Huberdeau sets NHL record, Panthers shut out Blackhawks

SUNRISE, Fla. -- Jonathan Huberdeau set an NHL record for a left wing with his 71st assist of the season, and the Florida Panthers defeated the Chicago Blackhawks 4-0 at FLA Live Arena on Thursday.

Joe Juneau had 70 assists for the Boston Bruins in 1992-93.
"Cool moment," Huberdeau said. "Couldn't do it without my team. I've been aware of it on social media, but I didn't try to think about it. You keep going, keep piling assists."
Huberdeau set the record when he fed Aleksander Barkov for a one-timer in the right face-off circle that made it 4-0 at 13:47 of the third period on a 5-on-3 power play.
"Really cool and to do it at home is pretty special for a guy who's been here for as long as he has," Panthers coach Andrew Brunette said. "Happy for him and he's got a way to go to pad that record."

Blackhawks center Jonathan Toews played his 1,000th NHL game. He became the eight Chicago player and the 336th NHL player to reach the milestone.
"It was a special game, win or lose," said Toews, the Blackhawks captain. "It's just a special personal accomplishment and I want to tell my teammates how thankful I am for their support."
Barkov scored his 30th and 31st goals of the season for the Panthers (46-15-6), who set their record with their 28th home win of the season. Sergei Bobrovsky made 37 saves for his third shutout of the season, and Gustav Forsling had a goal and an assist.
Florida leads the Toronto Maple Leafs by seven points for first place in the Atlantic Division.
Collin Delia made 40 saves for the Blackhawks (24-34-10), who have lost six of eight.
"We just couldn't get it by their goalie," Chicago coach Derek King said. "He stood on his head. We had numerous opportunities point blank and they just weren't going in. They were coming back to the bench shaking their head."

After he had a goal overturned 41 seconds into the first period when video review determined he kicked the puck in, Barkov gave Florida a 1-0 lead at 18:24.
"Everyone wants to score goals and to get 30 in this league isn't easy," Barkov said. "I'm playing with really good players, and I'm so thankful."
Ryan Lomberg made it 2-0 at 7:23 of the second period. He skated by Blackhawks defenseman Calvin de Haan and scored with a quick shot that went in off the arm of Delia.
It was Lomberg's fourth goal in three games after he scored five goals in his first 43 games this season.
"He's feeling it," Brunette said. "He's got a little mojo going and a little shimmy shake. I think the bench gets a kick out of it."

Forsling made it 3-0 at 11:46 with a wrist shot from the point that deflected off the stick of Chicago forward Dylan Strome.
Bobrovsky made several big saves in the second period when Chicago had 16 shots on goal.
"He was locked in," Brunette said. "We knew they're a team with a lot of pride and it was a big night for them. They were going to try to win one for [Toews]. 'Bob' was outstanding."
NOTES: The Panthers are 28-6-0 at home. They set their previous record for home wins in 2017-18 when they were 27-11-3. … Florida has scored four or more goals in 26 of its 34 home games. … The Panthers have 98 points, tying for the second most in their history (1999-2000). They had 103 in 2015-16. … Florida center Joe Thornton became the sixth player in NHL history to play in 1,000 wins (regular season and Stanley Cup Playoffs combined), joining Nicklas Lidstrom (1,090), Chris Chelios (1,043), Patrick Marleau (1,029), Mark Messier (1,015) and Scott Stevens (1,007). … Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane's streak of 11 road games with an assist ended. It is a Chicago record. … Kane and Panthers forward Mason Marchment each had a game-high seven shots on goal.