Blackhawks Can’t Recover After Being Bombarded by Panthers in First Period

For a blink of an eye, the Chicago Blackhawks had hopes of sweeping the season series from the Florida Panthers. However, after a minor blip to start the game, the reigning Stanley Cup champions flipped the switch and skated the Blackhawks right out of the building. There would be no trap game today.

The Blackhawks wasted no time as they scored right off the opening faceoff. Landon Slaggert beat two Florida defenders to the puck, then slid a backhander through the legs of Sergei Bobrovsky. The goal, seven seconds after the opening draw, was the fastest goal to start a game in franchise history.

After that quick start, it was all Panthers. They got five shots on goal on the very next shift. The Panthers tied the game five minutes later when Jonah Gadjovich found the puck in a scrum in front of the net and put it in the net. The Blackhawks challenged for goaltender interference but lost because Jason Dickinson, who just got out of the penalty box, pushed A.J. Greer into the net.

Sam Reinhart, who could have easily had two goals already, gave the Panthers a 2-1 lead midway through the opening period. The home team dominated the first frame. They could have easily been up by half a dozen goals if it wasn’t for Petr Mrazek.

The second period was better, but the Blackhawks couldn’t get any closer. Matthew Tkachuk tipped home a pass from Reinhart for the only goal of the middle frame.

The Panthers returned the favor by scoring 10 seconds into the third period. Alex Vlasic fell pressure to the forecheck, coughed up the puck, and Evan Rodrigues quickly roofed it under the bar for a 4-1 lead. Carter Verhaeghe finished a beautiful passing play to add another goal on the power play midway through the frame. He finished the game with a career-high nine shots on goal.

After beating the Tampa Bay Lightning and hanging around with the Carolina Hurricanes, the three-game road trip came to a disappointing end. Nobody expected a win, but seeing a closer game would have been nice. The Blackhawks return home to host the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday night.

A Nightmare First Period

One of the biggest keys for a road team is the start of the game. When you’re the visitors, you want to set the tone right at the opening draw and take the crowd out of the game.

“For us, we’re looking for a good start here,” interim head coach Anders Sorensen said. “The first five minutes, getting going right off the hop will be important.”

The Blackhawks got the start right by jumping to a 1-0 lead seven seconds into the game. Then, the Connor Bedard line came onto the ice and got absolutely owned. They got hemmed in the defensive zone for 1:36 and allowed nine shot attempts, four of which got to the net. That shift turned the game on its head, and the Blackhawks didn’t recover until the intermission.

Florida outshot the Blackhawks 22-3 during the first period and had a 47-9 advantage in shot attempts. They had 28 scoring chances to only five for the Blackhawks. High-danger scoring chances were 15-1. It was lambs going to the slaughter for 19:53.

“We’re on our heels a little bit,” Sorensen said. “They get some clean entries, and they’re coming in waves, and then we can’t stop that right away. You want to be two or three more hard strides out to close out on guys, and we didn’t have that today.”

The game evened out over the last two periods. The Blackhawks put up 13 shots on goal in the middle frame. The 5v5 shot attempts were much better, as the Panthers only had a 33-28 advantage. However, all the momentum was gone, and the Panthers felt invincible after that first period.

Youth Movement Paused

Only a few days ago, we marveled at how much younger the Blackhawk lineup had become. That excitement didn’t last long as guys like T.J. Brodie and Pat Maroon continue to get regular playing time. Connor Murphy’s return to the lineup meant Nolan Allan and Ethan Del Mastro sat today.

“A lot of times with the young guys, it’s a reset – come out and come back in,” Sorensen said. “It’s a long season. Everybody wants to play. There’s a balance there, for sure. As long as you communicate with everybody, I think it’s fair. Everybody wants to play, right?”

I understand the veterans need to play this close to the trade deadline, but scouts know who these guys are. There is plenty of film on Brodie, and most isn’t good. Having your four veteran defensemen out there today did nothing to prevent the Panthers from exerting their will. At least if the youngsters are under bombardment, there are teaching moments to be had. Lessons can be learned by playing against the best team in the league. When it happens to a bunch of guys with hundreds of collective games under their belts, it’s just embarrassing.

Louis Crevier Leaves After High Hit

The Blackhawks had to play with only five defensemen for the final 49 minutes of the game. Louis Crevier was hit in the head by Gadjovich and never returned to the game.

You have to try really hard to hit a 6-foot-8 player in the head. No penalty was called on the play, but you’d have to think the NHL Department of Player Safety will take a look at this play. There was no update on Crevier after the game.