timesargus
CHICAGO (AP) — Lars Eller scored his first goal of the season with 2:23 left in the third period, propelling the Florida Panthers to a 3-2 win over the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday.
Eller took advantage of a Chicago line change, racing down the right wing and beating goaltender Spencer Knight with a high shot just inside the left post.
Matthew Tkachuk and Sandis Vilmanis also found the net for Florida, which snapped a two-game losing streak. Roman Kantserov and Ryan Greene scored for Chicago, which has now lost three straight.
Akira Schmid made 19 saves for the Panthers, while Knight stopped 29 shots for the Blackhawks.
Chicago's power play struggled mightily, failing to convert on seven opportunities, including two brief 5-on-3 advantages. The Blackhawks' conversion rate dropped to an NHL-worst 8.33%.
Blackhawks defenseman Bowen Byram missed his fourth consecutive game with an upper-body injury. Kevin Korchinski, Chicago's top pick (seventh overall) in the 2022 draft, filled in and played his second game of the season.
Florida forward Carter Verhaeghe skated in his 500th NHL game and recorded an assist.
The Panthers outshot Chicago 15-6 in the first period and took a 2-1 lead into the intermission.
Greene opened the scoring 2:34 into the game, redirecting a wobbling puck past Schmid after Korchinski's point shot missed the net and bounced into the crease.
Vilmanis tied it at 6:49, poking in a rebound of Sam Reinhart's shot during a scramble.
Tkachuk's power-play goal, just five seconds after Tyler Bertuzzi was sent off for tripping, gave Florida a 2-1 lead with 5:39 remaining in the first. Seth Jones' point shot struck Tkachuk on the arm and bounded into the net.
Kantserov tied the game at 2-2 at 11:15 of the second period, beating Schmid low on a screened shot from the right circle to cap a strong shift with linemates Patrick Kane and Connor Bedard.
Up next: The Panthers visit Winnipeg on Tuesday to conclude a four-game trip. The Blackhawks host Los Angeles on Tuesday to wrap up a seven-game homestand.
Originally reported by timesargus.