including two brief 5-on-3 advantages, lowering their NHL-worst
conversion rate to 8.33%.
Blackhawks defenseman Bowen Byram missed his fourth game with an
upper-body injury. Kevin Korchinski, Chicago’s top pick in the
2022 draft, seventh overall, filled in and played his second
game this season.
Florida forward Carter Verhaeghe played in his 500th NHL game
and tallied an assist.
The Panthers outshot Chicago 15-6 in the first period and took a
2-1 lead.
Greene opened the scoring 2:34 in, getting just enough of a
wobbling puck to direct it past Schmid after Korchinski’s shot
from the point missed the net and bounced in front.
Vilmanis popped in a rebound of Sam Reinhart’s shot from a
scramble to tie it at 6:49.
Tkachuk’s power-play goal, five seconds after Tyler Bertuzzi was
sent off for tripping, gave Florida a 2-1 lead with 5:39 left in
the first. Seth Jones’ shot from the point struck Tkachuk on the
arm and bounded in.
Kantserov tied it at 2-2 at 11:15 of the second. He beat Schmid
low on a screened shot from the right circle, capping a strong
shift with linemates Patrick Kane and Connor Bedard.
Up next
Panthers: At Winnipeg on Tuesday in finale of four-game trip.
Blackhawks: Host Los Angeles on Tuesday to complete a seven-game
homestand.
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