SUNRISE (CBSMiami/AP) — It’s been a rough few weeks for South Florida hockey fans.
The Florida Panthers and their fans needed a reason to feel good about themselves, and they got it.
Jonathan Marchessault scored his first career hat trick, James Reimer stopped 25 shots for his first shutout of the season and the Panthers routed the Chicago Blackhawks 7-0 on Saturday night.
Jonathan Huberdeau had a goal and three assists, and Aleksander Barkov added a goal and two assists for Florida. Reilly Smith and Nick Bjugstad also scored to give the Panthers their largest margin of victory since an 8-0 win over Toronto on Feb.