Sandis Vilmanis Leads Panthers Past Blackhawks With Career Best Four Point Night in 5-3 Victory

Panthers Defeat Blackhawks 5-3 to Close Homestand

The Florida Panthers closed out their three game homestand on a winning note Wednesday night, defeating the Chicago Blackhawks 5-3 behind the first two-goal performance of Sandis Vilmanis’ NHL career. Vilmanis also added two assists to finish with four points, while Sam Reinhart contributed a goal and two assists as Florida continued its strong recent stretch. The Panthers have won four of their last five games and are 7-3-0 over their past 10 contests.

Carter Verhaeghe recorded a goal and an assist, while Seth Jones scored against his former team as Florida improved to 9-0-1 this season when allowing three goals or fewer. Reinhart sealed the victory with an empty net goal, his ninth of the season, with 1:27 remaining to put the finishing touches on another productive night for the Panthers.

Panthers Take Control Early Against Chicago

Florida wasted little time establishing control, jumping out to a 3-0 lead before Chicago found its offensive rhythm. Vilmanis opened the scoring at 4:43 of the first period, giving the Panthers an early advantage. Verhaeghe extended the lead at 12:29 with a power-play goal, assisted by Brady Tkachuk and Matthew Tkachuk, to make it 2-0.

Jones added another goal in the second period, beating former Florida goaltender Spencer Knight to give the Panthers a commanding 3-0 lead. Jones and Knight were traded for one another in the deal that sent Jones to Florida. Chicago finally got on the scoreboard when Roman Kantserov found the net, but the Panthers maintained their two-goal advantage heading into the third period.

Vilmanis Delivers Career Night as Panthers Hold Off Rally

The Blackhawks attempted to make things interesting in the third period, with Frank Nazar scoring twice to bring Chicago back into contention. Nazar’s first goal came on a short-handed breakaway midway through the period, beating Panthers goaltender Jacob Markström to cut Florida’s lead to 3-2. However, Vilmanis answered with his second goal of the night with 8:59 remaining, restoring the Panthers’ two goal cushion at 4-2.

Nazar struck again with 3:51 left, completing his two-goal third period and pulling Chicago within one. The Blackhawks threatened to make a late comeback, but Reinhart’s empty-net goal with 1:27 remaining secured the 5-3 victory for Florida. Vilmanis finished with two goals and two assists for a career-high four-point performance, while Reinhart’s three-point night and Verhaeghe’s two point effort helped lead the Panthers offensively.

Blackhawks Continue to Struggle

Chicago suffered another disappointing loss, falling to 1-6-1 over its last eight games. The Blackhawks surrendered the final five goals in a 5-2 home loss to Colorado on Monday before falling behind 3-0 against Florida on Wednesday.

Nazar provided the offensive spark with two third period goals, while Kantserov also scored. Ethan Del Mastro recorded two assists, earning his first points of the season and the first multi-point game of his NHL career. Connor Bedard also contributed two assists, but Chicago couldn’t overcome Florida’s early advantage.

Up Coming NHL Games for Blackhawks and Panthers

The Blackhawks will look to get back on track Thursday night when they visit the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Panthers will begin a road trip Saturday when they travel to Washington to take on the Capitals, looking to build on their recent momentum and continue climbing in the Eastern Conference standings.