The Blackhawks fail to score what seems to be the requisite six goals needed to win a game in 2021 falling to the Panthers by a score of 5-2.
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Starting Lineup
The starting lineup for Sunday's game was the exact same as Friday's lineup:
Blackhawks' lines and pairings tonight, same as Friday:
— Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) January 18, 2021
DeBrincat-Suter-Kane
Kurashev-Strome-Kubalik
Janmark-Wallmark-Shaw
Highmore-Kampf-Carpenter
Keith-Murphy
de Haan-Mitchell
Zadorov-Boqvist
Delia
Are you ready for some ð™ 𙤠𙘠ð™ 𙚠ð™®?!
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) January 18, 2021
What gamenight snack are you noshing on tonight? @budlight | #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/Ji4UxxT2oy
Game Recap
1st Goal: Ekblad (0-1)
Carter's first as a Cat 🔥 pic.twitter.com/VfyArz5NAw
— Florida Panthers (@FlaPanthers) January 18, 2021
Alex DeBrincat got a paw on the shot before Verhaeghe redirected the puck home. Duncan Keith had inside positioning but wasn't able to hinder Verhaeghe enough to prevent the attempt.
2nd Goal: Yandle (0-2)
Book it. 💯 pic.twitter.com/c6vKSYLgcP
— Florida Panthers (@FlaPanthers) January 18, 2021
3rd Goal: DeBrincat (1-2)
"ð˜ˆð˜¯ð˜¥ ð˜µð˜©ð˜¦ ð˜ð˜¢ð˜¸ð˜¬ð˜´ ð˜¤ð˜°ð˜®ð˜¦ ð˜µð˜©ð˜³ð˜°ð˜¶ð˜¨ð˜© ð˜¸ð˜ªð˜µð˜© ð˜µð˜©ð˜¦ ð˜¦ð˜¹ð˜µð˜³ð˜¢ ð˜¢ð˜µð˜µð˜¢ð˜¤ð˜¬ð˜¦ð˜³! ð˜Šð˜¶ð˜µ ð˜µð˜©ð˜¦ ð˜ð˜¦ð˜¢ð˜¥ ð˜ªð˜¯ ð˜©ð˜¢ð˜ð˜§!"
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) January 18, 2021
🔪@NBCSChicago | #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/jdjzvgwIfP
However, in the last game versus the Lightning, DeBrincat was in motion sneaking from the point down to the lower circle receiving the puck from Strome and shooting it while in stride.
4th Goal: Murphy (2-2)
In which Connor Murphy t🅰ï¸llies his first goal of the season. @NBCSChicago | #CHIvsFLA pic.twitter.com/xeg5bsv275
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) January 18, 2021
5th Goal: Luostarinen (2-3)
Notttttt too bad for your first career goal in the show! 👠pic.twitter.com/hAEDJWWel8
— Florida Panthers (@FlaPanthers) January 18, 2021
While he was able to manage his gap well, Murphy could have done more to pester Verhaeghe who worked his way down the left boards to center the puck for Luostarinen driving the middle.
6th Goal: Hornqvist (2-4)
We'll take it! pic.twitter.com/Sb3cOF6nWp
— Florida Panthers (@FlaPanthers) January 18, 2021
7th Goal: Huberdeau (2-5)
There is just so much to love here. 🤩 pic.twitter.com/gvZbCRQ9Jl
— Florida Panthers (@FlaPanthers) January 18, 2021
It didn't help matters that David Kampf not only lost the puck battle with Alexsander Barkov but also lost his stick which freed him up to send a pass over to Huberdeau for the marker.
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Game Notes
Offside Goal
The best assist that never countered.
— Blackhawks Talk (@NBCSBlackhawks) January 18, 2021
WATCH: https://t.co/xqft6THKze pic.twitter.com/7HAYaYODF7
Duncan Keith
So far this young season, Keith has been terrible defensively with misreads on plays and ill-advised decisions. Also, he either loses inside positioning or fails to get it too often.
Nikita Zadorov
While the physicality is present, Zadorov activates more than he should for a team that could use conservative defending to prevent odd-man rushes and openings around the crease.
Adam Boqvist
As an example of his bad habit of improper coverage, on a play where he whiffed on a shot attempt at the blueline, Boqvist gravitated to the puck carrier rather than getting to the slot.
Ian Mitchell
In just three games into his rookie year, Ian Mitchell is proving to be one of the best -- if not the best -- blueliner on the team with his solid positioning, defensive coverage, and crisp passes.
Calvin de Haan
Not to be outdone is veteran de Haan with his steady, dependable defense which complements the roving style of Mitchell nicely to form the Hawks most reliable D pair so far this year.
Pius Suter
Until necessary to change up the lineup, it would be ideal to keep Suter at center. He thinks and plays like a pivot, battles for and wins pucks, creates space, and crashes the net.
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See you on the boards!