Poor decisions have Blackhawks rookie Kempny struggling

Somewhat lost in the Blackhawks' 4-2 victory over Vancouver on Sunday was how the Canucks tied the game at 2-2 with a pair of goals in the third period.

Both tallies were the result poor play and poor decision making by Michal Kempny, the rookie defenseman who continues to have quite the Jekyll and Hyde season.

Kempny's first blunder came when he held Brandon Sutter against the end boards for too long with 15:07 to go in the game, putting the Canucks on the power play. Ten seconds later, Troy Stecher wristed a shot from the point that sailed under Corey Crawford's glove hand.

Less than a minute later, Kempny tried sweeping the puck toward the side boards, but it went right to Bo Horvat, and Horvat proceeded to make a sweet back-and-forth move around Kempny in front of the net. Crawford made the initial save, but Horvat backhanded the rebound past Crawford, giving Vancouver 2 goals in 46 seconds.

Kempny never saw the ice again.

The 26-year-old from Czechoslovakia has had these kind of coverage issues much of the season when opponents are charging hard toward the blue paint.

Coach Joel Quenneville said Kempny needs to be better in the high-danger areas, especially when it comes to "playing the puck and clearing the loose stuff."

He continued: "A defenseman is like a forward sometimes, especially in that critical area. ... As a defenseman that's a tough position as you're growing and learning it, but the more you play the better you play and I still think he's making progress."

Staying strong:

Richard Panik got off to a blazing start this season by scoring 6 goals in the first six games. He stayed on the top line until Game 13, then was moved into a bottom-six forward role until the last three games when coach Joel Quenneville reunited Panik with Jonathan Toews.

The winger has responded with more consistent, physical play. That was evident Sunday when Panik laid into Vancouver's Luca Sbisa just four seconds into the game to try and set the tone. Panik later added a second hit, which gives him a team-leading 103.

Panik also scored on a wicked shot in the first period and had the primary assist on Toews' game-winner with just 1:18 on the clock.

"Well, opportunity's been good for him and I think he takes advantage of it with adding a little bit of physicality to the position up front," Quenneville said. "He's got a tremendous shot. I still think if he shot more he'd probably have even more production. He (can beat) goalies with his shot alone.

"He's dangerous, he makes plays, he can see plays. We're very happy with his production."

Panik has 11 goals, and he's fourth on the team with a 13.3-percent shooting percentage.

Slap shots:

Brian Campbell recorded his 500th point during the Hawks' 4-2 victory over Vancouver on Sunday when he assisted on Richard Panik's first-period goal. Campbell has 4 goals and 9 assists in 47 games. … Jonathan Toews, now with 331 career assists, moved past Jeremy Roenick into 12th place all-time in Blackhawks history. Dennis Hull is 11th with 342. … Artemi Panarin has just 1 shot on goal in five straight games, a stretch in which he has no goals and 1 assist.

Scouting report

Blackhawks vs. Tampa Bay Lightning at United Center, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday

TV: Comcast SportsNet

Radio: WGN 720-AM

The skinny: Tampa Bay lost Steven Stamkos for four months with a knee injury in November. The Lightning was 12-6-1 at one point but has gone 9-16-4 since. … Nikita Kucherov leads the offense with 17 goals and 25 assists, although he hasn't scored in five straight games. … Tampa Bay is fourth in the NHL on the power play, converting on 23 percent of its chances.

Next: Winnipeg Jets at United Center, 7:30 p.m. Thursday

- John Dietz