FLORIDA PANTHERS NOTES:
BAPTIST HEALTH INJURY REPORT
- F Anthony Duclair | Games Missed: 6
- D Aaron Ekblad | Games Missed: 3
Total Man Games Lost Due to Injury: 14
LAST GAME
Panthers 3, Islanders 2 – Oct. 23 – FLA Live Arena
FLA Goals: Lundell (1), Luostarinen (2), Lomberg (1)
NYI Goals: Lee (3-PPG, 4-PPG)
FLA Goalie: Knight (W) – 24 Saves
NYI Goalie: Varlamov (L) – 29 Saves
FLA Shots: 32
NYI Shots: 26
Notes: Florida extended their home point streak to three games (2-0-1)…Eetu Luostarinen matched his career high with two points (1-1-2)…Ryan Lomberg and Anton Lundell scored their first goals of the season…Lundell’s goal came :39 into the first period…Spencer Knight earned his 25th career win…Aleksander Barkov won 16/23 faceoffs…Matthew Tkachuk logged a team-high five shots on goal…FLA PP: 0-4, FLA PK: 4-6
RECENT TRANSACTIONS:
- Oct. 21: F Eric Staal signed to a one-year contract
- Oct. 19: D Matt Kiersted and D Lucas Carlsson recalled from Charlotte (AHL) | D Aaron Ekblad placed on LTIR
PANTHERS vs. BLACHAWKS
ALL-TIME vs. CHI: 21-20-3-7
ALL-TIME ROAD vs. CHI: 10-11-2-3
2021-22 vs. CHI: 2-0-0
CATS STATS
- Following games played Oct. 23, Florida’s 35.5 shots per game ranked sixth in the NHL
- 16 different Panthers have registered at least one point this season, and 14 have produced at least one point on the road
- Florida owns a 12-1-2 record in October over the past two seasons
CATS IN CHICAGO
The Panthers visit the Blackhawks tonight for the first of a two-game road swing. Last season, Florida downed Chicago in both matchups by a combined score of 9-2. In their most recent matchup on March 31, Sergei Bobrovsky stopped all 37 CHI shots and Aleksander Barkov tallied two goals en route to a 4-0 shutout at FLA Live Arena. Sam Reinhart (0-2-2) and Gustav Forsling (1-1-2) each recorded multiple points. Over their two matchups last season, Aleksander Barkov led Florida with three goals and five points (3-2-5) against Chicago. The Panthers have earned wins in each of their past four matchups against the Blackhawks and in eight of their past 10 (8-2-0) since Jan. 17, 2021. Over those 10 games, Florida outscored Chicago 40-26, averaging 4.0 goals per game. The Cats also own a 3-0-0 record over their past three visits to the United Center.
ROAD WARRIORS
Florida earned a 2-1-0 record over their season-opening road trip Oct. 13-17. Matthew Tkachuk and Colin White each led Florida with two goals and four points (2-2-4) on the road in 2022-23, while White and Eetu Luostarinen led the Cats with plus-four ratings on the road. Six different Panthers (Tkachuk, White, Luostarinen, Gustav Forsling, Sam Bennett and Aleksander Barkov) have logged at least two road points this season, while Sergei Bobrovsky has registered a .924 save percentage and 2.61 goals against average over his two road appearances thus far.
CHUCKIE’S CHEESE
Forward Matthew Tkachuk registered two points for the second consecutive game Oct 21 vs. TBL. He produced a point in each of his first five games with Florida, logging a team-leading three goals and eight points (3-5-8). His eight points through his first five games were the most by a Panthers skater who was an off-season addition to the team, and tied Scott Mellanby (1996-97) and Olli Jokinen (2006-07) for the second most points through the first five games of a season in franchise history, trailing only Stu Barnes’ nine points in 1995-96. Tkachuk is the third player in franchise history to log at least one point in five consecutive games from the start of his tenure with the organization (also: Ray Whitney, 7 GP 1997-98 and Pavel Bure, 6 GP in 1998-99). Following games played Oct. 23, he is tied for the league lead with seven even-strength points (3-4-7), and he paces Florida with 29 shots on goal.
BARKOV COUNTY
Panthers Captain Aleksander Barkov leads Florida with a 53.4 faceoff win percentage. His 78 faceoff wins ranked tied for sixth-most among NHLers following games played Oct. 23. Barkov led Florida skaters with 25:38 time on ice Oct. 21 vs. TBL, a mark he surpassed twice last season (26:55 Oct. 14, 2021 vs. PIT, 25:57 Oct. 30 at BOS). He skated in his 600th NHL game Oct. 19 vs. PHI and posted his second two-assist outing of the season. He also won 14 of his 21 faceoffs (67%). Barkov is the fourth player in franchise history to skate in 600 games with the club. He notched two assists Oct. 15 at BUF and won 18 of his 30 faceoffs (60%). In 2021-22, he led the club with a career-high 39 goals and four shorthanded tallies in 2021-22 despite playing just 67 games.
MR. CARTER
Forward Carter Verhaeghe scored his first two goals of the season Oct. 19 vs. PHI, his 10th career multi-goal game and ninth with Florida. He became the first skater in Panthers history to score multiple goals in consecutive home openers (also 2-0-2 on Oct. 14, 2021). Per NHL stats, only four players in NHL history have posted a longer such run: Peter Bondra (3 GP from 2002-03 – 2005-06 w/WSH & ATL), Bill Barber (3 GP from 1980-81 – 1982-83 w/ PHI), Guy Lafleur (3 GP from 1975-76 – 1977-78 w/ MTL) and Henri Richard (3 GP from 1960-61 – 1962-63 w/ MTL). The Toronto, Ontario native posted career highs in goals (24), assists (31) and points (55) in 2021-22. All 24 of his goals were scored at even-strength, the most on the Panthers.
JUST THE TWO OF GUS
Defenseman Gustav Forsling notched an assist for the fourth consecutive game Oct. 21 vs. TBL, extending his assist/point streak to four games (1-4-5), tied for the longest point streak of his career. His four-game assist streak was the longest of his career. Through Florida’s first six contests, Forsling has yet to record a negative plus-minus rating in a game. He registered career highs with 10 goals, 27 assists and 37 points, and nine multi-point games in 2021-22, and his +41 rating was the best in one season in franchise history and tied for the third-highest among NHL skaters.
WHAT ABOUT BOB?
Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 21 of 22 TBL shots at even strength on Oct. 21. Through four starts this season, Bobrovsky owns a .929 even strength save percentage. He earned his first home win of the 2022-23 campaign Oct. 19 vs. PHI stopping 18 of 19 PHI shots in the third period. He stopped 32 of the 33 NYI shots he faced in Florida’s season opener on Oct. 13, including all 27 at even strength and 16 in the first period. Bobrovsky tied for the league lead with a franchise-record 39 wins in 2021-22, including a club-record and league-leading 26 home wins.
ET TU, EETU?
Eetu Luostarinen matched his career high with two points (1-1-2) Oct. 23 vs. NYI, his first multi-point game of the season and his fifth with Florida. He led Florida with a plus-three rating in the game, and his plus-seven mark this season tied for third-best among NHL skaters through games played Oct. 23. The native of Siilinjarvi, Finland produced a point in each of Florida’s first three games (1-2-3) this season and his five total points (2-3-5) are tied with Colin White for second-most on Florida, with all five points coming at even strength. In 2021-22, Luostarinen logged career bests in goals (9), assists (17), points (26) and games played (78) while ranking third among Florida forwards in shorthanded time on ice per game (1:53).
RUDY TUESDAYS
Rudolfs Balcers tallied goals in consecutive games from Oct. 19-21, tied for the longest goal streak of his career. He has produced a point in three of his past four games (2-1-3). In 2021-22, the native of Liepaja, Latvia recorded career highs in goals (11), assists (12) and points (23).
BENNY AND THE CATS
Forward Sam Bennett leads Florida with 15 hits this season. He posted two assists Oct. 19 vs. PHI for his second consecutive multipoint game. He registered his first two points (1-1-2) of the season Oct. 17 at BOS. Bennett set career highs in goals (28), assists (21), points (49), power-play goals (5), and game-winning goals (7) in 2021-22, and led the team with a career-high 241 shots on goal.
COL’ ME MAYBE
Colin White notched an assist on Ryan Lomberg’s game-winning goal Oct. 23 vs. NYI. He has produced five points (2-3-5) through Florida’s first six contests of 2022-23, tied for the second-most points on Florida with all five points coming at even strength. He produced his first multi-point game with the Panthers Oct. 17 at BOS, logging two points (1-1-2). He scored in two straight contests from Oct. 15-17 and posted a point in all three of his first games with Florida. The Boston, Mass., native’s goal Oct. 15 at BUF marked his 100th NHL point, becoming the 62nd Massachusetts native to reach the 100-point mark.
THE LOMBERGHINI
Ryan Lomberg recorded his first goal of the season Oct. 23 vs. NYI, his second career regular season game-winning tally. He has produced two points (1-1-2) and a plus-two rating this season, after posting career-bests in goals (9), assists (9), points (18), and games played (55) in 2021-22.
OH WHAT A KNIGHT
Goaltender Spencer Knight posted a .920 save percentage tonight to earn his 25th career win in his 38th appearance Oct. 23 vs. NYI. Only four active goaltenders have reached the 25-win mark in fewer appearances: Frederik Andersen (33 GP), Jordan Binnington (35 GP), Matt Murray (36 GP) and Anton Khudobin (36 GP). It also marked the third-fewest appearances to reach the 25-win mark by an American-born goaltender in NHL history, behind Frank Bimsek (34 GP w/ BOS in 1938-39) and Jim Carey (37 GP w/ WSH from 1994- 94 – 1995-96). Last season, Knight posted a 19-9-3 record with two shutouts. His 19 wins set a franchise record for wins by a rookie goaltender, and he joined Roberto Luongo as the only two rookie goaltenders in club history to record multiple shutouts.
LUN DMC
Forward Anton Lundell scored his first goal of the season :39 into the first period Oct. 23 vs. NYI, the third-fastest goal to start a game in 2022-23. He leads all NHL forwards with 21:29 of shorthanded time on ice this season following games played Oct. 23. He also leads Florida forwards with eight blocked shots. He won nine of his 14 faceoffs (64%) Oct. 17 at BOS, and he notched his first assist of the season Oct. 15 at BUF. Lundell produced 18 goals and 44 points (18-26-44) over his first NHL season in 2021-22, both the fourth-most by a rookie in franchise history. He recorded 12 multi-point games, tied with Jesse Belanger for the most by a Panthers rookie in one season in club history. The Espoo, Finland native’s four multi-goal games in 2021-22 ranked behind only Mark Parrish (6 in 1998-99) for the franchise rookie mark.
THE BUTCHER
Radko Gudas skated 25:11 time on ice Oct. 21 vs. TBL, his highest TOI since skating 25:23 Nov. 28, 2015 at NYR. He registered his second assist of the season Oct. 19 vs. PHI, and tied for the team lead in plus-minus in the game with a plus-three rating, tied for the highest single-game mark on Florida this season. Gudas notched an assist and led all Florida skaters with five hits in Florida’s season opener Oct. 13 at NYI. He also led NHL skaters in hits for the second consecutive season in 2021-22, logging 355 over 77 games played.
‘HART OF GOLD
Forward Sam Reinhart notched his first assist of the season on the power play Oct. 15 at BUF. Last season, Reinhart led Florida with 16 power-play goals and ranked second with 31 power-play points. He finished 2021-22 with career highs in goals (33), assists (49) and points (82). His 82 points were the most by any player in their first season with Florida, while his 16 power-play goals led the team. Reinhart was the fifth player in franchise history to reach 80 points in a season.
ST. PATRIC
Forward Patric Hornqvist scored his third game-winning goal as a member of the Panthers in Florida’s season opener Oct. 13 at NYI. In 2021-22, Hornqvist ranked third among Florida forwards with 114 hits and posted 28 points (11-17-28) over 65 games. The two-time Stanley Cup champion has totaled 11 power-play goals since joining Florida prior to the 2020-21 campaign.
GOTTA GO TO MO’
Paul Maurice earned his first home-ice victory with the Panthers Oct. 19 vs. PHI. He began his 25th season as an NHL head coach with a victory Oct. 13 at NYI. Maurice was named head coach of the Panthers on June 22, 2022. Maurice has coached 1,690 games, which ranks as the fourth-most in League history. His 779 victories as an NHL head coach are the seventh-most all time, and he is one of three coaches to earn at least 300 wins with two different franchises.
CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS NOTES:
TONIGHT’S BROADCAST INFORMATION
TV: NBC Sports Chicago – Chris Vosters (PxP), Troy Murray (analyst), Colby Cohen (analyst)
RADIO: WGN-AM 720 – John Wiedeman (PxP) and Caley Chelios (analyst) and Joe Brand (studio host)
RADIO (Spanish): TUDN-AM 1200 – Miguel Esparza (PxP) and Jorge Moreno (analyst)
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
Thursday, Oct. 27 vs. EDM, 7:30 p.m. CT (NBCSCH, WGN Radio, Univision (Spanish))
Saturday, Oct. 29 at BUF, 6:00 p.m. CT (NBCSCH, WGN Radio)
Sunday, Oct. 30 vs. MIN, 7:00 p.m. CT (NBCSCH, WGN Radio, Univision (Spanish))
Tuesday, Nov. 1 vs. NYI, 7:30 p.m. CT (NBCSCH+, WGN Radio, Univision (Spanish))
Thursday, Nov. 3 vs. LAK, 7:30 p.m. CT (NBCSCH, WGN Radio, Univision (Spanish))
RECENT TRANSACTIONS
Oct. 22 – Placed Petr Mrazek (groin strain) on IR … Oct. 21 – Recalled Arvid Soderblom from Rockford and assigned Alec Regula to Rockford … Activated Jake McCabe from IR … Oct. 18 – Assigned Alex Vlasic to Rockford … Oct. 14 – Activated Jason Dickinson from non-roster and reassigned Buddy Robinson to Rockford … Oct. 10 – Claimed D Jarred Tinordi off waivers … Oct. 9 – Placed D Caleb Jones and F Boris Katchouk on IR … Oct. 7 – Acquired F Jason Dickinson and a second-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft via trade with Seattle in exchange for D Riley Stillman.
LAST TIME OUT
Score: Chicago (5) vs. Seattle (4) – Sun., Oct. 23, United Center
CHI Goals: Khaira (1), T. Johnson (1), Domi (3), T. Johnson (2), Dickinson (2)
SEA Goals: McCann (3), Burakovsky (3), Beniers (2), Dunn (1)
Goalies: CHI – Stalock (30/34, 60:00) SEA – Jones (22/27 (58:30)
CHI PP: 2/3; PK: 4/4
DET PP: 0/4; PK: 1/3
Recap: Chicago overcame a two-goal deficit for the third consecutive game en route to a 5-4 win over the Seattle Kraken on Sunday … The Blackhawks become the ninth team in NHL history to record three-or-more consecutive multi-goal comeback wins … Tyler Johnson led the way with two goals on Sunday and has tallied multiple points in two of the last three games (2G, 2A) … Patrick Kane and Seth Jones each recorded two assists in Sunday’s contest … Jujhar Khaira scored a shorthanded goal and added a game-high six hits against the Kraken … Khaira’s shorthanded tally marks the team’s League-leading fourth shorthanded goal of the season.
TONIGHT’S OPPONENT – FLORIDA PANTHERS
The Blackhawks play host to the Florida Panthers on Tuesday night in the first of two contests scheduled between the two teams this season … Chicago went 0-2-0 against the Panthers in 2021-22 … Patrick Kane recorded two points (1G, 1A) against Florida last season and enters Tuesday’s contest riding an eight-game home point streak (4G, 7A) against them … Kane has also logged points (4G, 8A) in nine of his last 10 games against the Panthers … Max Domi comes into Tuesday’s game having tallied assists in two of his last three games (2A) against Florida and has now earned four points (1G, 3A) over his last six games against them … Tyler Johnson has scored four goals in his last seven games against the Panthers … Johnson has scored 12 goals in 33 career games against Florida, the second-most he’s scored against any NHL team in his career … Jonathan Toews has recorded points (1G, 2A) in two of his last four games against the Panthers and has eight points (3G, 5A) in his last seven games against them.
2022-23 Schedule/Results: HOME: Oct. 25 | AWAY: March 10
All-Time Record: 27-17-7 | Home: 14-8-4 | Road: 13-9-3
Last Home Win: March 25, 2021 (3-0) | Last Road Win: Feb. 29, 2020 (3-2 SO) | Last Home Loss: Feb.
20, 2022 (2-5) | Last Road Loss: March 31, 2022 (0-4)
BLACKHAWKS VS. FLA ALL-TIME
GOALS ASSISTS POINTS
GOALS: Patrick Kane, 14; Jonathan Toews, 9; Tony Amonte, 6
ASSISTS: Patrick Kane, 21; Duncan Keith, 15; Alexei Zhamnov, 11
POINTS: Patrick Kane, 35; Jonathan Toews, 19; Duncan Keith/Alexei Zhamnov, 16
TEAM NOTES
COMEBACK KIDS: The Blackhawks overcame a two-goal deficit in Sunday’s 5-4 win over the Kraken, marking the team’s third consecutive multi-goal comeback win … Chicago became the ninth team in NHL history to post three or more consecutive multi-goal comeback wins, and the first since Detroit did so during the 2018-19 season … Additionally, the Blackhawks are the fourth team in NHL history to overcome a multi-goal deficit in each of their first three wins of a season, joining St. Louis (3 GP in 2006-07), Detroit (3 GP in 1990-91) and the New York Islanders (3 GP in 1985-86).
LONG STORY SHORTHANDED: Jujhar Khaira scored his third career shorthanded on Sunday against Seattle … The Blackhawks have now scored a League-leading four shorthanded goals this season, all of which have come in the past three games … The team’s three-game streak of scoring a shorthanded goal ties the longest in franchise history, which has happened six times previously, most recently from Feb. 5 – 11, 2009 … Chicago is the first club to score a shorthanded goal in three-straight games since the Ottawa Senators accomplished the feat during the 2019-20 campaign … Sam Lafferty scored two shorthanded goals against the Sharks on Oct. 15 … He is just the seventh Blackhawks player since 1933-34 (when goals by type officially began being tracked) to score two shorthanded goals in a single period, joining Rene Bourque (Feb. 28, 2008), Patrick Sharp (Nov. 3, 2007), Steve Sullivan (Jan. 26, 2001), Rick Paterson (Jan. 16, 1985), Chico Maki (Dec. 9, 1970) and Pep Kelly (Dec. 26, 1940).
HIT ME WITH YOUR BEST SHOT: The Blackhawks recorded 40 hits against the Kraken on Sunday, with Jujhar Khaira leading the club with six hits in the contest … Chicago has now posted 162 hits through the first five games of the season for a 32.4 hits-per-game average, good for third in the NHL … The team notched 41 hits on Oct. 13 at Vegas with nine separate Blackhawks players registering at least three hits in the contest … This marks just the fourth time Chicago has had nine skaters post three-or-more hits in a single game since the NHL began tracking the stat in 2005-06, while the club has never had more than nine do so in a regular-season contest … Jarred Tinordi currently leads the Blackhawks with 21 hits so far this season, while Khaira ranks second with 15 hits.
TYLER, THE CREATOR: Tyler Johnson scored two goals against the Kraken on Sunday and has now registered multiple points in two of his last three games (2G, 2A) … His multi-goal effort on Sunday’s marks Johnson’s first two-goal game since Feb. 13, 2021 at Florida while with Tampa Bay … Johnson now shares first on the Blackhawks with three assists and five points (2G, 3A), while he’s tied for second on the club with three goals through the first five games this season.
LAFF ATTACK: Forward Sam Lafferty registered two assists in Friday’s contest and is tied for the team lead with five points (2G, 3A) this season … He also shares first on Chicago with three assists and second with two goals … All five of Lafferty’s points this season have come over the last three games as the forward matched a career high with three points (2G, 1A) on Oct. 15 at San Jose … This is the second time in his career that Lafferty has registered consecutive multi-point games, having also done so from Oct. 12 – 13, 2019 (3G, 2A).
(PENALTY) SHOT HEARD ‘ROUND THE WORLD: Forward Andreas Athanasiou scored a penalty shot goal on Friday night for his first goal of the season and his first in a Blackhawks sweater … He becomes the first player in franchise history to score his first career goal with the club on a penalty shot, while he’s the first NHL player to do so since Cole Bardreau with the New York Islanders on Nov. 5, 2019 … Athanasiou’s penalty shot goal is the first by a Blackhawks player since Jonathan Toews on March 11, 2019 vs. Arizona … It also marked the third penalty shot goal of Athanasiou’s career, as he’s tied for second among all active NHLers.
LET’S GET IT STARTED: Jason Dickinson scored the game-winning goal on Sunday, marking his first game-winner of the season … Dickinson is now tied for second on the Blackhawks with two goals, while he ranks third on the squad with four points (2G, 2A) in three games so far this season … Dickinson made his Blackhawks debut on Saturday at San Jose, sharing the team lead with three points (1G, 2A) … His three points in his debut is the second-most in franchise history behind Martin Havlat’s four-point performance (2G, 2A) in his first game with Chicago on Oct. 5, 2006 … Dickinson is the ninth player in franchise history to record at least three points in his first game in a Blackhawks sweater, and the first since Havlat’s four points in 2006-07 … Dickinson was acquired along with a second-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft via trade with Seattle in exchange for Riley Stillman on Oct. 7.
BLACKHAWKS RECORD ON…
One-Day Rest: 0-0-0
Two-Days Rest: 2-0-0
Three+ Days Rest: 1-0-0
First Game of a B2B: 0-1-0
Second Game of a B2B: 0-1-0
BLACKHAWKS RECORD BY DAY
Monday: 0-0-0
Tuesday: 0-0-0
Wednesday: 0-1-0
Thursday: 0-1-0
Friday: 1-0-0
Saturday: 1-0-0
Sunday: 1-0-0
