The Florida Panthers, fresh off their Stanley Cup victory, are aiming to shake off their first slump of the season as they prepare to take on the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday night.
The Panthers have struggled in their last four games, posting a 1-3-0 record, including a disappointing 6-3 loss to the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday. While a dominant 5-0 win over Winnipeg last weekend suggested a potential turnaround, the Panthers faltered in their rematch, failing to recover from an early 3-0 deficit.
“We kept getting close, but every time they scored, it shifted the momentum back to them,” said forward Matthew Tkachuk after the loss.
Meanwhile, the Blackhawks continue to grapple with issues of their own. They hold the NHL’s lowest point total (13) and have lost five of their last six games, including three straight. On Tuesday, they squandered a late lead against Anaheim, surrendering two quick third-period goals in a 3-2 defeat.
Chicago’s struggles extend to their offense, where they rank last in goals scored. Rookie standout Connor Bedard leads the team with 15 points but hasn’t found the back of the net in 10 games. Adding to their woes, top defenseman Seth Jones is sidelined for four weeks with a foot injury.
For the Panthers, Sam Reinhart continues his hot streak with 29 points on the season and an 11-game scoring run, while captain Aleksander Barkov remains a consistent contributor with 17 points in nine games. Goalie Serge
