WINNIPEG—Artemi Panarin keeps finding ways to make a huge impact.Brent Seabrook scored 1:02 into overtime after Panarin tied it late in the third period with his second goal of the game, and the Blackhawks beat the Winnipeg Jets 5-4 on Friday night.Panarin also had two assists, including when he orchestrated a 2-on-1 with Seabrook in overtime. Panarin passed across the slot to the defenseman, and Seabrook beat Ondrej Pavelec with a shot inside the near post.Panarin leads all rookies in goals (27) and assists (41). He’s formed an outstanding duo with linemate Patrick Kane this season – Kane scored Friday and leads the NHL with 96 points.
”That line’s dangerous,” Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville said. ”They have a pretty good idea where the other guy is going to end up. They find lanes and seams like they did on the power play and on 5-on-5. They get through some nights and their finish is excellent.”
Brandon Mashinter also scored for the Blackhawks, who sneaked away winners in a game with four lead changes. ”It was a crazy game all game long,” Quenneville said.
”There was some looseness and some great opportunities.” Earlier Friday, Blackhawks defenseman Duncan Keith was suspended six games for high-sticking Minnesota Wild forward Charlie Coyle. Keith will miss five regular season games and one postseason game.Scott Darling made 28 saves. ”(The win) is definitely the more important part,” Darling said. ”We’re here to win. You never want to let in four goals, but I’m happy with the way we all battled and pulled it out there.”
Blake Wheeler scored twice for Winnipeg and extended his point streak to seven games. Nic Petan and Dustin Byfuglien also scored.Wheeler has four goals and six assists during his run and 71 points on the season, which sets a new career high.
”They’re skating really well and I think they’re playing with a lot of confidence,” Wheeler said of linemates Mark Scheifele and Nikolaj Ehlers. I’ve been around long enough to not waver in my confidence in myself, and that’s something you have to earn in this league. It’s something you have to develop and I think those guys are on their way to doing that.”
Wheeler made it 2-2 in the second period and assisted on Byfuglien’s goal that made it 3-3 in the third before putting Winnipeg ahead with his second goal of the game. Panarin forced overtime when he scored at 15:17 of the third to make it 4-4.
”It was nice to see us bounce back after giving up that goal,” Seabrook said. ”The resiliency of this team was good to see, and I think it’s definitely a confidence booster going forward to know we can be down and get a big goal and get it to overtime.”
NOTES—Kane’s 40th goal of the season puts him into a tie with Dallas forward Jamie Benn for second in goals behind Washington forward Alex Ovechkin.Mashinter’s goal was his fourth of the season.Petan’s second goal of the season opened the scoring, while Scheifele’s third-period assist extended his point streak to six games.The Blackhawks have dominated Pavelec, who has yet to beat the Hawks through his eight NHL seasons. The 28-year-old goaltender is 0-5-3 in eight career starts against the Blackhawks, who also are 9-1-0 in their last 10 visits to Winnipeg.Jonathan Toews needed stitches after taking a puck to his ear midway through the second period that sent the Blackhawks captain directly to the locker room. Toews returned to the game for the third period….Duncan Keith learned he’s been suspended 6 games for high sticking Minnesota’s Charlie Coyle.