5 TAKEAWAYS: Blackhawks 4, Panthers 2

With their late rally coming up just short, the Florida Panthers (4-2-1) opened up their two-game road swing with a 4-2 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks (4-2-0) at United Center on Tuesday.
"This is a two-game road trip, and we're not a team that's going to lose two in a row," Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk said after the loss. "That's our mindset. Would've loved to get the first one to set up the road trip, but now we've got to really grind out a tough one against Philly."
For a quick recap of the game, click
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To read up on five key takeaways for the Cats, continue below.

1. IN SEARCH OF POWER

The Panthers know they have the talent, so they just need to execute on the power play.
Finishing 0-for-6 with the man advantage against the Blackhawks, the Panthers mustered just six shots on goal with the extra attacker. Of those power plays, five came in the second period -- including 1:35 of a 5-on-3 advantage -- and the other came late in the third period when they were still trailing just 3-2.
Feeling as if just one goal could open the floodgates, the Panthers currently lead the NHL in both shot attempts (119) and scoring chances (70) while on the power play, according to NaturalStatTrick.com.
"We've got lots of talent out there," Tkachuk said. "We're making good plays and getting [into the zone] fine. Maybe it's too many one-and-dones. Puck recoveries aren't great right now, and that's on us. That's on guys like me around the net. We've got to get those pucks back and bury a greasy goal one of these days."
Despite having just two goals on the power play this season, the Panthers likely should've been rewarded with at least a couple more as they rank second in the NHL in expected goals with 8.76.

2. LUOSTARINEN STAYS HOT

It feels like you can pencil Eetu Luostarinen in for a point most games these days.
Earning at least one point in five of seven games this season, the 24-year-old forward ignited the late rally for the Panthers in Chicago when he crashed the net to cut the deficit to 3-1 in the third period.

"Just seeing one go in just fired the bench right back up," Panther coach Paul Maurice said.
Earning praise from Maurice, the third line of Luostarinen, Anton Lundell and Colin White was easily one of the team's most-effective against the Blackhawks. Looking dominant at 5-on-5, Florida led 8-1 in shot attempts, 6-0 in shots on goal, 6-1 in scoring chances and 1-0 in goals when that line was deployed.
Over the 50:19 of ice time they've shared together at 5-on-5, the line has yet to be scored on.
"I really enjoy playing with them," said Luostarinen, who ranks second on the Panthers in goals (3) and tied with White for second in points (6). "They're both really smart guys and they can make plays."

3. TKACHUK NETS ANOTHER

This the area of the ice that Tkachuk loves to work in.
Setting up shop on top of the crease, the hard-nosed forward got just enough of Brandon Montour's point shot to send the puck past Alex Stalock and into the net to cut Florida's deficit to 3-2 late in the third period.

Flying out of the gate in his first season with the Panthers, Tkachuk leads the team in pretty much every offensive category, including goals (4), assists (5), points (9), shots on goal (32) and shot attempts (55).
When Tkachuk was on the ice in Chicago, the Panthers led 9-2 in scoring chances.

4. SOME DIFFERENT LOOKS

Looking for a spark, the Panthers tried out some new lines in Chicago.
Overall, seven unique lines shared the ice for at least two minutes. Of those lines, the most-intriguing was the trio of Tkachuk, Aleksander Barkov and Carter Verhaeghe. Albeit a very limited sample size, the numbers were impressive. Over 3:15 of ice time at 5-on-5, they held a 9-1 advantage in shot attempts.
That line was also on the ice together when Tkachuk scored his goal to trim the deficit to 3-2.
Swapping places with Tkachuk, Sam Reinhart slid down to the second line to play with Sam Bennett and Rudolfs Balcers. Over the 2:10 they spent at 5-on-5, that line led the Blackhawks 2-0 in shot attempts. In terms of other notable combinations, Balcers also spent 2:45 playing on a line with Tkachuk and Barkov.
With so much talent up front, it seems like the possibilities are endless for the Panthers.

5. STRONG AT EVEN STRENGTH

There's no doubt the Panthers are one of the best 5-on-5 teams in the NHL.
Dominating the possession game against the Blackhawks, the Panthers finished with notable advantages in shot attempts (45-24), shots on goal (23-15), scoring chances (28-9) and expected goals (2.29-0.85).
While the power play still needs to come alive, their play at 5-on-5 has been exceptional.
"We've had a good start with our 5-on-5 play," Tkachuk said. "I'd put our 5-on-5 play up against anybody in the league right now. We just have to stay positive. They're going to start going in [on the power play]. We've just got to get guys and pucks to the net."
Owning more than 50% of shot attempts at 5-on-5 in six of seven games this season, the Panthers rank third in the NHL in Corsi for percentage (57.03%) and eighth in expected goals for percentage (55.46%), according to NaturalStatTrick.com.