Sandis Vilmanis has 1st 2-goal game, Panthers top Blackhawks 5-3 to cap homestand
Florida Panthers left wing Sandis Vilmanis (95) celebrates his goal during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Chicago Blackhawks, Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026, in Sunrise, Fla. Credit: AP/Marta Lavandier
SUNRISE, Fla. — Sandis Vilmanis had the first two-goal game of his career, Sam Reinhart provided a goal and two assists, and the Florida Panthers beat the Chicago Blackhawks 5-3 on Wednesday night to wrap up a three-game homestand.
Seth Jones scored against his former team and Carter Verhaeghe had a goal and an assist for the Panthers, who are 4-1-0 in their last five games and 7-3-0 in their past 10. Vilmanis added two assists to finish with four points.
Florida improved to 9-0-1 when allowing three goals or fewer this season. Reinhart's goal was an empty-netter to seal the win with 1:27 left.
Frank Nazar had two third-period goals and Roman Kantserov also scored for Chicago. Ethan Del Mastro got two assists — his first points of the season, and the first multi-point game of his career. Connor Bedard had two assists.
The Blackhawks are 1-6-1 in their last eight games. They gave up the final five goals in a 5-2 home loss to Colorado on Monday, then got down 3-0 in Florida before Kantserov got Chicago on the board.
By then, the Panthers were already in full control. Vilmanis scored 4:43 into the game, and Verhaeghe’s power-play goal was assisted by Brady Tkachuk and Matthew Tkachuk at 12:29 of the first.
Jones beat former Florida goalie Spencer Knight — they were traded for one another in the deal that sent Jones to the Panthers — for a 3-0 lead in the second.
Florida Panthers defenseman Seth Jones (3) celebrates a goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Chicago Blackhawks, Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026, in Sunrise, Fla. Credit: AP/Marta Lavandier
Nazar beat Panthers goalie Jacob Markström on a short-handed breakaway to cut Florida’s lead midway through the third.
Vilmanis struck again with 8:59 left, restoring the two-goal edge. Nazar got his second of the game with 3:51 left, but Reinhart scored his ninth of the season to all but end the Blackhawks' comeback hopes.
Up next
Blackhawks: Visit the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday.
Panthers: Visit the Washington Capitals on Saturday.
