Blackhawks seek to stay in win column vs. Panthers

The Chicago Blackhawks seek a season-high third straight win when they pay a visit to the Florida Panthers tonight at BankAtlantic Center.

The Blackhawks have won two straight and three of four games, and improved to 7-2-2 on the season with a 5-4 overtime win versus Nashville on Monday. Viktor Stalberg scored in overtime and Patrick Kane had two goals and an assist for the Blackhawks, who got 24 saves from Corey Crawford.

"It wasn't the hardest shot I've taken, but it found a way to get into the short side," Stalberg said.

Blackhawks defenseman Duncan Keith left the game with an upper body injury and is expected to miss Thursday's game. Keith, the 2010 Norris Trophy winner, could return Friday against the Lightning.

The Blackhawks will play two straight and four of their next five games away from the Windy City. Forward Dan Carcillo is slated to return this evening after serving a two-game suspension for an illegal check on Carolina's Joni Pitkanen on Oct. 28.

Chicago is 5-0-2 at home and 2-2-0 as the guest this season. It is only one of three teams in the Western Conference with 16 points (Edmonton, Dallas).

Meanwhile, the Panthers will continue a three-game homestand which started with a 4-3 shootout loss versus Winnipeg on Monday.

Tomas Fleischmann scored twice in the third period, while Jason Garrison also had a goal for the Panthers, who got 28 saves from Jose Theodore and are 3-1-1 in their last five games. Garrison potted a goal for a career-high third straight game and Fleischmann owns seven points in the past five games.

"We felt like we played hard tonight," Panthers head coach Kevin Dineen said. "At the end of the day, we felt like it was two points that we could have and fairly obviously should have had."

The Panthers will also host Tampa Bay on the residency and registered a season-high 42 shots against the Jets. Their 6-4-1 record to begin the season is the best start through 11 games since a 6-4-1 opening back in 2005-06.

Chicago and Florida split a pair of meetings a season ago, but the Blackhawks are 9-4-2 in the previous 15 matchups between the two clubs. Chicago is 6-4-1 in 11 contests as the visitor in this series.