Florida has not treated the Chicago Blackhawks kindly.
NHL scores 2016: Exhausted Blackhawks limp toward All-Star break
Chicago has every right to be tired after playing a league’s best 51 games so far this season.
Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images
A night after seeing their 12-game win streak snapped at the hands of the Lightning, the Blackhawks were handed a 4-0 beatdown from the Panthers. In a coincidence only hockey can provide, the Panthers' win against the reigning Stanley Cup champions is their first since their 12-game winning streak was broken earlier this month in Vancouver.
Just like in Tampa Bay, the Blackhawks looked disinterested and sluggish in the half-hearted loss to the Panthers. Slotting in for Corey Crawford for just the third time in 2016, Scott Darling was less than his best, allowing four goals on 32 shots, including quite the clunker with 2.1 seconds to play in the first period.
Chicago was able to muster up 12 shots in the third period, but all things considered, Roberto Luongo had an easy night in net with just 27 total shots faced. With the Panthers defense keeping the Blackhawks outside and out of the shooting lanes, all Luongo had to do was stay square and keep the puck out of the net.
The sudden stall isn't a big surprise for the Blackhawks. With hardly any rest since Christmas, the All-Star break in a week's time is looking mighty appealing for a club that leads the NHL in games played at a back-breaking 51.
With just two more games to play before a weeklong break, it's fair to cut the Blackhawks some slack on their recent failings in Florida. After all, they're second overall in the NHL standings, even after these two defeats.
Scores
Florida Panthers 4, Chicago Blackhawks 0
Colorado Avalanche 2, St. Louis Blues 1 (SO)
3 things we learned
1. The snow never bothered Alex Ovechkin anyway
You are probably wondering, where's the score of the Capitals and Ducks game? Well, in case you didn't know, snow is happening across much of the East Coast. So much so that the Capitals had to cancel their game against the Ducks in Washington D.C. because of it. You'd be hard-pressed to find anyone wandering the streets during a potential record-breaking storm. But, Alex Ovechkin does not bow to America's weather. A news reporter caught Ovechkin out pumping gas and braving the elements on Friday, because he's Russian and does not fear the snow like the rest of us mortals.
2. Red Wings turn up the heat on Sabres
Maybe it was a bit premature of us to call out the Red Wings offense earlier this week. A three-goal showing on a 45-shot performance across the board is a nice change of pace from their recent one score games. Kudos to Buffalo netminder Robin Lehner for standing tall and keeping the Red Wings off the scoreboard until the last eight minutes of the game, especially with the amount of shots thrown his way. Not much he could do when the Sabres basically flatlined on him.
FATALITY pic.twitter.com/6isyJIBOqF
— caleb (@CalebWIIM) January 23, 2016
3. It's Miller time!
J.T. Miller had himself a night for the Rangers. His two goals in New York's 4-1 win over the Hurricanes led the Rangers to their third win in four games. His last was quite the stunner, as he stripped the puck away on a Hurricane defensive misplay and beat netminder Eddie Lack with a few stick-handling moves in close.
Impact Moment
Teuvo Teravainen got absolutely wrecked by Erik Gudbranson with one of those clean, straight up gorgeous hits that'll certainly end up on the end of the year highlights package on NHL Network and beyond.
Stat of the Night
Dylan Larkin (@Dylanlarkin39) of the @DetroitRedWings leads all rookies with 5 game-winning goals (46 GP). #DETvsBUF pic.twitter.com/VRIcwZ4zpO
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) January 23, 2016
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