Reinhart scores 30th, Maurice wins 900th as Panthers top Blackhawks after Slaggert’s 7-second goal
Reinhart scores 30th, Maurice wins 900th as Panthers top Blackhawks after Slaggert’s 7-second goal
Florida Panthers left wing Matthew Tkachuk (19) reacts after scoring a goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Chicago Blackhawks, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Chicago Blackhawks center Ryan Donato (8) falls to the ice as he goes for the puck against Florida Panthers defenseman Niko Mikkola (77) during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Florida Panthers center Carter Verhaeghe (23) skates with the puck as Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Alex Vlasic (72) defends during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Florida Panthers center Eetu Luostarinen (27) shoots on the goal as Chicago Blackhawks’ Connor Murphy, right, defends during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Petr Mrazek (34) defends against a shoot the goal by Florida Panthers center Eetu Luostarinen (27) during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Chicago Blackhawks center Jason Dickinson (16) skates with the puck as Florida Panthers defenseman Niko Mikkola (77) defends during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Florida Panthers defenseman Niko Mikkola (77) and Chicago Blackhawks right wing Ilya Mikheyev (95) chase the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Chicago Blackhawks left wing Tyler Bertuzzi (59) shoots on the goal past Florida Panthers defenseman Nate Schmidt (88) during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Chicago Blackhawks left wing Landon Slaggert, left, celebrates after scoring a goal against Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Chicago Blackhawks left wing Landon Slaggert (84) scores a goal against Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Florida Panthers left wing Matthew Tkachuk (19) reacts after scoring a goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Chicago Blackhawks, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Florida Panthers left wing Matthew Tkachuk (19) reacts after scoring a goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Chicago Blackhawks, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Chicago Blackhawks center Ryan Donato (8) falls to the ice as he goes for the puck against Florida Panthers defenseman Niko Mikkola (77) during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Chicago Blackhawks center Ryan Donato (8) falls to the ice as he goes for the puck against Florida Panthers defenseman Niko Mikkola (77) during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Florida Panthers center Carter Verhaeghe (23) skates with the puck as Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Alex Vlasic (72) defends during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Florida Panthers center Carter Verhaeghe (23) skates with the puck as Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Alex Vlasic (72) defends during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Florida Panthers center Eetu Luostarinen (27) shoots on the goal as Chicago Blackhawks’ Connor Murphy, right, defends during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Florida Panthers center Eetu Luostarinen (27) shoots on the goal as Chicago Blackhawks’ Connor Murphy, right, defends during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Petr Mrazek (34) defends against a shoot the goal by Florida Panthers center Eetu Luostarinen (27) during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Petr Mrazek (34) defends against a shoot the goal by Florida Panthers center Eetu Luostarinen (27) during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Chicago Blackhawks center Jason Dickinson (16) skates with the puck as Florida Panthers defenseman Niko Mikkola (77) defends during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Chicago Blackhawks center Jason Dickinson (16) skates with the puck as Florida Panthers defenseman Niko Mikkola (77) defends during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Florida Panthers defenseman Niko Mikkola (77) and Chicago Blackhawks right wing Ilya Mikheyev (95) chase the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Florida Panthers defenseman Niko Mikkola (77) and Chicago Blackhawks right wing Ilya Mikheyev (95) chase the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Chicago Blackhawks left wing Tyler Bertuzzi (59) shoots on the goal past Florida Panthers defenseman Nate Schmidt (88) during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Chicago Blackhawks left wing Tyler Bertuzzi (59) shoots on the goal past Florida Panthers defenseman Nate Schmidt (88) during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Chicago Blackhawks left wing Landon Slaggert, left, celebrates after scoring a goal against Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Chicago Blackhawks left wing Landon Slaggert, left, celebrates after scoring a goal against Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Chicago Blackhawks left wing Landon Slaggert (84) scores a goal against Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Chicago Blackhawks left wing Landon Slaggert (84) scores a goal against Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — Sam Reinhart got his 30th goal of the season and added two assists, Matthew Tkachuk scored for the third time in the last four games and the Florida Panthers beat the Chicago Blackhawks 5-1 on Saturday.
Carter Verhaeghe, Evan Rodrigues and Jonah Gadjovich also scored for Florida, and Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 24 shots. Aleksander Barkov had two assists for the Panthers, who ensured they would remain atop the Atlantic Division.
The win was the 900th regular-season victory as a coach for Florida’s Paul Maurice, who is the fourth to hit that milestone. The others: Scotty Bowman (1,244), Joel Quenneville (969) and Barry Trotz (914).
Chicago got the fastest goal in franchise history for a quick 1-0 lead, with Landon Slaggert scoring just seven seconds into the contest. Petr Mrazek stopped 39 shots for the Blackhawks, who are 2-6-3 in their last 11 games.
Takeaways
Blackhawks: Chicago fell to 0-23-2 this season when allowing at least four goals, 0-27-3 in its last 30 such games dating to last season. But Mrazek was, at times, sensational on Saturday — especially in a first-period barrage.
Panthers: Reinhart is the second player to have four 30-goal seasons for Florida, with Olli Jokinen being the other. Reinhart is the first to do it in four consecutive seasons with the Panthers.
Key moment
Rodrigues scored 10 seconds into the third period for a 4-1 lead, pretty much ending any Chicago comeback hopes.
Key stat
After Chicago’s goal at the :07 mark of the first period, Florida took 20 of the game’s next 21 shots on net.
Up next
Chicago is off until a home game with Edmonton on Wednesday. Florida plays the second half of a home back-to-back against the New York Islanders on Sunday.
___
AP NHL: https://www.apnews.com/hub/NHL