Hornqvist leads Panthers in rout of Wings

DETROIT

Patric Hornqvist scored in the first and third periods to help the Florida Panthers start and finish strong in a 7-2 victory over the Detroit Red Wings on Friday night.

Juho Lammikko and MacKenzie Weegar had goals on consecutive shots in the opening period, and Hornqvist made it 3-0 in a four-shot stretch that doomed a Detroit team averaging an NHLlow 1.9 goals a game.

Florida’s Chris Driedger made 30 saves, including a spectacular stop to deny

Darren Helm in the second period. The Central Division-leading Panthers, set to face Detroit again Saturday night, matched a season high with three straight victories, giving them 11 wins in 15 games.

Detroit’s Thomas Greiss gave up four goals and stopped nine shots in the first period. Jonathan Bernier replaced Greiss and had 23 saves over the last two periods for the Red Wings, who matched a season high by allowing seven goals.

After winning an NHL-low 17 games last season, the Red Wings are among the league’s worst teams with 15 losses in 19 games.

HURRICANES 5, BLACKHAWKS 3

RALEIGH, N.C. — Nino Niederreiter had two goals and an assist, and Carolina cooled off Chicago.

Niederreiter capped his big night by scoring on the power play 15:04 into the third period, pushing the puck past Kevin Lankinen from the top of the crease. Niederreiter’s ninth goal of the season made it 4-2, putting the Hurricanes in control after quickly blowing a two-goal lead late in the second.

Martin Necas scored the go-ahead goal early in the third on the power play. Vincent Trocheck and Jaccob Slavin also found the net with Slavin scoring on a long empty-netter with 3:14 left.

Patrick Kane had a spectacular goal and two assists for the Blackhawks, and Ian Mitchell scored in the final seconds before the second intermission to tie it at 2. Chicago’s other goal came from Carl Soderberg in the game’s final minute.