Sandis Vilmanis just put together the best night of his NHL career, scoring twice and adding an assist in a 5-3 Panthers win over the Blackhawks.
Florida bounced back from Monday's 5-3 loss to Detroit, and the Cats improve to 9-5-2, according to beat writer Jameson Olive. Vilmanis finished with four points after assisting on Sam Reinhart's empty-netter.
Olive pointed out that the second line combined for nine points in the win.
Before tonight, the 22-year-old had 1 goal and 2 assists in 14 games this season. He had never recorded a multi-goal or multi-point game in the NHL until this one.
His first goal came early, and it was a good one to watch develop. Olive noted the great passing from Carter Verhaeghe and Reinhart on the play.
Seth Jones made it 3-0 with his third goal of the season, and it looked like Florida might cruise.
How the Panthers held off Chicago's late push
Chicago didn't go quietly. Frank Nazar pulled the Blackhawks within one late, and suddenly a comfortable night got tense.
Vilmanis had already restored the two-goal cushion earlier, and Olive's post captured the moment his second goal made it 4-2.
Then Reinhart sealed it into an empty net, with Vilmanis picking up the helper that completed his four-point night. Olive highlighted that assist as well.
The timing matters for Paul Maurice. Reinhart has been the story of the week, and Maurice's praise for Reinhart's hot streak came just a day ago. Now the second line has a young winger who looks like he belongs there.
The Blackhawks, meanwhile, are in a deep hole. Before tonight's game they sat 31st in the NHL at 4-10-1, and they play at Tampa Bay on Thursday.
For Florida, a fifth-round pick who had barely moved the needle all season just forced the coaching staff to think about his role. The Panthers visit Washington on Saturday, November 7, and we'll find out whether Vilmanis can carry this into a second straight night of production.
Should Vilmanis stay on the Panthers' second line after his four-point night?
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