CHICAGO — In simply over a interval of hockey, Florida defenseman Tobias Bjornfot scored twice, tripling his profession aim output.
It helped the Panthers rally late for a 5-1 win over the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday evening and cruise to their third straight win.
The 24-year-old Swedish defenseman entered the sport with only one aim in 138 profession NHL video games over seven seasons. The journeyman added two extra towards Chicago to assist Florida win for the sixth time in eight video games and hold rolling following a 4-3 time beyond regulation win in Minnesota on Saturday.
Bjornfot wrapped in a fluke aim with 4:27 left within the second interval towards the Blackhawks to open the scoring. He capped Florida’s four-goal third interval, cruising into the slot and firing in Carter Verhaeghe’s feed with 22 seconds left.
Bjornfot skated in simply his fifth NHL sport this season after enjoying 22 with Charlotte of the AHL. His earlier NHL rating got here in Could 1, 2021, with Los Angeles at Anaheim throughout the COVID-19 altered season.
Bjornfot, the Kings first-round draft choose in 2019 (twenty second total) was simply 20 years previous when he netted that one.
“It felt good,” Bjornfot mentioned Sunday. “It has been awhile since my first one.”
Bjornfot obtained profession aim No. 2 following a faceoff within the Chicago zone. He circled the web and jammed within the puck via Spencer Knight’s pads from the precise aspect. He flashed an enormous grin throughout an understated celebration as he returned to the bench.
“They had been simply completely happy for me,” Bjornfot mentioned of his teammates. “They thought it was my first aim, possibly, but it surely’s good to get one.”
“I did not know who was within the slot,” Bjornfot added. “I used to be pondering possibly to move it to him and I noticed he wasn’t open and I assumed ‘simply take it to the web’ and it went properly.
“I am not likely a aim scorer, but it surely helps.”
After Florida took a 3-1 lead early within the third on targets by Mackie Samoskevich and Verhaeghe simply over two minutes aside. Sam Reinhart added an empty-netter with 1:49 left. With Knight again in aim, Bjornfot related once more.
The 2-time defending Stanley Cup champion Panthers have relied on depth to remain within the thick of the playoff hunt this season after being hit by accidents to key gamers. Ahead Matthew Tkachuk performed simply his fourth sport on Sunday after lacking the primary 47 following surgical procedure final summer time to restore sports activities hernia and torn adductor muscle.
Aleksander Barkov and Tomas Nosek have but to play this season. Standout defenseman Seth Jones, faraway from the U.S. Olympic roster final week, missed his eleventh sport on Sunday with a collarbone harm.
“Toby’s been unbelievable for us since he got here in,” mentioned fellow defenseman Gustav Forsling, an anchor on Florida’s blueline. “He actually helps us and to get two targets at present, I am very completely happy for him.”
