Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Panthers Fall To Blackhawks

     The Florida Panthers completed a five-game road trip with a 3-2 defeat to the Chicago Blackhawks in a shootout at United Center on Tuesday night. The Cats come home after finishing 2-2-1 in their last five games. The Blackhawks ended their eight-game homestand with a 3-2-3 record and will face the Panthers in a rematch on Thursday night in Sunrise.
     After Patrick Kane was cross checked by Alex Petrovic, Chicago(36-20-5) scored on their first power play of the game at 9:25 of the first period. Marian Hossa had the puck on the right wing and moved it to Jonathan Toews below the right circle. His centering pass to the crease area rebounded back to him and he scored on a wrist shot past Roberto Luongo.
     Former Panther Kris Versteeg snapped in a shot from the left circle to give the Blackhawks a 2-0 lead with 5:32 left in the second period. Brad Richards fed the puck from the right point to Patrick Sharp in the high slot for the initial shot which was deflected to Versteeg. 
     In the third period, Florida(26-21-13) cut the deficit to 2-1 with 7:37 remaining. A turnaround cross-ice pass by Brad Boyes was snapped in for a score by Jussi Jokinen from the low right circle
     The Panthers tied the game with 3:29 to go on a fortunate bounce. Vincent Trocheck was on the end wall and got his fifth goal of the season as he banked the puck off the right skate of Duncan Keith and by Scott Darling. Tomas Fleischmann and Chris Kampfer were credited with assists on the play.
     The game went to a shootout and Chicago scored on both of their attempts. Toews get a backhand tally and Sharp followed with a wrist shot to the glove side. The Panthers first attempt by Trocheck on a forehand stuff was saved and the second attempt by Nick Bjugstad went wide right of the cage.

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