Chicago Blackhawks ease past Florida Panthers 3-1 – NHL Update
The Chicago Blackhawks did not have to do much to live up to their reputation as they easily overcame the infirm Florida Panthers, 3-1, in a National Hockey League (NHL) game on Friday, January 20, 2012, at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois.
Blackhawks are in exploding form and have won five of their last six games. At present, they are on a three-game winning streak and are leading the NHL Western Conference with 64 points after 48 games.
They dominated the Panthers, who scored their only goal in the final period, but by that time, Blackhawks had already registered three goals.
Jonathan Toews, Duncan Keith and Patrick Kane scored a goal each while goalie, Ray Emery, made 18 saves. Kane felt more special after the game as he had not scored in his last seven games.
Chicago's coach, Joel Quenneville was pleased after the victory and stated that it was a team effort that is providing the victories.
"They look forward to playing well, and they measure their play in performance by their production. When it’s as dry as it was [for Kane], sometimes it can compound itself and it plays on your mind. But I thought the trend he’s had in the last [two or three
games], you know he’s due. He was doing the right things, and I think that’s why it’s turning positive".
The first scoring move came at 17:40 in the first period. Kane sent a pass to Toews, who took the puck forward leaving the defenders behind, and used the backhanded shot to dodge the goalie.
After around two minutes when the Panthers were shorthanded, Keith fired a shot from 55 feet and the puck went straight into the net giving the Blackhawks’ a two-goal advantage.
In the second period, Kane earned the control of over the puck in the neutral zone and skated all alone towards the Panthers’ goalie.
A defender came in front to block him, but his shot not only beat the defender, but the goalie as well Chicago’s third goal of the game.
Early in the final period, the Panthers finally scored. At 0:43, when the Blackhawks were short of one man, Jason Garrison fired a shot from near the blue line.
The puck travelled 59 feet before giving consolation to the Panthers.
Panthers’ right winger, Tomas Kopecky, was disappointed over the team’s repeated failures.
"We have to start playing as a team like we played the first 30-35 games of the season", Kopecky said.
"Right now we are maybe trying too much and squeezing the stick a little too much."
Florida Panthers has lost four straight games in a row and now going to face Winnipeg Jets on Saturday, while the impressive Blackhawks will try to stretch its winning streak on the same day against Nashville Predators.
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