The Chicago Blackhawks were tough, but lost 4-3 in overtime to the Florida Panthers at FLA Live Arena.
Brandon Montour sealed the match in extra time, then Matthew Tkachuk also distinguished himself with three assists. Besides Montour, Eetu Luostarinen, Sam Bennett et Sam Reinhart scored the goals for the Panthers (33-27-6). Sergei Bobrovsky made 21 saves in the team’s third straight win.
Halfway through overtime, Alexander Barkov sent the disc to Brandon Montour alone in the Enclave. The defender completed with a one-time backhand shot.
In the camp of the Blackhawks (22-37-6), Caleb Jones, Boris Katchuk et Cole Guttman hit the target. Petr Mrazek stood out by blocking 39 of the 43 shots aimed at him. Chicago suffers a sixth loss in its last seven games.
Luke Richardson’s squad had managed to tie the game with just 45 seconds left in the third period, when Cole Guttman grabbed a return shot in front of the net.
The tying goal saved the honor of the Blackhawks, who had let slip the three-goal lead they held after 40 minutes of play. In the third period, Bennett scored with a one-timer to put the Panthers on the board at 8:29. Then, 29 seconds later, Reinhart deflected Tkachuk’s point shot. Luostarinen completed the comeback at 12:42, with a shot from the slot that left Mrazek no chance.
Video: Gain in extremis des Panthers face aux Blackhawks
Sick, Alex Stalock could not assist Mrazek for the game. It was therefore Zach Andrews, who signed an amateur tryout contract earlier on Friday, who was the auxiliary goalkeeper for the Blackhawks.
the attacker Anders Bjork left the game in the second period and did not return to play afterwards. The nature of his injury has not been disclosed.
Ducks 3, Flames 1
John Gibson had 34 saves and the Anaheim Ducks upset the Calgary Flames by defeating them 3-1 at the Scotiabank Saddledome.
Gibson has now won four of his last six starts. Maxime Comtois (one goal, one assist) and Brett Leason (winning goal) also stood out on the Ducks side (22-35-9).
In the Flames camp (29-24-13), Markstrom blocked 15 shots. Darryl Sutter’s squad have lost six of their last eight games.
Video: Ducks upset Flames in Calgary
Mikael Backlund was the only goalscorer of his own. He opened the scoring at 6:43 of the second period by deflecting Elias Lindholm’s shot on the power play.
Comtois equalized a minute later, also deflecting a shot. Then, Brett Leason added to it at 11:33 by seizing the return shot from Comtois.
Gibson kept the fort thereafter. He stole Tyler Toffoli with the mitt at 13:37 of the last third in order to preserve the lead of his team.
With less than two seconds to go to meet, Derek Grant confirmed the victory for the Ducks with an empty net goal.