Toews leads Blackhawks to win over Panthers
SUNRISE, Fla. -- Captain and first-line center Jonathan Toews, who had been slumping, posted a season-high three points to lead the Chicago Blackhawks to a 4-1 win over the Florida Panthers.
The Panthers in the third period lost top-line winger Evgenii Dadonov after he was hit high by Chicago defenseman Cody Franson. There was no immediate update on Dadonov's status.
Toews, whose only goal in the previous eight games was an empty-netter, scored once and had two assists to lead the Blackhawks (11-8-3) over the Panthers.
Chicago also got goals from John Hayden, Brandon Saad and Patrick Kane and solid goaltending from Corey Crawford (37 saves).
Jared McCann scored for Florida (8-12-2), which got 35 saves from goalie Roberto Luongo.
Chicago outshot Florida 21-7 in the first period, taking a 2-0 lead.
The first goal came when right winger Tommy Wingels skated behind Florida's net and fired the puck toward the slot. Panthers center Derek MacKenzie had a chance for the clear but missed, and Hayden roofed the puck over Luongo's glove.
Chicago made it 2-0 on a goal set up by Toews, whose initial shot was blocked by Luongo. Toews grabbed the rebound, circled and sent the puck to the front of the net laterally, where Saad scored on a redirection.
The first penalty of the game -- Chicago's Nick Schmaltz called for hooking Keith Yandle -- gave Florida momentum to start the second period. The Panthers got three shots on goal during their power play and, 15 seconds after the penalty was killed, McCann scored on a rocket shot from the high slot past Crawford's glove.
However, Chicago scored the next two goals of the second period, victimizing Florida defenseman Mark Pysyk twice.
First, Saad broke up a Pysyk pass in the neutral zone and got the puck to Toews, who fed Kane on the right wing. Kane circled once and scored on a wrist shot from the right circle.
Ten minutes later, Pysyk made another mistake as he was stripped of the puck deep in his own end by Toews, who sent the puck flying before swatting it in with one hand. The puck bounced once and then went through Luongo's legs.
Florida outshot Chicago 12-8 in the third period but couldn't beat Crawford, and the Blackhawks killed off a Panthers power play to secure the victory.
NOTES: Chicago C Jonathan Toews has averaged 26 goals the past four seasons. His goal on Saturday was just his sixth this season. ... Chicago LW Brandon Saad's goal was just his second in the past 16 games. Saad plays on Chicago's top line. ... Florida fourth-line C Derek MacKenzie, who hadn't played since November 11 due to a lower-body injury, returned. ... Panthers second-line RW Radim Vrbata (face) missed his second straight game. ... Chicago returns home to face the Anaheim Ducks on Monday. ... Florida will depart on a two-game road trip against the New Jersey Devils on Monday and the New York Rangers on Tuesday.