Zednik and Florida down slumping Chicago

December 17, 2007

Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - Richard Zednik scored the go-ahead goal in the second period, and the Florida Panthers held on for a 3-1 win over the Chicago Blackhawks.

Tomas Vokoun stopped 44-of-45 shots for the Panthers, who had lost five of their last seven contests. Rostislav Olesz and Jay Bouwmeester also scored for Florida.

Dave Bolland scored the lone Chicago goal. Patrick Lalime had 21 saves for the Blackhawks, who have dropped six of their last seven games.

Olesz opened the scoring when, after the puck trickled out to him near the top of the Chicago zone, he wound up and drove a slapshot past Lalime to give Florida a 1-0 lead 12:19 into the first period.

A fight for the puck in front of the Panthers net at the end of the period resulted in the equalizer. With several players fighting for possession, the puck trickled out towards the left post, and Bolland was the first one to get his stick on it. The Blackhawks center backhanded the puck into the open net, tying the game with only 30 seconds left in the period.

The go-ahead score for Florida came on a deflection. Radek Dvorak’s shot from the point was deflected by Zednik and past Lalime to give the Panthers a 2-1 lead 6:25 into the middle period.

Bouwmeester took the feed from Jokinen later in the period and wristed it inside the left post, pushing the Panthers to a 3-1 lead with 3:06 left in the second.

Game Notes

Chicago has dropped four of its last five games at the United Center…The Panthers improved to 7-9-1 as the visiting club this season…Chicago is 6-2-2 in the last 10 meetings…Florida played in the Windy City for the first time since February 29, 2004. The Panthers had been 0-4-1 in their previous five stops at the United Center.

Written by sbucciarel Filed Under Hockey 

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