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Blackhawks vs. Panthers final score 2017: Let us pretend this 7-0 loss never happened, please

Posted on by Brad Repplinger

Between 10 penalties, seven goals surrendered, three fights, two goalies, and one bad performance, the Chicago Blackhawks deserved their 7-0 loss to the Florida Panthers at the BB&T Center on Saturday night. To be frank … this one was downright ugly.

Here’s what happened in a game we’d like to pretend was actually a fever dream:

First Period

Corey Crawford was sensational in the first period for the Hawks (48-2-6). The Panthers had multiple looks on net, with Nick Bjugstad getting a handful of quality chances. However, Crawford was able to fight off multiple chances in front of the net to keep Florida (33-30-11) off the board. Both teams were whistled for two penalties each in the first period, but the game would go into the first intermission scoreless.

Second Period

Heading into the second period, Richard Panik and Vincent Trocheck continued to serve minor penalties which had both teams skating with four players. The Panthers would score during the four on four to take the lead on an Aleksander Barkov one-timer.

Halfway through the period, Ryan Hartman was whistled for hooking and unsportsmanlike conduct which gave the Panthers a four minute man advantage. Marcus Kruger would join Hartman in the sin bin after being whistled for interference, and suddenly the Hawks were down two men. Florida capitalized on their two man advantage to open up a two goal lead.

The Panthers were not done though, as Jonathan Marchessault tallied a goal moments after the Florida powerplay to put the Panthers ahead 3-0. Patrick Kane and Jussi Jokinen got in a “half” fight that resulted in a pair of roughing penalties, Marcus Kruger was whistled for unsportsmanlike conduct after the officials missed a call, and the Hawks headed into the second intermission with a three goal deficit.

Third Period

Looking for an answer offensively, the Hawks started the third period off with a few good looks on net. The rush would not payoff though, and Florida regained momentum as Marchessault blistered home a one-timer on a two on one rush to give Florida a four goal lead. Following the Panther goal, Scott Darling was brought into the game to replace Corey Crawford.

Darling would not fare any better, as the Panthers tallied two goals in two shots to open up a six goal lead. Goal number five was scored by Marchessault, resulting in his first career hat trick. The seventh and final goal came just after the ten minute mark in the third period, resulting in the worst loss Chicago has had since they lost to Edmonton 9-2 in 2011.

SCH 3 Stars

  1. Jonathan Marchessault, Panthers (3 goals, First Career Hat Trick)
  2. James Reimer, Panthers (25 saves, 15th career shutout)
  3. Jonathan Huberdeau, Panthers (1 goal, 3 assists)

What’s next?

Chicago heads to Tampa Bay to face the Lightning on Monday night at 6:30 p.m. CT.

Talking Points