Blackhawks at Panthers
THE STORY: Florida general manager Dale Tallon knows a thing or two about the Panthers' opponent on Thursday.
After all, it wasn't too long ago that Tallon used to hold the same
position with the Chicago Blackhawks. Despite the familiarity, Panthers
coach Kevin Dineen doesn't see the link as a potential distraction for
his club or a motivation tool for the visiting Blackhawks. "We're going
to have that when Chicago comes to town. ... I think at the end what
happens is when you leave an organization, whatever the circumstances at
the end of the day, you're thinking about the people on the other side
and not the ones that have sting to it. You think more about the ones
you enjoy, so we'll avoid that one." Like it or not, the Panthers can't
avoid a surging Blackhawks team that has had their number. Central
Division-leading Chicago has posted a 9-4-2 mark against Florida in the
last 15 meetings. Stanley Cup hero Patrick Kane collected two goals and
an assist and Viktor Stalberg netted his second game-winning tally in as
many contests in a 5-4 win over the Nashville Predators on Monday.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, CSCH, FSFL
ABOUT THE BLACKHAWKS (7-2-2): For all of Chicago's
strengths, one pronounced weakness is its lackluster power play. The
Blackhawks, who went 0-for-7 on Monday, have scored just four times in
45 opportunities with the man advantage (8.9 percent) - the second-worst efficiency rating in the league. Andrew Brunette collected two of the four goals during the
first three games of the season. Florida owns the league's
fifth-best power play at 22.9 percent.
ABOUT THE PANTHERS (6-4-1): Tomas Fleischmann relishes playing on the first line with Stephen Weiss and former
Blackhawk Kris Versteeg - and it shows. He has collected four goals and
three assists during his five-game point streak. "I'm playing to win the
games," Fleischmann told the Miami Herald. "Playing on the first line,
you expect the points from us. This is how I played in junior (and) the
American (Hockey League). I haven't played like this all the time, but
now I'm up on the first line and it always goes like that. Hopefully it
keeps going like this." Fleischmann recorded a hat trick against Chicago
last season.
OVERTIME:
1. Chicago defenseman Duncan Keith will miss Thursday's contest with an
upper body injury. The 2010 Norris Trophy winner has played in every
game over the past two seasons.
2. Florida's Jason Garrison has matched his season total of last year
with his fifth goal of the season. That leads all NHL defensemen.