PREVIEW: Blackhawks vs. Panthers - May 1, 2021

TIME: 7 p.m. CT
TV:NBCSCH+ | RADIO:WGN 720-AM / TUDN 1200-AM | STREAM:
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The Blackhawks and Panthers meet again on Saturday evening at the United Center, closing out the eight-game season slate between the two clubs and Chicago's current five-game homestand.

TEAM RECORDS

CHI: 22-22-6, 50 PTS
FLA: 33-14-5, 71 PTS

LAST TIME OUT

Chicago battled back in the final minute of regulation on Thursday night, but fell in overtime to the Panthers, 4-3. Adam Gaudette scored his first with the club and Vinnie Hinostroza struck against his former team before Alex DeBrincat scored the game-tying goal with just under 18 seconds to play to force the extra frame. Sam Bennett scored the winner for Florida in the final minute of overtime for the 4-3 win.

JUST WHAT THE DACHTOR ORDERED

Kirby Dach recorded an assist for the second consecutive game and won a career-high 10 faceoffs against the Panthers. His 83 percent faceoff win percentage was the highest of his career (min. 5 faceoffs). He has four assists in his last four games.

HIT ME WITH YOUR BEST SHOT

Connor Murphy paced the club with four blocked shots against Florida on Thursday. His 104 blocked shots this season are fourth in the NHL.
Nikita Zadorov had a team-high eight hits in Thursday's game. It was the third time he has been credited with eight or more hits in a game this year. Zadorov is sixth in the NHL with 165 hits during the 2020-21 campaign.

BASH BRO

Vinnie Hinostroza extended his point streak (3G, 2A) to a season-long four games with a goal against the Panthers. He has two multi-point games over his last six skates.
Hinostroza matched a career high with three assists and points (3A) on April 17. It was his seventh career three-point game and his first since Dec. 12, 2019 as a member of the Panthers. He has three goals and seven assists in 11 games with the Blackhawks since being acquired for his second stint with the club on April 2. His .91 points per game is third on the team (min. 10 games).

HAGEL'S HEROICS

Brandon Hagel picked up an assist on Thursday night and now has seven points (3G, 4A) over his last seven games. He was the 10th rookie in the NHL to reach the 20-point plateau this year.
Hagel joined Brent Seabrook (2 in 2005-06) as just the second Blackhawks rookie with multiple overtime goals after netting the game winner on April 21. Only five rookies in NHL history have scored more overtime goals. Hagel notched a career-high three points (1G, 2A) on the 21st, also his first career multi-assist game.

WYATT'S WORLD

Wyatt Kalynuk extended his career-long point streak (2G, 2A) to four games with an assist against the Panthers on Thursday. His four goals this year share the lead among NHL rookie blueliners. That total also shares the most among Blackhawks defensemen.
Kalynuk has seven points (4G, 3A) over his last nine games.