Sandis Vilmanis recorded two goals and two assists in his first NHL multipoint game as Florida held off Chicago for a 5-3 victory
Vilmanis opened the scoring at 4:43 of the first period after Sam Reinhart found him at the back door. He later assisted on Seth Jones’ second-period goal before scoring again at 11:01 of the third to restore Florida’s two-goal lead.
The Panthers needed that insurance. Frank Nazar scored short-handed at 9:31 of the third to pull Chicago within 3-2, then added his second goal at 16:09 to make it 4-3. Reinhart sealed the result with an empty-net goal at 18:33.
Reinhart finished with a goal and two assists, while Carter Verhaeghe had a goal and an assist. Florida’s line of Vilmanis, Reinhart and Verhaeghe combined for nine points. Jacob Markstrom made 17 saves as the Panthers improved to 9-5-2 with their fourth win in five games.
Chicago fell to 4-11-1 with its fourth straight loss and seventh defeat in eight games. Nazar supplied two goals, Connor Bedard and Ethan Del Mastro each had two assists, and Spencer Knight stopped 25 shots against his former team.
Vilmanis’ breakthrough matters beyond one night. Florida is navigating a crowded Atlantic Division, and production from a developing forward gives the lineup another scoring option. The Panthers also swept their two-game season series with Chicago and have now won seven of their past 10 games.
