Sandis Vilmanis has 1st 2-goal game, Panthers top Blackhawks 5-3 to cap homestand

SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — Sandis Vilmanis achieved his first two-goal game in his career, as Sam Reinhart contributed a goal and two assists. The Florida Panthers defeated the Chicago Blackhawks 5-3 on Wednesday night, concluding a three-game homestand. Seth Jones scored against his former team, while Carter Verhaeghe added a goal and an assist for the Panthers.

Vilmanis provided two assists, finishing with four points for the Panthers. Florida improved to 9-0-1 this season when allowing three goals or fewer. Sam Reinhart's goal was an empty-netter to close out the win with 1:27 remaining. Frank Nazar scored twice in the third period, and Roman Kantserov also scored for Chicago. Ethan Del Mastro recorded two assists, marking his first points and multi-point game of the season.

Connor Bedard had two assists as well. The Blackhawks are currently 1-6-1 in their last eight games. They conceded the final five goals in a 5-2 home loss to Colorado on Monday, and were down 3-0 before Kantserov scored for Chicago. By that point, the Panthers had established full control. Vilmanis opened the scoring just 4:43 into the game, and Verhaeghe's power-play goal, assisted by Brady Tkachuk and Matthew Tkachuk, came at 12:29 of the first.

Jones established a 3-0 lead for the Blackhawks in the second period with a goal. Frank Nazar equalized with a short-handed breakaway, cutting Florida's advantage to two goals with 8:59 left in the third. Vilmanis scored again with 8:59 remaining, reestablishing the two-goal lead. Nazar added his second goal of the game with 3:51 left, but Sam Reinhart scored his ninth of the season to effectively end the Blackhawks' comeback attempt. The Panthers will now face the Washington Capitals on Saturday.